Lexical Summary damah: like, compare, liken Original Word: דָּמָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance compare, devise, liken, mean, think, use similitudes A primitive root; to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider -- compare, devise, (be) like(-n), mean, think, use similitudes. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be like, resemble NASB Translation alike (1), compare (3), compared (1), equal (1), gave parables (1), imagine (1), intend (1), intended (2), like (9), liken (3), make myself like (1), plan (1), planned (1), resemble (1), thought (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. דָּמָה verb be like, resemble (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic דְּמֵי, דְּמָא,  ; compare דמין,  price, Nabataean דמי id. (Nö in EutNab. Inscr. p. 35); also  , and  likeness (whence Arabic  image, effigy, as loan-word Frä272) compare דְּמוּת) — Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳ד Ezekiel 31:8; Psalm 144:4; 3feminine singular דָּֽמְתָה Cant 7:8; 2 masculine singular דָּמִיתָ Ezekiel 31:2,18; 1singular דָּמִיתִי Psalm 102:7; 3plural דָּמוּ Ezekiel 31:8; 1plural דָּמִינוּ Isaiah 1:9; Imperfect3masculine singular יִדְמֶה Psalm 89:7; 1plural וְנִדְמֶה consecutive Isaiah 46:5; Imperative masculine singular דְּמֵה Songs 2:17; Songs 8:14; Participle דּוֺמֶה Songs 2:9; — be like, resemble, of external appearance, followed by לְ, Cant 7:8; Song 2:9,17; 8:14; followed by אֶלֿ Ezekiel 31:8 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 31:18 (all of tree, figurative of Pharaoh); of condition or quality followed by לְ Isaiah 1:9; Psalm 102:7; Psalm 144:4; so מִי ֗֗֗ יִדְמֶה ליהוה Psalm 89:7; also absolute Isaiah 46:5; followed by אֶל Ezekiel 31:2. Pi`el Perfect דִּמָּה 2 Samuel 21:5, דִּמִּיתָ Psalm 50:21; דִּמִּיתִי Numbers 33:56; Isaiah 14:24; suffix דִּמִּיתִיךָ Songs 1:9, דִּמּוּ 2 Samuel 21:5; Imperfect יְדַמֶּה Isaiah 10:7; 2feminine singular תְּדַמִּי Esther 4:13 (jussive); אֲדַמֶּה Lamentations 2:13; Hosea 12:11; 2masculine plural תְּדַמְּיוּן Isaiah 40:18; suffix תְּדַמְּיוּנִי Isaiah 40:25; Isaiah 46:5; — liken, compare; imagine, think, devise; — 1 liken, i.e. consider to be like, compare, causative of Qal followed by לְ of external appearance Songs 1:9; of quality or condition Isaiah 46:5 (object ׳י) Lamentations 2:13; followed by אֶל of external appearance Isaiah 40:18,25 (both object God in reference to idols); absolute use comparisons or similitudes (parables, symbols, etc.) Hosea 12:11 (subject ׳י). 2 imagine, form an idea, devise 2 Samuel 21:5 (on context compare Dr); think, intend, followed by Infinitive Numbers 33:56 (J or H) Judges 20:5; Esther 4:13; absolute Isaiah 10:7; compare Isaiah 14:24; think that, followed by object clause (Imperfect without conjunction) Psalm 50:21; think of, followed by accusative Psalm 48:10. Hithpa`el make oneself or become like; Imperfect אֶדַּמֶּה לְעֶלְיוֺן Isaiah 14:14 I will make myself like the Most High (on form compare Ges§ 54. 2). [דְּמָה] verb be like (Biblical Hebrew I. דָּמָה); — Pe`al Participle active דָּמֵה Daniel 3:25 (ל person); feminine דָּֽמְיָה Daniel 7:5 (לְדֹב). Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Core Idea The verb דָּמָה encapsulates the act of drawing likenesses—either recognizing a resemblance that already exists or crafting one by intentional comparison. Scripture employs the word to speak of (1) analogies that help illuminate truth, (2) mistaken human conjectures about God, and (3) poetic imagery that stirs the imagination toward worship or warning. Because likeness is both a pedagogical tool and a potential trap, the contexts of the verb are weighty for doctrine and discipleship alike. Distribution in the Old Testament Approximately thirty occurrences span historical narrative, wisdom poetry, prophetic oracles, and liturgical psalms. The concentration falls in Isaiah and Hosea, with notable appearances in Psalms, Song of Songs, and various wisdom texts. This wide dispersion shows the word’s flexibility—from courtroom accusation (Psalm 50) to tender love poetry (Song of Songs), from lofty theological rhetoric (Isaiah 40) to sharp prophetic satire (Hosea 12). God’s Unparalleled Majesty No usage is more forceful than the prophets’ repeated insistence that the LORD cannot rightly be compared with any created thing: Here דָּמָה functions as an apologetic weapon against idolatry. By challenging Israel to supply a valid analogy for God, the prophet exposes the bankruptcy of idols while underscoring divine transcendence. The verb thus becomes a theological safeguard, reminding hearers that every earthly illustration of God is at best partial and must never eclipse His revealed glory. Warnings against Idolatrous Suppositions Psalm 50:21 reveals the moral peril of projecting fallen human traits onto the Holy One: “You thought I was just like you, but now I rebuke you”. The verb’s edge is unmistakable—wrong comparison breeds complacency and sin. Hosea intensifies the warning: “I have been like a moth to Ephraim” (Hosea 5:12), turning the tables so that God Himself adopts a simile of slow-consuming judgment. By playing on דָּמָה, the prophet demonstrates that if people insist on false likenesses, God will answer with a sobering likeness of His own making. Instruction through Poetic Comparison Wisdom literature treats דָּמָה as a powerful teaching device. Song of Songs paints love’s beauty with cascading similes: “I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots” (Song of Songs 1:9). Such images elevate righteous affection and point toward covenant fidelity. Proverbs similarly marshals the verb to etch memorably concise lessons, contrasting the prudent and the fool by way of apt resemblance. Prophetic Use for Judgment and Restoration Hosea 12:10 links prophetic ministry to deliberate acts of comparison: “I spoke through the prophets, multiplied visions, and gave parables through the prophets”. The root idea of likeness undergirds the very fabric of prophetic communication; God employs analogy, metaphor, and parable to unveil His purposes. Whether describing Samaria’s king “like a twig on the surface of the water” (Hosea 10:7) or Judah’s sins that make her “like morning mist” (Hosea 6:4), דָּמָה intensifies the message that divine judgment fits the nature of human rebellion. Christological and Eschatological Perspective New Testament writers develop the theology implicit in דָּמָה by revealing Jesus Christ as both incomparable and yet incarnationally “made like” His brothers (Hebrews 2:17). The Old Testament insistence that God cannot be likened to creation finds ultimate fulfillment in the God-Man who transcends every fallen analogy while embodying the exact representation of God’s being. Moreover, the prophets’ analogical speech anticipates the Kingdom parables of Jesus, who continued the divine practice of teaching through likeness. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Guard Illustration: Teachers and preachers should employ analogy with reverence, ensuring that every likeness honors rather than diminishes God’s holiness. Summary דָּמָה navigates the delicate territory between resemblance and reality. Scripture wields the term to exalt God’s uniqueness, correct misguided thinking, beautify righteous relationships, and deliver prophetic warning. Its careful study equips the Church to communicate truth vividly while preserving the awe due to the One of whom none can be fully likened. Forms and Transliterations אֲדַמֶּֽה׃ אֲדַמֶּה־ אֶדַּמֶּ֖ה אדמה אדמה־ אדמה׃ דְּמֵה־ דִּמִּ֗יתָ דִּמִּ֙יתִי֙ דִּמִּ֛יתִי דִּמִּ֣ינוּ דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְ דִּמָּה־ דִּמּ֣וּ דָּ֭מִיתִי דָּֽמְתָ֣ה דָּמִ֖יתִי דָּמִ֥יתָ דָּמִֽינוּ׃ דָּמָ֑ה דָמִ֥יתָ דָמָ֥ה דָמוּ֙ דּוֹמֶ֤ה דומה דמה דמה־ דמו דמינו דמינו׃ דמית דמיתי דמיתיך דמתה וְנִדְמֶֽה׃ וּֽדְמֵה־ ודמה־ ונדמה׃ יְדַמֶּ֔ה יִדְמֶ֥ה ידמה נִדְמֵ֑יתָ נדמית תְּדַמְּי֣וּן תְּדַמִּ֣י תְדַמְּי֖וּנִי תְדַמְי֖וּנִי תדמי תדמיון תדמיוני ’ă·ḏam·meh ’ă·ḏam·meh- ’ăḏammeh ’ăḏammeh- ’ed·dam·meh ’eddammeh adammeh dā·māh ḏā·māh dā·mə·ṯāh dā·mî·nū dā·mî·ṯā ḏā·mî·ṯā dā·mî·ṯî ḏā·mū daMah dāmāh ḏāmāh dameTah dāməṯāh daMinu dāmînū daMita dāmîṯā ḏāmîṯā Damiti dāmîṯî daMu ḏāmū də·mêh- demeh dəmêh- dim·māh- dim·mî·nū dim·mî·ṯā dim·mî·ṯî dim·mî·ṯîḵ dim·mū dimmah dimmāh- dimMinu dimmînū dimMita dimmîṯā dimMiti dimmîṯî dimmiTich dimmîṯîḵ dimMu dimmū dō·w·meh doMeh dōwmeh eddamMeh niḏ·mê·ṯā nidMeita niḏmêṯā ṯə·ḏam·mə·yū·nî tə·ḏam·mə·yūn tə·ḏam·mî ṯə·ḏam·yū·nî tedammeYun təḏamməyūn tedammeYuni ṯəḏamməyūnî tedamMi təḏammî tedamYuni ṯəḏamyūnî ū·ḏə·mêh- udemeh ūḏəmêh- venidMeh wə·niḏ·meh wəniḏmeh yə·ḏam·meh yedamMeh yəḏammeh yiḏ·meh yidMeh yiḏmehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 33:56 HEB: וְהָיָ֗ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּמִּ֛יתִי לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָהֶ֖ם NAS: And as I plan to do KJV: Moreover it shall come to pass, [that] I shall do unto you, as I thought to do INT: become and plan to do will do Judges 20:5 2 Samuel 21:5 Esther 4:13 Psalm 48:9 Psalm 50:21 Psalm 89:6 Psalm 102:6 Psalm 144:4 Songs 1:9 Songs 2:9 Songs 2:17 Songs 7:7 Songs 8:14 Isaiah 1:9 Isaiah 10:7 Isaiah 14:14 Isaiah 14:24 Isaiah 40:18 Isaiah 40:25 Isaiah 46:5 Isaiah 46:5 Jeremiah 6:2 Lamentations 2:13 Ezekiel 31:2 30 Occurrences |
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