Lexical Summary demah: Tear, tears Original Word: דָּמָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be like (Aramaic) corresponding to damah; to resemble -- be like. see HEBREW damah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to damah Definition to be like NASB Translation like (1), resembling (1). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Semantic Rangeדָּמָה conveys the idea of resemblance or likeness. In the Aramaic sections of Daniel it introduces comparisons that help the reader grasp something unfamiliar by relating it to what is known. The term never denies the uniqueness of the thing described; rather, it bridges comprehension through analogy. Canonical Setting Both uses occur in the Aramaic core of Daniel (chapters 2–7), a section that addresses Gentile powers and God’s sovereignty over them. The vocabulary therefore speaks into an international context, using the lingua franca of the Persian Empire to declare truths that reach beyond Israel alone. Occurrences 1. Daniel 3:25 – Nebuchadnezzar, peering into the furnace, exclaims that the fourth figure “looks like a son of the gods”. Narrative Significance Daniel 3:25 employs דָּמָה at a climactic moment in the deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The king’s pagan vocabulary falters as he reaches for language adequate to describe a supernatural presence. The speaker is confronted with holiness; the word of likeness hints at a hidden identity greater than any Babylonian deity. The comparison preserves mystery while pointing to the reality of divine intervention. Daniel 7:5 uses the term in apocalyptic imagery. The bear-like creature symbolizes a historical empire (commonly interpreted as Medo-Persia). By likening the beast to a bear, Scripture sketches a portrait of voracious power without enumerating every detail. The simile invites meditation on character rather than form alone. Theological Reflections 1. Analogical Revelation. דָּמָה underscores that God often reveals Himself and future events through metaphor. Finite language, redeemed yet limited, conveys infinite realities by approximation. Historical Context The Babylonian exile forced the people of Judah to wrestle with the apparent triumph of pagan nations. In that crucible the Spirit inspired Daniel to record visions and narratives in Aramaic so that Gentiles—kings, courtiers, and later readers—could not plead ignorance of God’s plan. דָּמָה serves that cross-cultural purpose, drawing connections between divine truth and common speech. Practical Ministry Application • Worship: Believers may echo Nebuchadnezzar’s astonishment, recognizing Christ present “in the fire” of trials. Intertextual Echoes While דָּמָה itself is rare, its conceptual counterpart appears when prophets describe God “as” or “like” various images (for example, Hosea 11:4). Such parallels reinforce the pattern of analogical communication throughout both Testaments. Summary דָּמָה, though used only twice, plays a key role in unveiling divine presence and prophetic panorama. In the furnace it magnifies a Deliverer who transcends pagan categories; in the vision it sketches the contours of empires under divine control. By means of likeness the term points beyond itself to the incomparable glory of the Lord who reveals, rescues, and reigns. Forms and Transliterations דָּמְיָ֣ה דָּמֵ֖ה דמה דמיה dā·mə·yāh dā·mêh daMeh dāmêh dameYah dāməyāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 3:25 HEB: (רְֽבִיעָאָ֔ה ק) דָּמֵ֖ה לְבַר־ אֱלָהִֽין׃ NAS: of the fourth is like a son KJV: of the fourth is like the Son INT: forasmuch fourth is like A son of gods Daniel 7:5 2 Occurrences |
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