Daleth is the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet and holds significant meaning in biblical literature and Hebrew tradition. In the Hebrew language, each letter is not only a character but also carries a numerical value and symbolic meaning. Daleth represents the number four and is often associated with the concept of a door or pathway, reflecting its pictographic origin.

Symbolism and Meaning

In Hebrew, "Daleth" (ד) is derived from the word "delet," which means "door." This symbolism is rich in biblical connotations, as doors often represent opportunities, transitions, and access to new realms or experiences. The imagery of a door can be seen throughout Scripture, symbolizing both physical and spiritual entry points.

Biblical References

While the letter Daleth itself is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, its symbolic meaning as a door can be seen in various passages. For instance, in the Book of Revelation, Jesus refers to Himself as the door: "I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved" (John 10:9). This metaphor highlights the role of Christ as the gateway to salvation and eternal life.

Additionally, the concept of a door is prevalent in the Passover narrative, where the Israelites marked their doorposts with the blood of a lamb to protect their households from the angel of death (Exodus 12:7). This act of faith and obedience opened the way for their deliverance from Egypt, symbolizing a transition from slavery to freedom.

Numerical Significance

As the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Daleth carries the numerical value of four. The number four is significant in biblical numerology, often representing completeness and universality. This can be seen in the four corners of the earth, the four winds, and the four living creatures described in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 7:1, 4:6-8).

Use in Psalm 119

Daleth is also featured in Psalm 119, an acrostic psalm where each section begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The Daleth section (verses 25-32) emphasizes themes of humility, revival, and adherence to God's Word. The psalmist writes, "My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word" (Psalm 119:25), expressing a deep longing for spiritual renewal and guidance.

Cultural and Theological Insights

In Jewish tradition, Daleth is often seen as a symbol of humility and lowliness, reflecting the shape of the letter, which is open on one side, suggesting openness to receive. This aligns with the biblical principle that God exalts the humble and opens doors for those who seek Him earnestly.

Theologically, Daleth's association with doors and pathways can be understood as an invitation to enter into a deeper relationship with God. It serves as a reminder of the choices and transitions that define the spiritual journey, encouraging believers to seek the doors that lead to righteousness and truth.

In summary, Daleth, as a letter and symbol, enriches the biblical narrative with its themes of access, transition, and divine opportunity, inviting believers to explore the depths of God's Word and the pathways He sets before them.DALETH

da'-leth (.): The 4th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and as such used in Psalm 119 to designate the 4th section; transliterated in this Encyclopedia with the dagesh as d, and, without, as dh (= th in "the"). It came also to be used for the number four (4), and with the dieresis for 4,000. With the apostrophe it is sometimes used as abbreviation for the tetragrammaton. For name, etc., see ALPHABET.

Daleth.
... St. Augustin on the Psalms. Daleth. 25. "My soul cleaveth to the pavement:
O quicken Thou me according to Thy word" (ver.25). What ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/daleth.htm

Psalm 119 Daleth, the 4Th Part.
... Psalm 119 Daleth, The 4th Part. 8,6,8,6. ^25My soul to dust cleaves: quicken me,.
according to thy word. ^26My ways I shew'd, and me thou heard'st: ...
/.../anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 119 daleth the 4th.htm

Refutation of Basilides, and of the Opinion that the Prophets ...
... which contains all." As to the appellation Adonai, sometimes it denotes what is
nameable [3299] and admirable; but at other times, when the letter Daleth in it ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxv refutation of basilides and.htm

Exposition on the Book of Psalms
... Psalm CXIII. Psalm CXIV. Psalm CXV. Psalm CXVI. Psalm CXVII. Psalm CXVIII. Psalm
CXIX. Beth. Gimel. Daleth. He. Vav. Zain. Cheth. Teth. Jod. Caph. Lamed. Mem. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/

Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases
... Psalm 119 Beth, The 2nd Part. Psalm 119 Gimel, The 3rd Part. Psalm 119 Daleth, The
4th Part. Psalm 119 He, The 5th Part. Psalm 119 Vau, The 6th Part. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/

Gadara
... Azotus." At length, according to the idiom of the Syrian dialect, Zain passed
into Daleth; and instead of Gazara, it was called Gadara. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 75 gadara.htm

Ecdippa. Achzib. Joshua 19:29; Judges 1:31 Climax of the Tyrians.
... Chezib, and Achzib, at last passed into Ecdippa, according to the manner of the
Syrian dialect; to which it is common to change zain of the Hebrews into daleth ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 65 ecdippa achzib joshua.htm

Origen De Principiis.
... Where the Masoretic text has t"v (et tempus) Origen evidently read td (scientia),
the similarity of Vau and Daleth accounting for the error of the transcriber. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen de principiis/origen de principiis.htm

Text-Divisions: Stichi, Chapters, Lections, Catenae.
... each stanza is preceded by a representation of the Hebrew letter with which it begins,
eg aleph (alph, alpha [776] ), beth, gimel (giml), daleth (deleth, delt ...
/.../chapter vi text-divisions stichi chapters.htm

Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
... Beth, Gimel, Daleth, Kaph, Pe, Resh, Tau, which are, or where in Hebrew capable
of modification by a Dagesh - but this also must be mystically understood) and ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix v rabbinic theology and.htm

Daleth (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia DALETH. ... For name, etc., see ALPHABET. Multi-Version
Concordance Daleth (1 Occurrence). Psalms 119:25 DALETH. ...
/d/daleth.htm - 7k

Tablet (7 Occurrences)
... "Daleth" (daleth or deleth), the ... Sanis is used as the translation of "daleth" or
luach 2 or 3 times in the Septuagint and still oftener in the other versions. ...
/t/tablet.htm - 15k

Dale (2 Occurrences)

/d/dale.htm - 9k

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)
... have "Zimri" (zimri); "the confusion of the Hebrew letter beth (b) and the Hebrew
letter mem (m) is phonetic; the confusion of the Hebrew letter daleth (d) and ...
/z/zabdi.htm - 13k

Zebidah (1 Occurrence)
... due to a confusion of the Hebrew letter kaph (k) with the Hebrew letter beth (b),
and the Hebrew letter resh (r) with the Hebrew letter daleth (d), and thus we ...
/z/zebidah.htm - 8k

Zarethan (4 Occurrences)
... Midianites "as far as Bethshittah toward Zererah," which is probably a misreading
for Zeredah, arising from the similarity of the Hebrew letters daleth and resh ...
/z/zarethan.htm - 9k

Ebron (1 Occurrence)
... we should read here Abdon, as in Joshua 21:30 1 Chronicles 6:74, the substitution
of the Hebrew letter resh ("r") for the Hebrew letter daleth ("d") being a ...
/e/ebron.htm - 7k

Dally

/d/dally.htm - 7k

Deuel (5 Occurrences)
... 20). Called Reuel in Numbers 2:14, daleth (d) being confused with resh (r).
Multi-Version Concordance Deuel (5 Occurrences). Numbers ...
/d/deuel.htm - 8k

Merran
... It is very probable, however, that the name represents an error in transcription
from the original Semitic text, confusing the Hebrew letter daleth ("d") with ...
/m/merran.htm - 7k

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