Author Archives: Biblical Hebrew

The Hebrew verb דָּפַק (root: ד־פ־ק) means “to knock,” “to beat,” or “to strike.” It conveys the idea of hitting a surface, especially a door, or of applying pressure in rhythmic or forceful motion. In the Hebrew Bible, it is used both literally (e.g., knocking or pounding) and metaphorically (e.g., forceful entry or pursuit). In Modern Hebrew, it retains its core meaning and is very commonly used for “knock” or “slam.”   Qal Binyan Conjugation of דָּפַק (“to knock, beat”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular דָּפַקְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular דָּפַקְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular דָּפַקְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular דָּפַק 3rd person feminine singular דָּפְקָה 1st person plural דָּפַקְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural דְּפַקְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural דְּפַקְתֶּן 3rd person plural דָּפְקוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular דּוֹפֵק Feminine singular דּוֹפֶקֶת Masculine plural דּוֹפְקִים Feminine plural דּוֹפְקוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶדְפֹּק 2nd person masculine singular תִּדְפֹּק 2nd person feminine singular תִּדְפְּקִי 3rd person masculine singular יִדְפֹּק 3rd person feminine singular תִּדְפֹּק 1st person plural נִדְפֹּק 2nd person masculine plural תִּדְפְּקוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּדְפֹּקְנָה 3rd person plural יִדְפְּקוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular דְּפֹק 2nd person feminine singular דִּפְקִי 2nd person masculine plural דִּפְקוּ 2nd person feminine plural דְּפֹקְנָה   Usage in Scripture Judges 19:22 – הֵם מֵיטִיבִים אֶת לִבָּם וְהִנֵּה אַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר… דֹּפְקִים עַל הַדָּלֶת “Behold, the men of the city… were knocking on the door.”… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb דָּמָה (root: ד־מ־ה) has multiple meanings based on context and stem: To resemble or be like — expressing similarity or comparison. To think, imagine, or suppose — used in reflective or interpretive contexts. To be silent or destroyed — in rare cases, from a homonymous root (not the same as “resemble”). The main stem for the meaning “to resemble” or “to think” is the Qal. The Piel and Hiphil forms may nuance “to cause to resemble” or “to compare.”… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb דָּלַק (root: ד־ל־ק) has two primary meanings based on context: To pursue or chase after — especially in military or urgent contexts. To burn or blaze — often describing fire or intense heat (in certain stems). In the Qal binyan, it most often means “to pursue,” while in the Pual or Hiphil, it can convey “to set on fire” or “to be inflamed.” These meanings are conceptually linked: pursuit as a metaphor for intensity or burning desire.   Qal Binyan Conjugation of דָּלַק (“to pursue”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular דָּלַקְתִּי 2nd person masculine singular דָּלַקְתָּ 2nd person feminine singular דָּלַקְתְּ 3rd person masculine singular דָּלַק 3rd person feminine singular דָּלְקָה 1st person plural דָּלַקְנוּ 2nd person masculine plural דְּלַקְתֶּם 2nd person feminine plural דְּלַקְתֶּן 3rd person plural דָּלְקוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular דּוֹלֵק Feminine singular דּוֹלֶקֶת Masculine plural דּוֹלְקִים Feminine plural דּוֹלְקוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶדְלֹק 2nd person masculine singular תִּדְלֹק 2nd person feminine singular תִּדְלְקִי 3rd person masculine singular יִדְלֹק 3rd person feminine singular תִּדְלֹק 1st person plural נִדְלֹק 2nd person masculine plural תִּדְלְקוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּדְלֹקְנָה 3rd person plural יִדְלְקוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular דְּלֹק 2nd person feminine singular דִּלְקִי 2nd person masculine plural דִּלְקוּ 2nd person feminine plural דְּלֹקְנָה   Usage in Scripture Genesis 31:36 – וַיִּחַר לְיַעֲקֹב וַיָּרֶב בְּלָבָן וַיַּעַן יַעֲקֹב וַיֹּאמֶר לְלָבָן מַה־פִּשְׁעִי מַה־חַטָּאתִי כִּי דָּלַקְתָּ אַחֲרָי “What is my transgression, what is my sin, that you have pursued me?”… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb דָּחָה (root: ד־ח־ה) means “to reject,” “to thrust,” “to push away,” or “to drive back.” It can refer to both literal physical repulsion and metaphorical rejection—whether a person, offer, or even a prayer. This verb carries a strong emotional and theological weight, especially in poetic and prophetic contexts. It is most commonly used in the Qal stem, and sometimes in the Niphal stem (passive), expressing the idea of being rejected or pushed away.   Qal Binyan Conjugation of דָּחָה (“to reject, push away”) Past (Perfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular דָּחִיתִי 2nd person masculine singular דָּחִיתָ 2nd person feminine singular דָּחִיתְ 3rd person masculine singular דָּחָה 3rd person feminine singular דָּחְתָה 1st person plural דָּחִינוּ 2nd person masculine plural דְּחִיתֶם 2nd person feminine plural דְּחִיתֶן 3rd person plural דָּחֲוּ Present (Participle) Tense Gender/Number Form Masculine singular דּוֹחֶה Feminine singular דּוֹחָה Masculine plural דּוֹחִים Feminine plural דּוֹחוֹת Future (Imperfect) Tense Person Form 1st person singular אֶדְחֶה 2nd person masculine singular תִּדְחֶה 2nd person feminine singular תִּדְחִי 3rd person masculine singular יִדְחֶה 3rd person feminine singular תִּדְחֶה 1st person plural נִדְחֶה 2nd person masculine plural תִּדְחוּ 2nd person feminine plural תִּדְחֶינָה 3rd person plural יִדְחוּ Imperative Mood Person Form 2nd person masculine singular דְּחֵה 2nd person feminine singular דִּחִי 2nd person masculine plural דִּחוּ 2nd person feminine plural דְּחֶינָה   Usage in Scripture Psalm 94:14 – כִּי לֹא יִטֹּשׁ יְהוָה עַמּוֹ וְנַחֲלָתוֹ לֹא יַעֲזֹב “For the LORD will not cast off His people…” — similar idea expressed with other verbs of rejection.… Learn Hebrew

The Hebrew verb דּוּן (root: ד־ו־ן) means “to judge,” “to litigate,” “to contend,” or “to argue a case.” It is used in legal and judicial contexts, and sometimes in a broader sense of striving or pleading a cause. The root appears both as a verb and as a noun (e.g., דִּין, meaning “judgment” or “justice”). In the Tanakh, this verb is typically found in the Qal binyan, though it is relatively rare as a verb form. Much more frequently, its root is expressed through nouns and derivatives, such as דָּן (judge), דִּין (judgment), and the name of the tribe דָּן.… Learn Hebrew