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.”
Qal Binyan Conjugation of דָּמָה (“to resemble, think, imagine”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | דָּמִיתִי |
| 2nd person masculine singular | דָּמִיתָ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | דָּמִית |
| 3rd person masculine singular | דָּמָה |
| 3rd person feminine singular | דָּמְתָה |
| 1st person plural | דָּמִינוּ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | דְּמִיתֶם |
| 2nd person feminine plural | דְּמִיתֶן |
| 3rd person plural | דָּמוּ |
Present (Participle) Tense
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| Masculine singular | דּוֹמֶה |
| Feminine singular | דּוֹמָה |
| Masculine plural | דּוֹמִים |
| Feminine plural | דּוֹמוֹת |
Future (Imperfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | אֶדְמֶה |
| 2nd person masculine singular | תִּדְמֶה |
| 2nd person feminine singular | תִּדְמִי |
| 3rd person masculine singular | יִדְמֶה |
| 3rd person feminine singular | תִּדְמֶה |
| 1st person plural | נִדְמֶה |
| 2nd person masculine plural | תִּדְמוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | תִּדְמֶינָה |
| 3rd person plural | יִדְמוּ |
Imperative Mood
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd person masculine singular | דְּמֵה |
| 2nd person feminine singular | דִּמִי |
| 2nd person masculine plural | דִּמוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | דְּמֶינָה |
Usage in Scripture
- Psalm 50:21 – דִּמִּיתָ הֱיוֹת אֶהְיֶה כָמוֹךָ
“You thought I was just like you.” — meaning “you imagined,” “you supposed.” - Isaiah 40:18 – וְאֶל־מִי תְדַמְּיוּן אֵל וּמַה־דְּמוּת תַּעַרְכוּ־לוֹ
“To whom then will you liken God? And what likeness will you compare to Him?” - Hosea 4:6 – (related use in sense of being destroyed: נִדְמ֥וּ עַמִּ֖י, “My people are destroyed,” a distinct homonym from a separate root.)
Summary
The verb דָּמָה expresses comparison (“to resemble, to be like”) and supposition (“to think, to imagine”). It often appears in theological or philosophical contexts, especially when contrasting human perceptions with divine reality. Though it shares forms with a second root meaning “to be silent or perish,” the dominant biblical usage emphasizes likeness and reflection.
