דָּאָה
to dart, i.e. fly rapidly
Definition
The Hebrew verb דָּאָה (dâʼâh) describes the swift, darting motion of flight, particularly of birds of prey. It conveys a sense of rapid, powerful, and often descending movement through the air. In Deuteronomy 28:49, it depicts a distant nation swooping down like an eagle, while in poetic passages like Psalm 18:10 and its parallel in 2 Samuel 22:11, it describes the Lord riding on a cherub and 'flying swiftly' on the wings of the wind, emphasizing divine speed and majesty. The word is also used in prophetic oracles against nations (Jeremiah 48:40; 49:22) to portray an enemy, often Nebuchadnezzar or Babylon, attacking with sudden, inescapable force like a soaring eagle.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used exclusively in poetic and prophetic contexts to illustrate swift, powerful movement. It appears in a covenant curse (Deuteronomy 28:49), royal psalms of deliverance (Psalm 18:10), and prophetic judgments against Moab and Edom (Jeremiah 48:40; 49:22). The pattern is consistent: it describes either God's majestic, swift intervention or an enemy's rapid, devastating assault, always with a connotation of unstoppable momentum and often from a height.
Etymology
A primitive root, its core meaning relates to darting or rapid flight. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the idea of flying or moving quickly. The verb form is used only in the qal stem, indicating a simple, active sense of flying or darting.
Semantic Range
This word enriches the biblical portrayal of God's power and the nature of divine judgment. When applied to God (Psalm 18:10), it depicts His transcendent speed and active intervention in salvation, riding the storm as a warrior-king. When used for enemies (Deuteronomy 28:49), it frames divine judgment as an inevitable, swift force from which there is no escape. Understanding this Hebrew term deepens the imagery of God's sovereign control over history, whether in delivering His people or executing justice.
In the ancient Near East, the swift flight of birds of prey, especially eagles and vultures, was a powerful and familiar symbol of military might, sudden attack, and royal power. Biblical authors used this universally understood image to communicate the overwhelming speed and force of both divine and human actors. The modern concept of 'flight' can be more neutral, but דָּאָה carries this specific connotation of aggressive, targeted, and powerful motion.
עוּף (ʿûph, H5774) — a more general term for flying or fluttering. דָּאָה specifies rapid, darting flight, often of raptors, while עוּף can refer to any winged creature's flight. פָּרַח (pāraḥ, H6524) — to sprout, fly, or flutter; often implies a lighter, bursting forth motion, unlike the powerful descent of דָּאָה.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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