דַּךְ
crushed, i.e. (figuratively) injured
Definition
The Hebrew noun דַּךְ (dak) refers to someone who is crushed, oppressed, or afflicted, primarily in a figurative sense. It describes a person who has been physically or socially broken down, often by injustice or violence, resulting in a state of vulnerability and distress. In the Psalms, the דַּךְ is the oppressed individual for whom God is a refuge and stronghold (Psalm 9:9) and whose cause God will defend (Psalm 10:18, 74:21). In Proverbs 26:28, the word is used differently, describing a 'crushing' or flattering tongue that ultimately brings ruin, highlighting the destructive power of deceit.
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in poetic and wisdom literature: three times in the Psalms and once in Proverbs. In Psalms 9:9, 10:18, and 74:21, it is used in prayers and laments, describing the oppressed people of God who are victims of injustice and who cry out for divine intervention and justice. The usage consistently pairs the 'crushed one' with God's role as protector and judge. In Proverbs 26:28, the usage is more abstract, applying the concept of 'crushing' to the destructive effect of a lying tongue.
Etymology
Derived from the unused root דכך (d-k-k), which conveys the sense of crushing, pulverizing, or beating down. It is cognate with the verb דָּכָה (dakah, H1790), which means to crush or be crushed. This root family paints a vivid picture of physical breaking or grinding, which was then applied metaphorically to social and spiritual oppression.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it identifies a specific category of person whom God actively defends: the oppressed and broken. It underscores God's character as a refuge for the vulnerable (Psalm 9:9) and a judge who upholds the cause of the afflicted (Psalm 10:18). Understanding דַּךְ enriches the reading of the Psalms by highlighting the covenant relationship where God's justice is specifically oriented toward restoring those crushed by powerful enemies or systems.
In ancient Israel's culture, being 'crushed' (dak) implied a total loss of social standing, legal rights, and physical security. It described the condition of the poor, the widow, the orphan, or the victim of violent conquest—those at the absolute bottom of the social hierarchy with no human advocate. This differs from a modern, more psychological understanding of affliction, as it encompassed tangible, communal, and legal ruin.
עָנִי (ani, H6041) — poor, afflicted; focuses more on lowly economic/social status. עָשׁוּק (ashuq, H6231) — oppressed; emphasizes being wronged or defrauded. דַּל (dal, H1800) — weak, poor, thin; focuses on physical or material poverty.
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.
Full methodology & sources →