דַּכָּא
crushed (literally powder, or figuratively, contrite)
Definition
The Hebrew noun דַּכָּא (dakkâʼ) describes something that is thoroughly crushed or pulverized. It can refer to literal, physical destruction, as seen in Psalm 90:3 where God turns humanity back to 'dust' or crushed powder. More significantly, it is used figuratively to describe a spiritual state of being 'contrite'—a person whose inner pride is broken and humbled before God. This figurative sense is central in passages like Psalm 34:18, where God is near to the 'brokenhearted' and 'crushed in spirit,' and Isaiah 57:15, where God revives the heart of the 'contrite.'
Biblical Usage
This word appears only three times in the Old Testament, exclusively in poetic and prophetic books (Psalms and Isaiah). Its usage consistently portrays a state of profound brokenness, whether physical or spiritual. In Psalm 90:3, it describes the physical mortality of humans returning to dust. In its two other occurrences (Psalm 34:18 and Isaiah 57:15), it describes the inner, spiritual condition of humility and repentance that God values and draws near to.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb דָּכָא (dākāʼ, H1792), which means 'to crush,' 'to pulverize,' or 'to beat into pieces.' The noun form דַּכָּא intensifies this concept, indicating the end result of that crushing action—something reduced to powder or a state of complete contrition. Cognate words in related Semitic languages carry similar meanings of grinding or trampling.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the heart posture God desires: humility and repentance. It contrasts human pride with a spirit that is 'crushed' by the weight of sin and dependence on God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by showing that God's promise to dwell with the 'contrite' (Isaiah 57:15) and be near the 'crushed' (Psalm 34:18) is not about general sadness, but about a specific, humble brokenness that opens the door to divine grace and restoration.
In an ancient Near Eastern context, the imagery of being crushed to powder would have been viscerally understood from daily life—grinding grain with a millstone or trampling materials underfoot. This physical reality powerfully illustrated total defeat, worthlessness, or finitude. The application to the human spirit conveyed a complete surrender of self-sufficiency, a concept counter to cultures that often valued strength and honor.
שָׁבָר (shāḇār, H7667) — 'broken'; often used for physical breaking, but can also refer to a broken heart or spirit, with a focus on the act of breaking rather than the resulting powder-like state. עָנִי (ʿānî, H6041) — 'afflicted' or 'poor'; focuses more on the condition of lowliness or oppression, not necessarily the process of being crushed.
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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