דָּלָה
properly, to dangle, i.e. to let down abucket (for drawing out water); figuratively, to deliver
Definition
The Hebrew verb דָּלָה (dâlâh) primarily means 'to draw (water)' by lowering a bucket into a well, as seen in Exodus 2:16, 19. This literal action of letting something down gives rise to its figurative meaning of 'to deliver' or 'to lift up' from a dire situation. In Psalm 30:1, David uses it poetically, declaring, 'I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up,' expressing God's rescue from distress. The sense of drawing out something hidden or deep is also present in Proverbs 20:5, which speaks of drawing out counsel from the heart.
Biblical Usage
דָּלָה is used four times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, poetic, and wisdom literature. Its literal usage is found in Exodus 2, where Moses helps the daughters of Reuel draw water for their flocks. The figurative usage appears in the Psalms and Proverbs, applying the concept of drawing up water to the spiritual realities of divine deliverance (Psalm 30:1) and extracting deep counsel (Proverbs 20:5). This shows a pattern where a concrete, everyday action becomes a metaphor for God's intervention and human wisdom.
Etymology
Derived from a primitive root meaning 'to hang,' 'to be low,' or 'to dangle.' It is related to דָּלַל (dâlal, H1809), which means 'to be low' or 'to languish.' The core idea involves a downward motion (letting down) that results in an upward result (drawing up), a concept embedded in its usage for both drawing water and being rescued.
Semantic Range
This word enriches the biblical theme of God as deliverer. The imagery of drawing water from a deep well powerfully illustrates salvation: God reaches down into human desperation to lift us up. In Psalm 30:1, it personalizes rescue, moving from a physical act to a testimony of God's faithfulness. Understanding this Hebrew verb adds depth to passages about God's saving acts, connecting everyday sustenance (water) with spiritual deliverance.
In the ancient Near East, drawing water from a well was a daily, essential, and often communal task, typically performed by women. Wells were vital sources of life and social hubs. The action of דָּלָה required strength and skill to lower a heavy, water-filled container. This cultural backdrop makes its figurative use for deliverance vivid—it was an act of drawing up a life-sustaining resource from a deep, inaccessible place, much like God's salvation.
עָלָה (ʿālâ, H5927) — means 'to go up, ascend'; focuses on the upward movement itself, whereas דָּלָה emphasizes the process of drawing up from below. יָשַׁע (yāshaʿ, H3467) — means 'to save, deliver'; a broader, more common term for salvation, while דָּלָה carries the specific metaphorical imagery of being drawn out like water.
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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