דָּלִיָּה
something dangling, i.e. a bough
Definition
The Hebrew noun דָּלִיָּה (dâlîyâh) refers to a 'dangling branch' or 'bough,' specifically a flexible, hanging shoot of a tree or vine. It describes a branch that is pendulous, often one that can be transplanted or that hangs down from the main trunk. In Ezekiel 17, it is used for a tender twig or shoot that is taken and planted (Ezekiel 17:6-7, 23), while in Ezekiel 31, it refers to the majestic, spreading boughs of the great cedar, symbolizing power and reach (Ezekiel 31:7, 9, 12). In Jeremiah 11:16 and Ezekiel 19:11, it carries the sense of a fruitful, strong branch.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the prophetic books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, always in metaphorical or allegorical contexts. In Jeremiah 11:16, God calls Israel a 'green olive tree' with beautiful 'branches' (dâlîyâh). In Ezekiel, it is central to two extended allegories: the parable of the two eagles and the vine (Ezekiel 17), where it represents a royal shoot taken and planted, and the lament for Pharaoh as a great cedar (Ezekiel 31), where its boughs symbolize the extent and pride of his empire. The usage consistently depicts nations or rulers as trees, with the dâlîyâh representing their offspring, influence, or vitality.
Etymology
Derived from the root דָּלָה (dâlâh, H1802), meaning 'to draw (water),' 'to lift up,' or 'to hang down.' The noun form דָּלִיָּה captures the sense of something that is drawn out or hangs down, hence a 'dangling' branch. Cognates in other Semitic languages carry similar meanings related to drawing or dangling.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is used in key prophetic allegories about God's sovereignty over nations. In Ezekiel 17, the planting of the dâlîyâh (Ezekiel 17:22-23) foreshadows God's future work of restoring the Davidic line and establishing his kingdom. In Ezekiel 31, the fallen dâlîyâh of the great cedar illustrates God's judgment on human pride and imperial arrogance. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these passages by highlighting the imagery of something tender yet transplantable (for hope and restoration) and something majestic yet vulnerable (for warning and judgment), both ultimately under God's control.
In an agrarian society, the image of a branch or bough was a powerful symbol of life, lineage, and stability. A 'dangling' or flexible branch (unlike a rigid limb) specifically suggested something that could be easily cut, transplanted, or broken off, making it a fitting metaphor for the fate of dynasties and nations. The cedar boughs in Ezekiel 31 would have evoked the grandeur and prized timber of the legendary cedars of Lebanon, symbols of supreme strength and pride in the ancient Near East.
עָנָף (ʿānāp̄, H6057) — a general term for branch or bough, often implying foliage. צֶמַח (ṣemach, H6780) — a sprout, shoot, or growth, often used messianically. כְּפָר (kᵉp̄ār, H3710) — a village, but in some contexts a branch (rare).
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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