דָּם
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy
Definition
The Hebrew noun דָּם (dâm) primarily means 'blood' as the vital fluid of humans and animals. Its most fundamental sense is blood as the essence of life, which belongs to God alone, as established in Genesis 9:4-6 where consuming blood is forbidden because 'the life is in the blood.' By extension, it denotes 'bloodshed' or violent death, as in the cry of Abel's blood from the ground (Genesis 4:10). In a few symbolic contexts, it can refer to the 'juice of the grape' (e.g., Deuteronomy 32:14) or, in ritual settings, the blood of sacrifices used for atonement on the altar (e.g., Leviticus 17:11).
Biblical Usage
The word appears 293 times across the Old Testament, with heavy concentration in the Pentateuch (especially Leviticus) concerning sacrificial law and ritual purity. It is used literally for the physical blood of humans (Genesis 37:22), animals (Genesis 9:4), and in sacrifices (Exodus 12:7). It is also used metaphorically for guilt from murder or violence ('bloodguiltiness,' as in 2 Samuel 21:1) and for judicial execution (Genesis 9:6). The plural form often intensifies the idea of bloodshed or violence (e.g., Psalm 106:38).
Etymology
Derived from the root דָּמַם (dāmam, H1826), meaning 'to be silent, cease, or be still,' possibly evoking the stillness of death when blood is shed. It is cognate with אָדַם (ʾādam, H119), 'to be red,' linking the word to the color of blood and to 'Adam' (humanity), highlighting a connection between life, humanity, and blood.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically central, establishing the principle that 'the life is in the blood' (Leviticus 17:11, 14). Blood represents life itself, which belongs to God, making it sacred. In the sacrificial system, blood is the God-appointed means of atonement, ritually cleansing and covering sin, which prefigures the atoning blood of Christ in the New Testament. Understanding דָּם enriches reading by clarifying why bloodshed requires reckoning (Genesis 9:5) and why sacrificial blood was so significant for Israel's covenant relationship with God.
In ancient Israelite culture, blood was not merely a biological substance but the sacred seat of life (nephesh). Its shedding, outside of God-commanded sacrifice, polluted the land (Numbers 35:33). The prohibition against consuming blood (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17) set Israel apart from surrounding nations where drinking blood was sometimes practiced. Handling blood in sacrifices was a solemn, priestly duty, emphasizing its role in mediating between God and people.
נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — Often translated 'soul' or 'life,' it is the life-force that resides in the blood. חַיִם (ḥayyîm, H2416) — Means 'life' in a broader, general sense, whereas דָּם is the specific physical substance representing that life. אָשָׁם (ʾāšām, H817) — A guilt offering; related in the context of atonement and restitution for wrongs, where blood is often involved.
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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