דָּמָה

to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider

Definition

The verb דָּמָה (dâmâh) primarily means 'to compare' or 'to liken,' often involving a mental act of drawing a parallel between two things. It can describe the process of making a comparison, as in Psalm 48:9 where God's lovingkindness is 'compared' to his temple. A significant derived meaning is 'to be like' or 'to resemble,' focusing on the result of the comparison, such as in Psalm 102:6 where the psalmist is 'like' a pelican in the wilderness. In some contexts, it carries the sense of 'to think,' 'to consider,' or 'to devise,' implying a process of mental reckoning or planning, as seen in Judges 20:5 where the men of Gibeah 'devised' wickedness.

Biblical Usage

דָּמָה is used 28 times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and wisdom literature (Psalms, Job) and historical narratives. Its usage spans three main ideas. First, for direct comparison or similitude, often introduced with the preposition 'to' (לְ), as in 'who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?' (Psalm 89:6). Second, to express resemblance or being like something, as in the lament 'I am like a desert owl' (Psalm 102:6). Third, in narratives, it denotes considering or devising plans, such as the threat in Esther 4:13, 'think not that you shall escape.'

Etymology

A primitive root, דָּמָה (dâmâh) is distinct from the homonym דָּמָה (H1820) meaning 'to cease' or 'be destroyed,' though they may share an ancient connection in the idea of a 'ceasing' of distinction when two things are compared. It is related to the noun דְּמוּת (dᵊmûṯ, H1823), meaning 'likeness' or 'form,' famously used in Genesis 1:26 ('in our image, after our likeness'). The core concept is establishing a relationship of similarity, whether through active mental comparison or passive resemblance.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it underpins humanity's relationship to God and the use of analogy in Scripture. In passages like Psalm 89:6, it highlights God's incomparability, a key theme in biblical theology. Conversely, its related noun (דְּמוּת) is central to the doctrine of humanity being made in God's 'likeness' (Genesis 1:26). Understanding דָּמָה enriches reading by showing how biblical authors used comparison to explain the unknown (God's love) in terms of the known (the temple), while also guarding against equating the two, thus preserving God's transcendence.

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the act of 'comparing' or 'using similitudes' (as in the KJV of Psalm 48:9) was a fundamental teaching and rhetorical tool. Wisdom teachers and prophets used comparisons to make abstract divine truths concrete and memorable. The concept of 'being like' something in laments (e.g., Psalm 102) employs vivid, culturally understood imagery of desolation (desert birds, owls) to communicate profound personal and communal distress in a way immediate to the original audience.

מָשַׁל (māšal, H4910) — to represent, speak in a proverb or parable; often involves a longer, narrative comparison. שָׁוָה (šāwâ, H7737) — to be like, equal, or comparable; focuses more on equivalence in value or status. עָרַךְ (ʿāraḵ, H6186) — to arrange, set in order, compare; often used for setting forth arguments or comparisons side-by-side.

Word Details

Scripture References