דְּלִי
a pail or jar (for drawing water)
Definition
The Hebrew noun דְּלִי (dᵉlîy) refers to a vessel used for drawing water, specifically a bucket or pail. In its two biblical occurrences, it consistently denotes a simple, portable container for lifting water from a well or spring. In Numbers 24:7, the prophet Balaam uses it metaphorically in a blessing, speaking of a king whose kingdom will be exalted and who will 'pour water from his buckets,' symbolizing abundance and prosperity. In Isaiah 40:15, the word is used in a powerful simile of God's sovereignty, where the nations are considered as insignificant as a 'drop from a bucket' or the fine dust on its scales, emphasizing their utter smallness compared to the Lord.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts. In Numbers 24:7, it appears in a poetic oracle of blessing, used metaphorically for abundant provision. In Isaiah 40:15, it is used in a prophetic context to create a vivid simile about the comparative insignificance of the nations before God. Both uses are figurative, drawing on the common, everyday object to illustrate a spiritual truth, rather than describing the physical object itself in a narrative.
Etymology
The noun דְּלִי (dᵉlîy) is derived from the root verb דָּלָה (dālâ, H1802), which means 'to draw (water),' 'to lift up,' or 'to be dangling.' This root connection clearly defines the object by its function: it is the tool used for the act of drawing. The word's form emphasizes its role as the instrument or product of the drawing action.
Semantic Range
Though a common object, דְּלִי gains theological weight through its metaphorical use. In Numbers 24:7, it contributes to an image of messianic abundance and blessing under a coming ruler. More profoundly, in Isaiah 40:15, it is central to one of Scripture's most striking depictions of God's transcendent majesty and the relative smallness of human power structures. Understanding this humble word enriches the reading of these passages, grounding grand theological concepts—divine sovereignty and provision—in the tangible reality of daily life in the ancient Near East.
In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, drawing water was a daily, essential task, primarily done by women using a rope and a bucket lowered into a well. The דְּלִי was therefore a familiar, vital household object. Its use in Scripture assumes this shared cultural understanding, making the metaphors in Numbers 24:7 (abundance) and Isaiah 40:15 (insignificance) immediately relatable to the original audience.
כַּד (kad, H3537) — a larger jar or pitcher for carrying water, not specifically for the drawing action. נֹאד (nōʾd, H4997) — a skin bottle or wineskin, made of leather, for storing and transporting liquids.
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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