דְּמָה
to resemble
Definition
The Hebrew verb דְּמָה (dᵉmâh) means 'to be like' or 'to resemble.' It is used in the Aramaic portions of the Book of Daniel to describe a visual or formal similarity between two entities. In Daniel 3:25, it describes the appearance of a fourth figure in the fiery furnace as being 'like a son of the gods.' In Daniel 7:5, it is used to depict a beast that 'resembled a bear,' emphasizing its comparative form. The word focuses on outward likeness or analogy rather than exact identity.
Biblical Usage
This verb occurs exclusively in the Aramaic sections of the Book of Daniel, specifically in two visionary or supernatural contexts. In Daniel 3:25, it is used in King Nebuchadnezzar's astonished report of a divine figure in the flames. In Daniel 7:5, it appears within Daniel's own apocalyptic vision of successive empires symbolized by beasts. In both cases, the word is employed to convey a striking visual comparison within a narrative of divine revelation and power.
Etymology
דְּמָה (dᵉmâh) is an Aramaic verb corresponding to the Hebrew root דָּמָה (H1819), which carries the core meaning of 'to be like' or 'to compare.' This Aramaic form is used within the Hebrew Bible, reflecting the bilingual nature of Daniel. The root is associated with concepts of similitude and analogy, linking to words for 'likeness' (דְּמוּת) and the idea of being silent or still (דָּמַם), perhaps from the notion of one thing being comparable to another.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is used in key passages describing divine manifestations and symbolic visions. In Daniel 3:25, it helps articulate a theophany—an appearance of a divine being—that prefigures later understandings of God's presence with His people. In Daniel 7:5, it contributes to the apocalyptic imagery interpreting human kingdoms. Understanding this term enriches the reading of Daniel by highlighting how God uses comparative language ('like' or 'resembling') to reveal spiritual realities through human analogies within prophetic literature.
In its original Aramaic setting, the word functioned in a court and visionary context, used by both a Babylonian king (Daniel 3) and a Jewish seer (Daniel 7). The concept of describing something as 'like' another was a common literary and rhetorical device in ancient Near Eastern prophecy and court chronicles to convey extraordinary sights. The use of Aramaic, the lingua franca of the empire, made these divine revelations comprehensible within a broader imperial context.
דָּמָה (dāmâh, H1819) — The direct Hebrew counterpart, also meaning 'to be like' or 'compare,' used in poetic and prophetic texts. דָּמַם (dāmam, H1820) — A homographic root meaning 'to be silent' or 'cease,' showing a different semantic development from a potential shared core idea of 'being still' or 'fixed for comparison.'
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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