דּוּחַ
to thrust away; figuratively, to cleanse
Definition
The Hebrew verb דּוּחַ (dûwach) primarily means 'to thrust away' or 'to push out,' conveying a sense of forceful removal. In a figurative sense, it is used to describe the act of cleansing or purging, particularly in a ritual or moral context. For example, in Isaiah 4:4, it describes God washing away the filth of Jerusalem, a spiritual cleansing. In 2 Chronicles 4:6, it refers to the practical function of the bronze sea in the temple, which was used by the priests to wash or rinse offerings, indicating a ceremonial purification.
Biblical Usage
This verb appears only four times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic books. It is used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. Literally, in 2 Chronicles 4:6, it describes the washing of sacrificial offerings. Metaphorically, in Isaiah 4:4, it refers to God's purging of sin from Jerusalem. In Jeremiah 51:34, it depicts Nebuchadnezzar violently consuming and casting out Judah. In Ezekiel 40:38, it describes a chamber for washing burnt offerings, returning to a ritual context.
Etymology
דּוּחַ is a primitive root, meaning its origin is not derived from another Hebrew word. It is related to the concept of pushing or thrusting. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the core meaning of 'to push away' or 'to wash away by pushing.' The development from the literal 'thrust away' to the figurative 'cleanse' is natural, as cleansing often involves the removal or washing away of impurity.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects physical cleansing with spiritual purification. In Isaiah 4:4, it is central to the prophecy of God's future cleansing of His people from sin and judgment, pointing to divine grace and holiness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of passages about atonement and purification, highlighting that God's forgiveness involves the active removal of sin, not just covering it. It underscores the need for both ritual and moral purity in approaching God.
In its original setting, the concept of washing or purging was deeply tied to the Israelite sacrificial system. The use in 2 Chronicles 4:6 and Ezekiel 40:38 reflects the practical and ceremonial importance of ritual purity for priests and offerings. The metaphorical use by prophets like Isaiah would resonate with an audience familiar with these temple practices, framing God's judgment and forgiveness in terms they understood from their worship life.
רחץ (rāchats, H7364) — a more general term for washing, often of people or clothes, without the forceful connotation of thrusting away; טהר (ṭāhēr, H2891) — to be clean or pure, focusing on the state of purity rather than the act of removal; כבס (kābas, H3526) — to wash or launder garments, a more specific, mundane action.
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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