דִּיג

דִּיג

to fish

Definition

The Hebrew verb דִּיג (dîyg) means 'to fish' or 'to catch fish.' It is a specific term for the act of fishing, distinct from the noun for fish itself. Its only biblical occurrence is in Jeremiah 16:16, where it is used metaphorically for God's act of hunting down His people in judgment. In this context, the word carries the connotation of a deliberate, skilled, and inescapable pursuit, much like a fisherman expertly catching fish.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 16:16. It appears in a prophetic oracle of judgment. The usage is metaphorical: God declares He will send for many 'fishers' to 'fish' for the people of Israel as a consequence of their idolatry. The context is one of divine pursuit and inescapable consequence, using the familiar cultural practice of fishing as a powerful image.

Etymology

דִּיג (dîyg) is a denominative verb derived from the noun דָּג (dâg, H1709), meaning 'fish.' This means the verb's meaning, 'to fish,' is directly formed from the noun for the object being caught. It is related to other Semitic words for fishing, such as the Ugaritic *dgy*.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, דִּיג is theologically significant in its context. In Jeremiah 16:16, it transforms a mundane, everyday activity into a profound metaphor for God's active judgment. It portrays God not as a passive observer but as a sovereign initiator who sends agents (the 'fishers') to relentlessly pursue His rebellious people. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting the inescapable and deliberate nature of divine discipline, contrasting with the people's false sense of security. In ancient Israel, fishing was a common subsistence activity, especially around the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean coast. It involved techniques like net-casting (Isaiah 19:8) and hook-and-line (Job 41:1). The metaphor in Jeremiah would have been immediately understood by its audience: just as fish are helpless against a skilled fisherman, so too would the people be helpless before God's appointed agents of judgment (likely referring to invading armies like the Babylonians). צוּד (tsûd, H6679) — A more general term meaning 'to hunt' or 'to capture,' which can include trapping animals or capturing people. דִּיג is specifically for catching fish.

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