Bible Word Study
דּוֹדָה
dôwdâh · an aunt
דּוֹדָה
an aunt
Definition
The Hebrew noun דּוֹדָה refers to a female relative, specifically an aunt. In the biblical context, it denotes either a father's sister (Exodus 6:20) or the wife of a paternal uncle (Leviticus 18:14). The term is used in legal texts to define prohibited degrees of kinship for marriage, establishing clear familial boundaries within Israelite society. Its precise meaning is determined by the specific relational context in each passage.
Biblical Usage
This word occurs only three times in the Old Testament, exclusively within the legal and genealogical material of the Torah. It appears in a genealogical note about Moses's family (Exodus 6:20) and twice in the Holiness Code of Leviticus, which lists forbidden sexual relations (Leviticus 18:14, 20:20). Its usage is strictly technical, defining a specific familial relationship for legal and genealogical purposes.
Etymology
דּוֹדָה is the feminine form of the noun דּוֹד (dôwd, H1730), which primarily means 'beloved' or 'uncle.' The derivation from a root meaning 'to love' or 'to boil' suggests an affectionate or close familial bond. The feminine form specifically designates the female counterpart to the male 'uncle' or 'beloved' relative.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a familial term, its theological significance emerges from its use in the Levitical law. The prohibitions involving an 'aunt' (Leviticus 18:14, 20:20) are part of the holiness code that distinguishes Israel's family and sexual ethics from surrounding nations. Understanding this term helps clarify the boundaries God established for familial purity and the preservation of clear lineage within the covenant community. In ancient Israelite culture, extended family relationships were clearly defined and carried specific social and legal obligations. The term 'aunt' (דּוֹדָה) specified a close kinship that involved both honor and restriction. The marital prohibitions concerning aunts reflect a cultural emphasis on maintaining clear family lines and preventing the confusion of relational roles within the clan or tribe, which was crucial for inheritance and social stability. דּוֹד (dôwd, H1730) — The masculine counterpart, meaning 'uncle' or 'beloved.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]