Bible Word Study
דּוֹנַג
dôwnag · wax;
דּוֹנַג
wax;
Definition
The Hebrew noun דּוֹנַג (dôwnag) refers to wax, a soft, malleable substance derived from bees or other sources. In the Old Testament, it is used exclusively in poetic and prophetic contexts to symbolize something that melts or dissolves under intense heat or pressure. For example, in Psalm 22:14, the psalmist describes his heart melting like wax within him, conveying extreme fear and distress. Similarly, in Psalm 97:5, the mountains melt like wax before the Lord, illustrating God's overwhelming power and majesty in judgment.
Biblical Usage
This word appears four times in the Old Testament, all in poetic books: three times in Psalms (22:14; 68:2; 97:5) and once in Micah (1:4). It is consistently used metaphorically to describe melting or dissolution. In Psalms, it depicts either human emotional collapse (Psalm 22:14) or the earth's response to God's presence (Psalms 68:2; 97:5). In Micah 1:4, it portrays mountains melting under God's wrath, emphasizing divine judgment. The usage is always figurative, never literal.
Etymology
The etymology of דּוֹנַג is uncertain, with no clear root in Biblical Hebrew. It may be related to an ancient Semitic root for 'melt' or 'soften,' given its consistent metaphorical use. Cognates appear in other Semitic languages, such as Ugaritic 'dng,' also meaning wax. The word's development seems tied to its physical property of melting, which directly informs its biblical imagery.
Semantic Range
דּוֹנַג is theologically significant as a vivid metaphor for human fragility before God and the unstoppable force of divine intervention. It underscores themes like human vulnerability in distress (Psalm 22:14) and creation's submission to God's sovereignty (Psalm 97:5). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches Bible reading by highlighting how biblical poets used everyday materials to convey profound spiritual truths about God's power and human experience. In ancient Israel, wax was a familiar substance, primarily from beeswax used in sealing, writing tablets, and crafts. Its melting point was well-known, making it an effective metaphor for dissolution. Unlike today, where wax has many synthetic forms, biblical references assume natural beeswax, which softens easily with heat. This cultural familiarity made the metaphor immediately understandable to original audiences. נֵסֶךְ (nesek, H5262) — refers to a poured-out libation or molten image, not wax; שַׁעֲוָה (shaʿawah, H1748) — a rare synonym for wax, used only in Psalm 119:83, possibly emphasizing dryness or waste.
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]