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דָּג (dag)

dag

Fish (Gate)

H1709 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 12 verses

H:N-M

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
12 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
H:N-M

Definition

Definition

fish

Brown-Driver-Briggs

דָּג n.m. fish

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fish

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew word dag simply means fish. In the Old Testament, it appears in two distinct ways: as part of creation’s abundance and as a specific location within Jerusalem. When used for the animal, it highlights God’s provision for all living creatures. The gate reference points to a real place where daily life and trade happened.

For your faith, this word reminds you that God cares about both the natural world and the details of human community. Whether you are thinking about stewardship of creation or the rhythms of city life, dag shows that nothing is too small for God’s notice. It invites you to see the sacred in the ordinary.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • [the] fish of4×
  • the/ fish3×
  • the/ fish<es>1×
  • like/ [the] fish of1×
  • like <the>/ fish<es>1×
  • fish1×
  • and/ [the] fish<es> of1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • דְּגֵ֥י3×
  • הַ/דָּגִ֔ים2×
  • כַּ/דָּגִים֙1×
  • כִּ/דְגֵ֣י1×
  • וּ/דְגֵ֣י1×
  • הַ/דָּגִים֙1×
  • הַ/דָּגִ֗ים1×
  • דָּ֖אג1×
  • דְּגֵ֣י1×

Key Verses

  • Genesis 9:2
    The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that moves along the ground, and all the fish of the sea, are delivered into your hand.

    This verse places fish under human care after the flood, showing their role in the restored order of creation.

  • Nehemiah 3:3
    The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

    Here the word names a specific gate rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah, grounding the term in Jerusalem’s physical history.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:12
    For man also doesn’t know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.

    Solomon uses fish caught in a net as a metaphor for how sudden events can trap people unexpectedly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word dag mean?

Dag (Strong's H1709) translates directly to 'fish'. It is a common noun used throughout the Old Testament to refer to aquatic animals or, in specific contexts, to a gate in Jerusalem named after the fish trade.

Why is there a Fish Gate in Jerusalem?

The Fish Gate (Nehemiah 3:3) was likely so named because it was near the market where fish were sold or because fishermen brought their catch to that part of the city. It served as an entry point for goods and people.

How is dag used in the Bible?

It appears in creation accounts (Genesis 9:2), wisdom literature describing human vulnerability (Ecclesiastes 9:12), and prophetic warnings about judgment (Hosea 4:3). It also identifies a physical location in Nehemiah’s wall reconstruction.

Every Occurrence (12 verses across 9 books)

Genesis 1 verse
Numbers 1 verse
II Chronicles 1 verse
Nehemiah 3 verses
Job 1 verse
Ecclesiastes 1 verse
Hosea 1 verse
Habakkuk 1 verse
Zephaniah 2 verses