דָּדָה (da.dah)
da.dah
to go slowly
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb daḏah describes the act of moving slowly, carrying a sense of deliberate pace rather than mere slowness. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 38:14, where the prophet compares his own condition to that of a dove or crane. In this context, the word captures a heavy, laborious movement, reflecting the physical and emotional weight of his illness.
The lexica note that while the basic meaning is simply to move slowly, the Hithpael stem adds a nuance of walking deliberately or at ease, often in a procession. This suggests that the slowness can be intentional and dignified, not just a result of weakness. The single occurrence in Isaiah highlights a moment of profound vulnerability, where the prophet’s slow, painful steps mirror his isolation and distress.
Its rarity makes this word particularly striking. By using daḏah, the text emphasizes the tangible reality of suffering. It is not an abstract concept but a physical experience of dragging oneself forward. This specific usage reminds readers that biblical language often grounds spiritual states in bodily realities, showing how pain can alter even the most basic human actions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Isaiah describes his illness in verse 15, he uses a rare Hebrew word that means to move with heavy, deliberate slowness. It is not merely about speed; it captures the physical weight of suffering dragging a person forward. In your own life, there may be seasons where even simple tasks feel like a laborious journey. This word validates that experience, showing that God understands the tangible reality of pain and fatigue.
Isaiah’s reflection reminds us that our spiritual walk is not always a sprint. Sometimes it is a careful, measured step taken through anguish. The text suggests that walking carefully all your years is an act of faithfulness, even when strength is low. God sees the effort in those slow, painful steps and does not despise the vulnerability they reveal.
This passage invites you to trust that your current pace, however difficult, is seen and held by Him. You do not need to rush or hide your weariness. Instead, you can find comfort in knowing that God meets us in our weakness, turning our heavy steps into a testimony of His sustaining grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I will walk deliberately1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֶדַּדֶּ֥ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 38:15
What will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul.
This verse uses the verb to describe walking carefully all years due to soul anguish, linking physical slowness directly to emotional distress.