דָּהַם (da.ham)
da.ham
to astonish
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb daḥam means to astonish or astound, conveying a sense of being struck by surprise or confusion. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Jeremiah 14:9, where it describes the prophet’s state of mind during a time of national crisis.
In this single occurrence, God uses the Niphal participle to depict Himself as "like a man astounded." This is a striking image, suggesting that even the Divine response to Israel’s sin involves a profound shock or bewilderment at their rebellion. The word captures not just surprise, but a deep, disorienting reaction to an unexpected and troubling reality.
Though rare, daḥam highlights the emotional weight of Jeremiah’s message: God is not distant or indifferent, but deeply affected by the brokenness of His people. The astonishment described here reflects the tension between divine holiness and human failure, making this brief verb a powerful lens into the heart of prophetic lament.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word daḥam describes a profound astonishment that leaves one stunned or disoriented. In Jeremiah 14:9, this term paints a startling picture of God Himself appearing like a mighty man who is astounded and unable to save. This image does not suggest divine weakness, but rather the deep pain caused by persistent human rebellion. It reveals a God who is emotionally engaged with His people, affected by their brokenness in ways that transcend simple judgment.
For believers today, this rare verb offers comfort in times of confusion. When circumstances seem overwhelming or when we struggle to understand why prayers feel unanswered, we can trust that God is not distant or indifferent. He sees the reality of our situation with full awareness. His presence remains steady even when the world around us feels chaotic.
This understanding invites us to bring our honest questions to Him. We do not need to hide our confusion or fear. Instead, we can rest in the knowledge that He is near, walking through the crisis with us. His astonishment reflects the seriousness of our condition, but it also highlights the depth of His care for those who call upon His name.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- astounded1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִדְהָ֔ם1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 14:9
Why should you be like a scared man, as a mighty man who can’t save? Yet you, Yahweh, are in the middle of us, and we are called by your name. Don’t leave us.
The word describes God as being astounded like a mighty man unable to save, emphasizing the emotional weight of His response to Israel's sin.