דֹּדָה (do.dah)
do.dah
aunt
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun dodah refers specifically to an aunt, distinguishing this kinship tie within the ancient Israelite family structure. While the more common term for relatives like uncles or cousins is dōd, dodah marks a precise generational link through either the mother’s or father’s side.
This word appears in only three verses in the Hebrew Bible, all situated in the legal texts of Exodus and Leviticus. These passages deal with marriage restrictions and inheritance laws, highlighting how extended family networks were regulated to maintain social order and purity within the community.
The rarity of the term suggests it was a standard, everyday word for describing this specific relationship rather than a poetic or technical innovation. Its limited usage underscores the importance of clear genealogical definitions in the Priestly codes, where knowing exactly who counts as an aunt was necessary for applying the law correctly.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dodah identifies an aunt, marking a specific and close link in the ancient Israelite family tree. It appears in only three verses, all within legal codes that regulated marriage and inheritance. These laws were not about restricting love, but about protecting the family structure from confusion and conflict. By defining exactly who is considered immediate kin, the community could maintain clear boundaries and social order.
For modern readers, this precision reminds us that relationships matter deeply to God. The Bible cares about how we treat our extended family, ensuring that care and respect flow in the right directions. When we understand these ancient distinctions, we see a God who values clarity, integrity, and the health of community bonds.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- father's sister/ his1×
- aunt/ his1×
- [is] aunt/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דֹּדָֽתְ/ךָ֖1×
- דֹּֽדָת/וֹ֙1×
- דֹּ֣דָת֔/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 6:20
Amram took Jochebed his father’s sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. The years of the life of Amram were one hundred thirty-seven years.
This verse identifies Jochebed as Amram's father's sister, using the concept behind dodah to establish the lineage of Moses and Aaron.
-
Leviticus 18:14
“‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt.
Here the text explicitly calls the uncle's wife 'your aunt,' defining a boundary for marital conduct within the extended family.
-
Leviticus 20:20
If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness. They shall bear their sin. They shall die childless.
This passage reiterates the prohibition against relations with an aunt, emphasizing the seriousness of maintaining these familial boundaries.