דּוּחַ (du.ach)
du.ach
to wash
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb duach means to rinse or wash away, specifically by pouring liquid over something to clear it. It appears only three times in the Old Testament, primarily in Jeremiah and Isaiah, where it describes a physical act of cleaning. The word carries a sense of thoroughness, suggesting that the dirt or impurity is being flushed out rather than just touched.
In its few biblical appearances, duach often functions in the Hiphil stem, which indicates causative action. This means someone is actively rinsing another object or person. For example, in Jeremiah 4:14, the prophet uses it metaphorically to urge Jerusalem to wash the evil from their hearts, linking physical cleansing with spiritual purification. Similarly, in Isaiah 1:16, it commands washing oneself clean before approaching God, emphasizing that ritual purity requires active effort.
This word highlights the tangible connection between physical hygiene and moral integrity in ancient Israelite thought. The act of rinsing was not merely about removing visible dirt but about preparing for sacred encounters. By using duach, the biblical authors remind readers that true cleansing involves both external actions and internal transformation, setting the stage for renewed relationship with God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word duach describes rinsing something thoroughly by pouring liquid over it to clear away dirt. It appears only three times in the Old Testament, mostly in Jeremiah and Isaiah. In these texts, the act of washing is not just about physical hygiene but also points to spiritual cleansing. When God promises to wash away filth or when prophets urge people to cleanse themselves, they are calling for a deep, internal change alongside external action.
This reminds us that true purity involves both our outward behavior and our inner heart. In Isaiah 4:4, for example, the Lord washes away the blood of Jerusalem by justice and burning spirit, showing that God’s cleansing is powerful and transformative. We can trust that He cares about every part of our lives, inviting us to bring our whole selves to Him with honesty and humility.
As you reflect on this, remember that God’s desire for your life is one of renewal and peace. You do not have to clean yourself up perfectly before coming to Him; instead, you can come as you are, knowing He meets you with grace and invites you into a fresh start through His Spirit.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- people rinsed1×
- he will cleanse1×
- he rinsed out/ me1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָדִ֣יחוּ1×
- יָדִ֣יחַ1×
- הֱדִיחָֽ/נִי\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 4:4
when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from within it, by the spirit of justice and by the spirit of burning.
This verse shows God actively washing away the filth of Zion using justice and burning spirit, linking physical cleansing with divine purification.
-
II Chronicles 4:6
He also made ten basins, and put five on the right hand and five on the left, to wash in them. The things that belonged to the burnt offering were washed in them, but the sea was for the priests to wash in.
Here duach describes the practical use of basins for washing burnt offering parts, grounding spiritual rituals in tangible acts of care.
-
Jeremiah 51:34
“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me. He has crushed me. He has made me an empty vessel. He has, like a monster, swallowed me up. He has filled his mouth with my delicacies. He has cast me out.
Though this verse uses imagery of being devoured rather than washed, it contrasts Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction with the need for God’s restorative cleansing elsewhere in Jeremiah.