דּוֹנַג (do.nag)
do.nag
wax
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun donag simply means "wax." In the Bible, it appears only twice, and in both instances it is used metaphorically rather than literally. The word describes a substance that yields to heat, losing its solid form to become fluid.
This imagery of melting carries significant theological weight. In Psalm 97:5, the mountains "melt like wax" before the Lord, illustrating how created power dissolves in the presence of divine majesty. Similarly, Micah 1:3 depicts nations melting before God’s coming judgment. The focus is not on the material itself, but on its inability to withstand overwhelming force.
Translators typically render donag as "wax" to preserve this vivid picture of instability. The word serves as a stark contrast to the unshakable nature of God, showing that all earthly structures are temporary when confronted with His presence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word donag appears only twice in Scripture, yet it paints a vivid picture of how created things respond to the Creator. It means wax, a substance that holds its shape until heat arrives, at which point it yields and flows. This imagery reminds us that earthly powers, no matter how solid they seem, cannot stand against God’s presence.
When Psalm 97 describes mountains melting like wax before Yahweh, it is not speaking of geology but of sovereignty. The highest peaks dissolve when confronted with divine majesty. Similarly, Micah shows nations crumbling like wax before fire. This offers comfort to those who feel overwhelmed by the instability of the world. What seems permanent today may pass away tomorrow, but God remains unshakable.
This truth invites us to rest in His stability rather than our own strength. We do not need to fear the shifting foundations of human systems because the Lord of all the earth stands firm. Our hope is anchored in Him, who does not melt or fade when trials come.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like <the>/ wax2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כַּ/דּוֹנַג֙1×
- כַּ/דּוֹנַ֗ג1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 97:5
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
This verse uses melting wax to show how even the most enduring natural features lose their power before God's presence.
-
Micah 1:4
The mountains melt under him, and the valleys split apart like wax before the fire, like waters that are poured down a steep place.
Here the simile extends to valleys splitting like wax before fire, emphasizing that judgment overcomes all earthly resistance.