דִּיג (dig)
dig
to fish
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb dig means to fish or catch fish. It is a denominative verb, derived directly from the noun dag (fish), which gives it a clear and specific focus on the act of capturing aquatic life.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Jeremiah 16:16. The prophet uses it in a striking metaphor where God declares He will send many fishermen to catch Israel. This imagery shifts from traditional hunters to fishers, suggesting a comprehensive and inescapable gathering of people for judgment or restoration.
Translators typically render this verb as "fish" or "catch fish." The singular usage highlights the power of metaphor in prophetic literature, where everyday activities like fishing become vivid symbols for divine action. The word anchors the prophecy in a concrete, recognizable image of being drawn out from hiding.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word dig appears just once in Scripture, carrying the simple meaning of fishing. In Jeremiah 16:16, God uses this image to describe a time when He will send fishermen to gather His people. This metaphor suggests that no matter how deeply someone hides or how far they run, God’s reach is thorough and certain.
For believers today, this word reminds us that we are known completely. There are no secrets from Him, yet this gathering is not always about fear. It points to a divine initiative where God actively seeks those who have wandered. The image of fishing evokes the idea of being drawn out from the depths, pulled from isolation into the light of His presence.
This assurance can bring comfort during seasons of uncertainty. Knowing that God pursues us with such specific intent means we are never truly lost or forgotten. It invites us to rest in the knowledge that our lives are held within His careful and purposeful design.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ they will fish out/ them1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/דִיג֑וּ/ם1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 16:16
“Behold, I will send for many fishermen,” says Yahweh, “and they will fish them up. Afterward I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain, from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.
This verse establishes the word as a metaphor for God's comprehensive gathering of people, shifting from hunting imagery to fishing to emphasize an inescapable and thorough collection.