דְּלִי (de.li)
de.li
bucket
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun deli refers simply to a bucket or dipper, a basic vessel used for drawing water. In the Hebrew Bible, this object appears in only two verses, yet its presence highlights the physical reality of daily life in ancient Israel. It is not a decorative item but a functional tool, essential for accessing water from deep wells or cisterns.
Its occurrences anchor it in specific narrative contexts: Numbers 11:7 describes manna as looking like coriander seed and resembling bdellium, while Isaiah 40:12 uses the image of measuring waters in a deli to illustrate God’s infinite power. In both cases, the bucket serves as a concrete metaphor for human limitation or divine scale. The word itself carries no abstract theological weight beyond this tangible utility.
Translators consistently render deli as "bucket" or "dipper," avoiding ambiguity. This precision reminds readers that biblical language often grounds profound truths in everyday objects. The simplicity of the term reflects a culture where such vessels were common, making the imagery immediately understandable to its original audience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word deli simply means a bucket or dipper. It was a common tool used to draw water from deep wells or cisterns. In ancient Israel, this object was not decorative but essential for daily survival. Its presence in Scripture reminds us that God often uses ordinary items to convey profound truths.
In Isaiah 40:15, the prophet uses the image of nations being like a drop in a bucket to illustrate God's infinite power. This comparison helps us see how small our worries can seem when viewed against the vastness of God's sovereignty. It is a comforting thought that the Creator who holds all waters in His hand also cares for our individual needs.
While the word itself carries no abstract theological weight, its usage anchors us in the reality of God's scale versus human limitation. We can trust that the One who measures the world with such precision is faithful to sustain us in our daily lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ buckets/ its1×
- from/ a bucket1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/דָּ֣לְיָ֔/ו1×
- מִ/דְּלִ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 40:15
Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance. Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing.
This verse uses the bucket as a metaphor to show how insignificant nations are compared to God's greatness, emphasizing His sovereign control over history.
-
Numbers 24:7
Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.
Here the term appears in a blessing where water flowing from buckets symbolizes abundance and prosperity for the people of Israel.