דֶּ֫לֶף (de.leph)
de.leph
dripping
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 delaf literally describes the act of dripping or dropping, such as rain falling steadily. In the biblical text, this concrete image appears in only two verses, both located within the wisdom literature of Proverbs. The word evokes a persistent, rhythmic sound rather than a sudden downpour, suggesting something that wears away through constant repetition.
Its most striking usage is metaphorical. Proverbs 27:15 and 21:9 compare a contentious wife to a continual dripping on a rainy day. Here, the physical annoyance of persistent moisture becomes a vivid picture for emotional fatigue. The comparison highlights how steady irritation can be more draining than occasional outbursts, wearing down patience like water wears away stone.
Translators typically render this word as "dripping" or "leaking" to preserve the sensory detail. This choice keeps the focus on the relentless nature of the problem. The text does not describe a storm, but a steady, inescapable leak that makes shelter unbearable. This specific imagery underscores the wisdom tradition’s attention to the quiet, cumulative effects of discord in daily life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word delaf paints a quiet but persistent picture of water dripping steadily, like rain that never quite stops. In Proverbs, this image captures the exhausting nature of constant friction in a home. It is not the sudden storm that breaks windows, but the slow, rhythmic leak that seeps into every corner, wearing down patience and peace over time.
When we face ongoing disagreements or sharp words, it helps to recognize how cumulative stress works. Just as a steady drip can eventually erode stone, repeated irritation can dull our joy and strain relationships. This wisdom invites us to notice the small moments of tension before they become unmanageable burdens.
Peace in our lives often depends on addressing these quiet leaks early. By choosing gentleness over contention, we protect the sanctuary of our homes from the wear and tear of constant conflict. May you find strength in cultivating an atmosphere where patience flows more freely than frustration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ [are] a dripping1×
- a dripping1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/דֶ֥לֶף1×
- דֶּ֣לֶף1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 19:13
A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
This verse links a foolish child’s actions with a wife’s quarrels, using the dripping image to show how domestic discord becomes a heavy burden for the father.
-
Proverbs 27:15
A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
Here the comparison is extended to include a rainy day, emphasizing that the annoyance of a contentious spouse is as inescapable and draining as persistent weather.