דְּמָה (de.mah)
de.mah
be like
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb demah simply means "to be like" or "to resemble." It functions as a straightforward comparative term, appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the book of Daniel. Its usage is limited but clear, serving to draw a direct parallel between two subjects without adding complex theological nuance.
One notable instance occurs in Daniel 3:25, where King Nebuchadnezzar observes four figures walking in the fiery furnace and declares them to be like "a son of the gods." Here, demah bridges the gap between the human reality of the three youths and the divine appearance of the fourth figure. The word highlights a striking similarity that defies natural explanation, anchoring the king’s awe in a simple act of comparison.
This term is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew damah (H1819). While Hebrew often uses more varied vocabulary for comparison, Daniel’s Aramaic sections rely on this concise verb to establish identity or likeness. Translators typically render it as "like" or "as," preserving its plain descriptive power in contexts where visual or spiritual resemblance is the primary focus.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word demah serves as a simple bridge of comparison, reminding us that likeness often reveals deeper truths than we initially see. In Daniel 3:25, King Nebuchadnezzar sees four figures in the fire and notes that the fourth appears like a son of the gods. This observation shifts his perspective from fear to awe, recognizing a divine presence alongside the faithful youths.
When life feels overwhelming or confusing, this word invites us to look closer at who walks beside us. The similarity between the human and the divine in that furnace story shows that God enters our hardest moments without demanding we explain them first. We do not need complex arguments to find comfort; sometimes a simple recognition of His nearness is enough.
This gentle term encourages trust in unseen companionship. Even when circumstances seem impossible, the presence of God can transform fear into wonder. You are never alone in your struggles, and His closeness often becomes most visible when we simply observe with open eyes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was] like1×
- [is] like1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דָּמֵ֖ה1×
- דָּמְיָ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 3:25
He answered, “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
The king uses this word to identify a divine figure standing alongside the faithful youths, shifting his focus from their punishment to God's presence.
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Daniel 7:5
“Behold, there was another animal, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. They said this to it: ‘Arise! Devour much flesh!’
This verse employs the term to describe an animal resembling a bear, establishing a visual parallel that helps the reader understand the beast's nature and power.