דִּמְיֹן (dim.yon)
dim.yon
likeness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun dimyon means "likeness" or "resemblance." It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 17:12. In this verse, David describes his enemies as lions that are eager to tear him apart. The word highlights the visual and behavioral similarity between the attackers and wild predators.
This single usage emphasizes a striking comparison rather than an abstract concept. By calling his foes a "likeness" of a lion, the psalmist conveys their ferocity and danger through a concrete image. The term serves to illustrate the threat David faces, grounding the emotional intensity of the prayer in a vivid, recognizable natural world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dimyon appears just once in Scripture, carrying the weight of a vivid comparison. In Psalm 17:12, David uses it to describe his enemies as having the likeness of a lion. This is not an abstract theological term but a concrete image of danger and ferocity. It helps us understand that spiritual battles often feel real, physical, and threatening.
When you face opposition or fear, this single verse reminds you that your feelings are valid. David did not minimize his threat; he named it clearly before God. He saw the lion-like nature of his adversaries and brought that honest assessment into prayer. This shows us that acknowledging danger is part of faithful trust.
God invites you to bring your specific fears to Him, just as David did. You do not need to pretend everything is fine when it feels dangerous. By naming the 'likeness' of your challenges, you invite God’s protection into the situation. His care meets you in the honesty of your prayer.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- likeness/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דִּמְיֹנ֗/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 17:12
He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
This verse uses dimyon to create a striking visual comparison between David's enemies and a lion, emphasizing their predatory nature rather than offering a general definition of resemblance.