דָּמַע (da.ma)
da.ma
to weep
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb da.ma means simply to weep or shed tears. In the Bible, it appears with striking rarity, occurring only once in Jeremiah 13:17. This scarcity gives the word a focused weight, marking a moment of intense personal sorrow rather than general mourning.
Its usage here is deeply concrete. The prophet uses it to describe the physical reaction of his eyes as he witnesses the coming judgment on Judah. The act of weeping is not abstract; it is the visible sign of a heart broken by the reality of loss and divine displeasure.
Because it stands alone in this specific context, da.ma highlights the raw human response to tragedy. It captures the immediate, involuntary flow of tears that accompanies grief, serving as a poignant reminder of the emotional depth required when facing catastrophic change.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life brings heavy burdens, it is okay to let your feelings show. The Hebrew word da.ma describes weeping as a natural, physical response to deep sorrow. It reminds us that grief is not a sign of weak faith but a honest reaction to pain. Even prophets expressed raw emotion when facing difficult truths.
In Jeremiah 13:17, the prophet weeps bitterly for his people. This shows that God understands our tears. You do not need to hide your sadness from Him. He sees your heart and welcomes your honesty in times of trouble.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it will weep1×
- and/ utterly <to weep>1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּדְמַ֜ע1×
- וְ/דָמֹ֨עַ1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 13:17
But if you will not hear it, my soul will weep in secret for your pride. My eye will weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because Yahweh’s flock has been taken captive.
This verse highlights the physical reality of weeping as a direct response to pride and judgment, showing that tears are a valid expression of grief before God.