דָּרַךְ (da.rakh)
da.rakh
to tread
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 52 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb darakh primarily means to tread or walk, but its physical action carries significant metaphorical weight. It describes the act of stepping firmly on something, whether it is walking a path, marching in battle, or pressing grapes in a wine vat. This concrete imagery appears in passages like Isaiah 63:2, where God is depicted treading the winepress of wrath, and in Psalm 91:13, where the faithful tread on the lion and the cobra.
A distinctive usage of darakh involves bending a bow. In ancient warfare, archers would place the center of the bow on their foot to flex it before stringing or drawing it. This specific mechanical action links the word to the concept of an "archer" in verses such as Psalm 7:12 and Jeremiah 51:3. The physical force required to bend the wood mirrors the power and tension associated with divine judgment or military strength.
The word also extends to leadership, appearing in forms that mean to lead or guide a people along a way. In Psalm 25:5, God is asked to teach and lead the psalmist, showing how the physical act of walking transitions into spiritual direction. This range allows darakh to cover everything from the mundane activity of threshing grain to the profound theological idea of being guided by God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew verb darakh describes the physical act of treading or walking, but it carries a weight that goes beyond simple movement. In ancient Israel, this word was used to describe soldiers marching into battle, farmers pressing grapes in vats, and archers bending their bows with force. It speaks of engagement—putting your foot firmly on the ground, whether that ground is enemy territory, a path of obedience, or the place where God leads you.
For your faith life, this word offers a comforting picture of divine guidance. When Psalm 25:5 asks God to teach and guide in His truth, it uses imagery related to walking a set path. You are not wandering aimlessly; you are being led. Even when the road is difficult, the promise in Deuteronomy 11:25 reminds us that God places His fear of you upon the land you tread, turning ordinary steps into moments of divine presence and protection.
This concrete imagery helps us understand that faith is not just a mental exercise but a physical reality. It involves moving forward, trusting the One who holds the bow and guides the feet. Whether you are facing conflict or seeking direction, darakh invites you to look at your steps as part of a larger, purposeful journey under God’s care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 52 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will tread4×
- they tread2×
- lead/ me2×
- it will tread2×
- he has trodden2×
- he has bent2×
- and/ [one who] treads2×
- [those who] bend2×
- you will march1×
- you trod1×
- they trod down/ him1×
- they tread/ it1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּדְרֹ֧ךְ2×
- דֹּ֣רְכֵי2×
- דָּרַ֨ךְ2×
- תִּדְרֹ֑ךְ1×
- תִּדְרְכוּ\־1×
- תִּדְרְכִ֥י1×
- תִדְרֹֽךְ\׃\ \ס1×
- תִדְרֹֽךְ\־1×
- מַדְרִֽיכֲ/ךָ֖1×
- כְּ/דֹרֵ֥ךְ1×
- כְּ/דֹרְכִ֣ים1×
- יַדְרֵ֣ךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 11:24
Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even to the western sea shall be your border.
This verse links the physical act of treading with the promise of inheritance, showing that faithful walking leads to receiving God's provision.
-
Psalms 91:13
You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
Here, treading symbolizes victory and protection over danger, illustrating how God empowers the faithful to overcome threats.
-
Psalms 25:5
Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. I wait for you all day long.
The context of guidance uses walking imagery to describe learning God's truth, connecting physical direction with spiritual instruction.
-
Joshua 1:3
I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses.
God repeats the promise that every place the foot treads will be given, reinforcing the link between movement and divine ownership.