דָּמַע
da.ma
to weep
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word דָּמַע, transliterated as da.ma, means "to weep" according to its short definition. This verb belongs to the semantic domain of Emotion & Attitude, indicating its connection to emotional expressions. With only 2 occurrences in the entire Hebrew Bible, its usage is relatively limited, suggesting that it may convey a specific intensity or depth of emotion. Given its meaning and semantic domain, it is likely that da.ma is used to describe a profound or intense sense of grief, sorrow, or mourning. This could involve personal loss, social pain, or perhaps even national or collective sorrow. The brevity and specificity of its definition point to a fundamental aspect of human experience – the expression of intense emotional pain – rather than a more nuanced or complex emotion. While we don't have information on how the word is used in context, its restricted occurrence and semantic domain suggest that it emphasizes the raw, primal impact of strong emotions on human behavior and relationships.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences across the text
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.
Jeremiah 13:17But 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.