דָּיֵק
𐤃𐤉𐤒
dâyêq
H1785 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A siege ramp or mound constructed against a city wall during warfare; an embankment of earth, sometimes including timber or siege apparatus, used by attacking forces to facilitate breaching or scaling fortifications. In later usage, it can extend to encompass various types of siegeworks (earthworks or engineered structures) employed during an assault on a fortified city.
Semantic Range
siege ramp, earthwork, mound against city walls, battering-structure in warfare, fortification raised by besiegers
Root / Etymology
Root: דוק (probable), meaning 'to pierce, bore, push through.' דָּיֵק (dâyêq) is a noun form likely derived from this root, with the shift from idea of piercing to establishing a means of breaching or overcoming a barrier.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the context of the Hebrew Bible, דָּיֵק appears in later books, specifically in exilic and post-exilic narratives (e.g., Ezekiel 4:2; 17:17; 21:27 [MT 22]), describing siege operations conducted by foreign powers such as the Babylonians. The term does not occur in the earlier monarchic historical books, where the most common siege term is סֹלֶל ('sōlel,' meaning 'siege ramp' or 'earthwork'). While English translations often render דָּיֵק as 'fort,' 'battering-tower,' or even 'mound,' the most precise meaning in its original context is a siege ramp or earthwork—an engineered structure allowing attackers to gain access to city walls. In later Hebrew (e.g., Mishnaic), cognates relate specifically to siege machinery and ramparts. The use of דָּיֵק coincides with military technology encountered by Israelites during the exilic period, reflecting the influence of Neo-Babylonian and Assyrian siege tactics. In Greek translation (Septuagint), the word is sometimes rendered as χαλκῶν or προμαχών, but both are broad terms for siege works or bulwarks.
Translation Consistency
The primary sense in SILEX and occurrences is an embanked ramp or earthwork built by besiegers. "Siege ramp" is natural, specific, and avoids the ambiguity of the shorter "ramp" while matching the common rendering ("siege") found in the source forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a root corresp. to דּוּק; a battering-tower; fort.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
דוק (dâyêq) — to pierce, to bore, to push through
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1785-01 |
דָּיֵ֥ק | dayeq | HNcmsa |
siege wall | breach-ramp | siege ramp | 6 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1785-01 |
2 Kings 25:1 | דָּיֵ֥ק | dayeq | HNcmsa |
siege wall | breach-ramp | siege ramp |
H1785-01 |
Jeremiah 52:4 | דָּיֵ֖ק | dayeq | HNcmsa |
siege-wall | breach-ramp | siege ramp |
H1785-01 |
Ezekiel 4:2 | דָּיֵ֔ק | dayeq | HNcmsa |
ramp | breach-ramp | siege ramp |
H1785-01 |
Ezekiel 17:17 | דָּיֵ֑ק | dayeq | HNcmsa |
siege wall | breach-ramp | siege ramp |
H1785-01 |
Ezekiel 21:27 | דָּיֵֽק | dayeq | HNcmsa |
a siege tower | breach-ramp | siege ramp |
H1785-01 |
Ezekiel 26:8 | דָּיֵ֗ק | dayeq | HNcmsa |
a siege wall | breach-ramp | siege ramp |