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דָּג

𐤃𐤂

dâg

H1709 noun

SILEX Entry

Root דגה to multiply, to be abundant, to be prolific

Definition

A fish; an aquatic animal with fins and scales, generally living in rivers, lakes, or the sea. In biblical contexts, refers to fish as both individual creatures and as a collective food resource, depending on context. May also appear as a symbol of abundance or, less commonly, in imagery of danger or chaos (e.g., fish as prey, representing the fate of defeated human enemies).

Semantic Range

fish (individual aquatic animal), fish (collective or abstract sense), aquatic prey or food resource, symbol of abundance or multitude, target of judgment or destruction in prophetic or poetic imagery

Root / Etymology

Root: דגה (d-g-h), meaning 'to multiply, be numerous, increase abundantly,' reflecting the prolific reproductive qualities observed in fish. The word is a nominal formation from this root, with the form דָּג (dag) for the singular and דָּגִים (dagim) for the plural. There is no strong evidence for derivation from דאג ('to be anxious' or 'to fear'), nor is the root דגה associated with motion; rather, its sense is based on abundance.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, דָּג is used generally for 'fish' and can refer collectively to multiple fish (Genesis 1:26, Ezekiel 29:4). Ancient Israelites were familiar with a variety of fish species present in the Nile, Jordan, and Mediterranean regions, but the term is nonspecific and does not denote species. Fish were an important part of the ancient diet, as reflected in law (Leviticus 11:9–12) and narrative (Numbers 11:5). In poetic or prophetic texts, fish can be invoked as symbolic of teeming life, or sometimes of the prey to be caught or destroyed (as in the judgment scenes of Ezekiel). Later translations and traditions (including the Septuagint and English Bibles) render דָּג as 'fish,' a term that is accurate to the broad use of the Hebrew word. 'Fish' is thus an adequate translation in most contexts. No direct religious or ethnic identity is attached to the term, and it does not carry the specific symbolic connotations seen in later Jewish or Christian literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (fully) דָּאג; (Nehemiah 13:16), from דָּגָה; a fish (as prolific); or perhaps rather from דָּאַג (as timid); but still better from דָּאַג (in the sense of squirming, i.e. moving by the vibratory action of the tail); a fish (often used collectively); fish.

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Root Family

דגה (d-g-h) — to multiply, be abundant, be prolific

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1710 דָּגָה fish-kind of
H1711 דָּגָה and they will multiply like fish
H1715 דָּגָן abundant field grain

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1709-03 דְּגֵ֥י degey HNcmpc the fish fishes of 5
H1709-05 הַ/דָּגִֽים hadagim HTd/Ncmpa of the fish the fish 5
H1709-01 דָּ֣ג dag HNcmsa fish prolific fish 2
H1709-09 וּ/דְגֵ֣י udegey HC/Ncmpc and fish and fish of 2
H1709-04 הַ/דָּ֔ג hadag HTd/Ncmsa the fish the fish 1
H1709-06 כַּ/דָּגִים֙ kadagim HRd/Ncmpa like fish like prolific fish 1
H1709-08 לַ/דָּ֑ג ladag HRd/Ncmsa to the fish the fish 1
H1709-07 כִּ/דְגֵ֣י kidegey HR/Ncmpc like-fish like fish of 1
H1709-02 דָּגִ֣ים dagim HNcmpa of fishes fishes 1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1709-03 Genesis 9:2 דְּגֵ֥י degey HNcmpc fish fishes of
H1709-03 Numbers 11:22 דְּגֵ֥י degey HNcmpc fish fishes of
H1709-05 1 Kings 5:13 הַ/דָּגִֽים hadagim HTd/Ncmpa the fishes the fish
H1709-03 Ezekiel 38:20 דְּגֵ֣י degey HNcmpc the fish fishes of
H1709-03 Hosea 4:3 דְּגֵ֥י degey HNcmpc the fish fishes of
H1709-01 Jonah 2:1 דָּ֣ג dag HNcmsa fish prolific fish
H1709-04 Jonah 2:1 הַ/דָּ֔ג hadag HTd/Ncmsa the fish the fish
H1709-08 Jonah 2:11 לַ/דָּ֑ג ladag HRd/Ncmsa to the fish the fish
H1709-07 Habakkuk 1:14 כִּ/דְגֵ֣י kidegey HR/Ncmpc like-fish like fish of
H1709-09 Zephaniah 1:3 וּ/דְגֵ֣י udegey HC/Ncmpc and fish and fish of
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