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דָּגָה

𐤃𐤂𐤄

dâgâh

H1710 noun

SILEX Entry

Root דגה to multiply, to swarm, to fish

Definition

A collective term referring to fish as a class of aquatic creatures, typically used in the sense of 'the kind/species of fish'; sometimes used to denote many fish or a shoal/school of fish. The word functions as a feminine collective noun, often encompassing the entire range of fish inhabiting seas, rivers, or other bodies of water.

Semantic Range

fish (collective), shoal of fish, fish population, species of fish, aquatic creatures of the fish kind

Root / Etymology

Formed from the root דגה, a feminine noun counterpart to דָּג (dag, 'fish'), sharing the same consonantal root. The root ד-ג-ה carries the idea of movement or multiplication, as well as aquatic life — see the related דָּג, 'fish.' The -ה ending marks the feminine collective in Hebrew noun morphology, specifying the class or aggregate rather than an individual.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, דָּגָה is encountered mostly in poetic or collective contexts, frequently alongside or in contrast to דָּג ('fish' as an individual or generic term). The feminine formation emphasizes the collective nature, referring to groups or populations of fish rather than singular specimens. Occurrences span from the Pentateuch (e.g., Exodus 7:21, relating to the fish of Egypt) through the Prophets and Writings, often in passages about abundance, destruction, or the ecosystem. English translations may render דָּגָה simply as 'fish,' but the Hebrew collective nuance can be lost in this. There is no shift in meaning from the monarchic to post-exilic periods, although in later Hebrew, the plural form or the masculine דָּג is more commonly used. The term is distinct from other terms for aquatic life, such as רֶמֶשׂ (remes, 'creeping thing'), which may include amphibians or reptiles.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of דָּג, and meaning the same; {a fish (often used collectively)}; fish.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

דגה (d-g-h) — to multiply, to swarm, to fish

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1709 דָּג prolific fish
H1711 דָּגָה and they will multiply like fish
H1715 דָּגָן abundant field grain

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1710-03 דְגַת degat HNcfsc fish fish-kind of 3
H1710-05 הַ/דָּגָ֔ה hadagah HTd/Ncfsa fish the fish-kind 3
H1710-04 דְּגָתָ/ם֙ degatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp fish their fish-kind 3
H1710-07 וְ/הַ/דָּגָ֧ה vehadagah HC/Td/Ncfsa And the fish the fish-kind 2
H1710-08 בִ/דְגַ֨ת videgat HR/Ncfsc over the fish fish-kind of 1
H1710-02 דָּגָ֥ה dagah HNcfsa fish fish-kind 1
H1710-01 בִּ/דְגַ֤ת bidegat HR/Ncfsc over the fish fish-kind of 1
H1710-06 כִּ/דְגַ֛ת kidegat HR/Ncfsc like-fish like fish-kind 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1710-08 Genesis 1:26 בִ/דְגַ֨ת videgat HR/Ncfsc over the fish fish-kind of
H1710-01 Genesis 1:28 בִּ/דְגַ֤ת bidegat HR/Ncfsc over the fish fish-kind of
H1710-07 Exodus 7:18 וְ/הַ/דָּגָ֧ה vehadagah HC/Td/Ncfsa And the fish the fish-kind
H1710-07 Exodus 7:21 וְ/הַ/דָּגָ֨ה vehadagah HC/Td/Ncfsa And the fish the fish-kind
H1710-05 Numbers 11:5 הַ/דָּגָ֔ה hadagah HTd/Ncfsa fish the fish-kind
H1710-02 Deuteronomy 4:18 דָּגָ֥ה dagah HNcfsa fish fish-kind
H1710-04 Isaiah 50:2 דְּגָתָ/ם֙ degatam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their fish their fish-kind
H1710-03 Ezekiel 29:4 דְגַת degat HNcfsc fish fish-kind of
H1710-03 Ezekiel 29:4 דְּגַ֣ת degat-2 HNcfsc fish fish-kind of
H1710-03 Ezekiel 29:5 דְּגַ֣ת degat HNcfsc fish fish-kind of
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