דָּדָה
𐤃𐤃𐤄
dâdâh
H1718 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To move slowly or proceed in a measured, cautious, or gentle manner, often with care or uncertainty. The verb can denote walking softly, going with care, or advancing in a cautious, unhurried way. Its nuance is attested in contexts describing deliberate, gentle, or subdued movement, rather than normal walking.
Semantic Range
to walk softly, to go gently, to proceed in a subdued or mournful manner, to move with caution, to advance hesitantly
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain. The form דָּדָה appears twice in biblical texts (Isaiah 38:15; Micah 1:8), and does not have clear cognates in other Semitic languages. There is no established verbal root with these consonants in biblical Hebrew, making the etymology obscure. It has been variously connected by ancient translators and modern scholars to roots meaning "to move" or "to totter," though these connections are speculative.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דָּדָה occurs rarely in biblical Hebrew and is not well-attested outside the Hebrew Bible. In Isaiah 38:15, it describes the subdued demeanor of Hezekiah following an illness, implying tentative or subdued movement, possibly reflecting emotional vulnerability rather than mere physical action. In Micah 1:8, it occurs in a context of mourning, likely depicting an action akin to walking slowly, haltingly, or in a subdued fashion as an expression of grief. English translations vary, rendering it as 'go softly,' 'wander,' or 'walk slowly,' none of which fully capture the nuanced sense of gentle, mournful, or hesitant movement implied by its biblical usage. As such, it is a rare and context-dependent verb, distinct from standard verbs for walking or going (e.g., הלך, יצא), and is never used for routine or purposeful travel. Later Jewish tradition and translation history did not develop a fixed nuance for this verb, likely due to its obscurity and narrow contextual range.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a doubtful root; to walk gently; go (softly, with).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דדה (d-d-h) — move gently, walk slowly, proceed with care
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1718-02 |
אֶדַּדֵּ֗/ם | edadem | HVti1cs/Sp3mp |
I-will-murmur-them | I will move myself gently with them | 1 |
H1718-01 |
אֶדַּדֶּ֥ה | edadeh | HVti1cs |
I will walk slowly | I will move myself gently | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1718-01 |
Isaiah 38:15 | אֶדַּדֶּ֥ה | edadeh | HVti1cs |
I will walk slowly | I will move myself gently |
H1718-02 |
Psalms 42:5 | אֶדַּדֵּ֗/ם | edadem | HVti1cs/Sp3mp |
I-will-murmur-them | I will move myself gently with them |