דַּחֲוָה
𐤃𐤇𐤅𐤄
dachăvâh
H1761 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of musical instrument, likely one that is played by striking (percussion instrument); refers specifically to an instrument mentioned in Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible, whose precise identity remains uncertain but is generally considered to belong to the class of percussive instruments.
Semantic Range
musical instrument (percussion), instrument that is struck; possibly drum, tambourine, or another struck instrument
Root / Etymology
From the Aramaic root דחה, which in Hebrew typically conveys the idea of 'to push' or 'to thrust.' In Aramaic, by extension, the noun may indicate an object that is struck or pushed, leading to its application as a term for a percussion instrument. The word דַּחֲוָה is thus understood as an instrument meant to be played by being struck, though the form is nominalized in Aramaic grammar.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דַּחֲוָה occurs only in the Aramaic section of Daniel (Daniel 3:5, 3:10, 3:15), among a list of musical instruments in the context of the story of the golden image set up by Nebuchadnezzar. Its exact identity is debated; some suggest an equivalent to the Greek 'τυμπανον' (tympanon, 'drum' or 'tambourine'), but this is conjectural. The term is often rendered 'dulcimer' in traditional English versions (as in KJV), likely influenced by the Septuagint or Vulgate, but this is anachronistic and misleading, since the dulcimer is a much later European instrument. The association with 'striking' distinguishes it from wind or string instruments in the passage. Later translations reflect the uncertainty by using generic terms such as 'drum,' 'tambourine,' or 'percussion instrument.' There is no evidence that the word refers to a specific Israelite instrument or tradition, as its use reflects the musical culture of a Mesopotamian court context. Other musical terms in Daniel 3 have similar uncertainties and reflect loanwords denoting foreign instruments of the Babylonian court. The term was not used in Hebrew portions of the Bible except as cited in Aramaic lists.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from the equivalent of דָּחָה; probably a musical instrument (as being struck); instrument of music.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דחה (d-ḥ-h) — push, thrust, drive away
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1760 | דָּחָה | to thrust away |
| H1762 | דְּחִי | a thrusting down |
| H4072 | מִדְחֶה | place of casting away |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1761-01 |
וְ/דַחֲוָ֖ן | vedachavan | AC/Ncfpa |
and-sleeplessness | and struck instruments | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1761-01 |
Daniel 6:19 | וְ/דַחֲוָ֖ן | vedachavan | AC/Ncfpa |
and-sleeplessness | and struck instruments |