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דִּי

𐤃𐤉

dîy

H1768 particle

SILEX Entry

Definition

A relative particle introducing clauses that specify, define, or clarify a noun or previous statement; typically translated as 'that,' 'which,' 'who,' 'whom,' or 'whose.' Also used as a marker of various adverbial phrases, often corresponding to English prepositional constructions like 'of,' 'for,' or 'from.' Functions as both a relative and a conjunction, and sometimes as a subordinating particle in complex sentences.

Semantic Range

that, which, who, whom, of, whose, for, because, as, than, when, until, introducing relative clauses, introducing adverbial phrases, marker of genitival relationships, subordinating conjunction

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Aramaic root דָּא (deictic or demonstrative origin), with affinity to demonstratives meaning 'this' or 'that.' In grammaticalization, the element functions as a relative particle with expanded syntactical roles, distinct from but related to Hebrew אשר (asher) and שֶׁ (she).

Historical & Contextual Notes

דִּי appears primarily in the Aramaic sections of biblical texts (e.g., Daniel, Ezra). It serves as the standard relative particle in Imperial Aramaic, where Hebrew would use אשר (asher) or שֶׁ (she). It marks relative, objective, possessive, and adverbial relationships depending on context. Its use illustrates syntactic differences between Aramaic and Hebrew; while אשר might introduce a relative clause in Hebrew, Aramaic uses דִּי for a wider range of relational and explanatory connections, often encompassing genitival (possessive) relationships as well. In idiomatic contexts, דִּי can function similarly to prepositions (e.g., 'of,' 'for'), particularly when combined with prepositions or nouns to form adverbial phrases ('forasmuch as,' 'in the manner that,' etc.). English translations render it variably, often not fully capturing its syntactic breadth in Aramaic. The particle was stable in post-exilic Aramaic and in later Jewish Aramaic dialects, where its usage as a relative marker remained.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) apparently for דָּא; that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of; [idiom] as, but, for(-asmuch [phrase]), [phrase] now, of, seeing, than, that, therefore, until, [phrase] what (-soever), when, which, whom, whose.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

דא (dîy) — to point out, to indicate, to demonstrate

Root דא to point out, to indicate, to demonstrate

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1768-03 דִּ֥י di ATr that that-which that 329
H1768-08 וְ/דִֽי vedi AC/C and whom and that-which and that-which 10
H1768-05 כְּ/דִ֣י kedi AR/Tr when as indicated when 3
H1768-01 דֵּ֥י dey ATr that sufficiency of who 1
H1768-02 ד/הוא dhv ATr/Ta that is that which that is 1
H1768-04 די dy AC that that-which that-which 1
H1768-06 כְ/דִ֣י khedi AC/C as-that as that-which as that-which 1
H1768-07 וּ/כְ/דִי֙ ukhedi AC/C/C but when and as that which and when 1

Occurrences in Scripture

347 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1768-03 Jeremiah 10:11 דִּֽי di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:8 דִּ֥י di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:8 דִּ֣י di-2 AC that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:8 דִּ֥י di-3 ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:9 דִּ֣י di ATr that that-which that-which
H1768-03 Daniel 2:9 דִּ֥י di-2 ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:9 דִּ֥י di-3 ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:10 דִּ֚י di ATr that that-which who
H1768-03 Daniel 2:10 דִּ֚י di-2 AC that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:11 דִֽי di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:11 דִּ֥י di-2 ATr who that-which who
H1768-03 Daniel 2:11 דִּ֚י di-3 ATr whose that-which whose
H1768-03 Daniel 2:14 דִּ֣י di ATr who that-which who
H1768-03 Daniel 2:14 דִּ֚י di-2 ATr who that-which who
H1768-03 Daniel 2:15 דִֽי di ATr of that-which of
H1768-03 Daniel 2:16 דִּ֚י di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:18 דִּ֣י di AC that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:19 דִֽי di ATr which that-which of
H1768-03 Daniel 2:20 דִּֽי di ATr of that-which of
H1768-03 Daniel 2:20 דִּ֧י di-2 AC that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:20 דִּ֥י di-3 ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:23 דִּ֧י di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:23 דִּֽי di-2 ATr what that-which what
H1768-03 Daniel 2:23 דִּֽי di-3 AC for that-which for
H1768-03 Daniel 2:24 דִּ֚י di ATr who that-which who
H1768-03 Daniel 2:25 דִּֽי di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:25 דִּ֣י di-2 ATr of that-which of
H1768-03 Daniel 2:25 דִּ֥י di-3 ATr who that-which who
H1768-03 Daniel 2:26 דִּ֥י di ATr whose that-which whose
H1768-03 Daniel 2:26 דִֽי di-2 ATr which that-which which
H1768-03 Daniel 2:27 דִּֽי di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:28 דִּ֥י di ATr that that-which that-which
H1768-03 Daniel 2:29 דִּ֥י di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:29 דִ֥י di-2 ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:30 דִּֽי di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:30 דִּ֤י di-2 ATr that that-which of
H1768-03 Daniel 2:32 דִּֽי di ATr of that-which of
H1768-03 Daniel 2:32 דִּ֣י di-2 ATr of that-which of
H1768-03 Daniel 2:32 דִּ֥י di-3 ATr of that-which of
H1768-03 Daniel 2:33 דִּ֣י di ATr of that-which of
H1768-03 Daniel 2:33 דִּ֣י di-2 ATr which-were that-which which
H1768-03 Daniel 2:33 דִּ֥י di-3 ATr which-were that-which which
H1768-03 Daniel 2:34 דִּ֣י di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:34 דִּי di-2 ATr which that-which which
H1768-03 Daniel 2:34 דִּ֥י di-3 ATr that were that-which which
H1768-03 Daniel 2:35 דִּֽי di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:37 דִּ֚י di ATr which that-which that-which
H1768-03 Daniel 2:38 דִּ֣י di ATr that that-which that
H1768-03 Daniel 2:38 דִּ֥י di-2 ATr of that-which of
H1768-03 Daniel 2:39 דִּ֣י di ATr which that-which which
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