דַּיָּג
𐤃𐤉𐤂
dayâg
H1771 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
One who catches fish; a person engaged in fishing, typically as an occupation or trade. Used specifically to refer to those who harvest fish from bodies of water, particularly in coastal or riverine settings. The term also functions more generally for participants in the activity of fishing.
Semantic Range
fisherman, one who fishes, professional or occupational fisher, participant in fishing activity
Root / Etymology
From the root דיג (d-g), meaning 'to fish, catch fish.' The noun דַּיָּג derives from the verb, with the -ָג ending indicating an agent noun ('one who fishes').
Historical & Contextual Notes
דַּיָּג is a rare noun in the Hebrew Bible, appearing only in poetic or prophetic contexts (e.g., Ezekiel 47:10; Habakkuk 1:15-16). In these contexts, it directly designates those whose livelihood involves catching fish, a specialized occupation distinct from general subsistence fishing. The term is not commonly applied to Israelite society, which focused more on agriculture and pastoralism; fishing was more typical in communities near water bodies, such as along the coasts or larger rivers. Related nouns such as דִּיג (dig), meaning 'fishing' or 'catching of fish,' occur in similar contexts. English translations render דַּיָּג as 'fisherman' or 'fisher,' although these terms may not distinguish between casual fishers and professional ones. In prophetic literature, fishermen and fishing sometimes carry larger symbolic or metaphorical meanings (e.g., making reference to abundance or divine judgment), though the core reference remains occupational. Despite superficial resemblance, דַּיָּג is distinct from other Hebrew occupational terms and is not used for other types of hunting or gathering.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דִּיג; a fisherman; fisher.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דיג (d-y-g) — to fish, catch fish
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1771-01 |
הַ/דַּיָּגִ֔ים | hadayagim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the fishermen | the fishermen | 1 |
H1771-02 |
לְ/דַיָּגִ֥ים | ledayagim | HR/Ncmpa |
for fishermen | to fishermen | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1771-01 |
Isaiah 19:8 | הַ/דַּיָּגִ֔ים | hadayagim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the fishermen | the fishermen |
H1771-02 |
Jeremiah 16:16 | לְ/דַיָּגִ֥ים | ledayagim | HR/Ncmpa |
for fishermen | to fishermen |