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דַּכָּא

𐤃𐤊𐤀

dakkâʼ

H1793 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root דכא to crush, to break, to pulverize

Definition

Physically crushed, bruised, or broken into small parts, and by extension, broken in spirit, humble, or contrite in attitude. The word often describes extreme physical oppression or violent shattering, but in poetic and prophetic contexts is also used metaphorically for inward states of lowliness or spiritual humility.

Semantic Range

crushed (physically), shattered, broken (in spirit), oppressed, contrite, humble (metaphorically), afflicted (inwardly or outwardly), destruction (rare secondary sense)

Root / Etymology

From the root דכא, meaning 'to crush, break to pieces, pulverize.' The word is a passive participle or adjectival form, denoting that which has been crushed or broken as a result of an outside force. Though derived from the concrete sense of physical crushing, it has developed extended applications in the realm of emotional and spiritual experience.

Historical & Contextual Notes

דַּכָּא appears infrequently and primarily in poetic or prophetic texts (e.g., Psalms 34:19, Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 53:5). In its early usage, the term likely referred to literal crushing or physical destruction, but prophetic literature expanded its meaning to characterize the inner experience of being brought low or humbled, aligned with the concept of contrition. Later translation traditions (such as the Septuagint and English renderings) often chose 'contrite' or 'humble,' which can risk narrowing the original range of the term. Unlike related words such as שָׁפֵל or עָנָו, which emphasize humility or low social status, דַּכָּא has a unique focus on the aftermath of intense pressure or injury, whether bodily or emotional. The nuance of being 'broken down by force' is critical, particularly in exilic and post-exilic texts, where it is used to describe those whom YHWH will restore or revive. The later English term 'destruction' may mislead, as the primary sense is of being broken, not obliterated.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from דָּכָא; crushed (literally powder, or figuratively, contrite); contrite, destruction.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

דכא (d-k-ʾ) — to crush, to break, to pulverize

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1792 דָּכָא to intensively crush him

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1793-01 דַּכָּא֙ daka HAamsa contrite crushed one crushed one 2
H1793-02 דַּכְּאֵי dakeey HAampc crushed crushed ones of crushed ones of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1793-01 Isaiah 57:15 דַּכָּא֙ daka HAamsa contrite crushed one the contrite one
H1793-02 Psalms 34:19 דַּכְּאֵי dakeey HAampc crushed crushed ones of crushed ones of
H1793-01 Psalms 90:3 דַּכָּ֑א daka HNcmsa dust crushed one crushed one
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