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דְּלִילָה

𐤃𐤋𐤉𐤋𐤄

Delilah

H1807 noun

SILEX Entry

Root דלל to be low, to hang down, to be weak, feeble, languish

Definition

Proper noun; the personal name of a woman associated with the narrative of Samson. In its original context, the name likely conveys a sense of 'delicateness, frailty, or languishing,' consistent with its verbal root, but as a proper name it primarily identifies the specific individual known from the narrative. Its meaning in the text is not directly tied to her actions or character beyond functioning as a unique identifier.

Semantic Range

proper name of a woman (Delilah); etymologically, delicate, frail, languishing

Root / Etymology

From the root דָּלַל (dalal), meaning 'to be low, hang down, be feeble or weak.' The form דְּלִילָה likely derives as a feminine noun or name formed from this root, indicating 'delicate', 'weak', or 'languishing.' As a personal name, however, the etymological sense is secondary to its use as a unique personal identifier.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Delilah appears in Judges 16 as a Philistine woman in the narrative of Samson. Her ethnic identity is not specified directly in the text, though the narrative context places her among the Philistines. Her name is the only occurrence of דְּלִילָה in the Hebrew Bible and is not reused as a common noun or elsewhere as a personal name. In later Jewish and Christian traditions, 'Delilah' enters wider cultural usage, often with associations derived from her role in the Samson narrative. While English translations and tradition refer to her as 'Delilah,' it is important to note that in the biblical narrative she is not depicted as an Israelite or as having any association with later religious identities. The name's etymology ('delicate' or 'languishing') does not play a thematic role in the text.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

lemma דִּלִילָה first vowel, corrected to דְּלִילָה; from דָּלַל; languishing; Delilah, a Philistine woman; Delilah.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

דלל (d-l-l) — to be low, hang down, be weak, be feeble, languish

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1800 דַּל lowly one
H1809 דָּלַל they became diminished
H1817 דֶּלֶת lowly one

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1807-01 דְּלִילָֽה delilah HNp Delilah Delilah 6

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1807-01 Judges 16:4 דְּלִילָֽה delilah HNp was Delilah Delilah
H1807-01 Judges 16:6 דְּלִילָה֙ delilah HNp Delilah Delilah
H1807-01 Judges 16:10 דְּלִילָה֙ delilah HNp Delilah Delilah
H1807-01 Judges 16:12 דְּלִילָה֩ delilah HNp Delilah Delilah
H1807-01 Judges 16:13 דְּלִילָ֜ה delilah HNp Delilah Delilah
H1807-01 Judges 16:18 דְלִילָ֗ה delilah HNp Delilah Delilah
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