דְּמָמָה
𐤃𐤌𐤌𐤄
dᵉmâmâh
H1827 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or quality of stillness or quietness, often characterized by the absence of motion, sound, or activity; may refer to silence, peaceful calm, or a profound quiet. In biblical contexts, denotes not only the literal absence of noise and movement but can also express inner tranquility or the profound hush associated with awe or expectation.
Semantic Range
silence, stillness, calm, quiet, hush, cessation of sound or activity, tranquil pause, awe-filled quiet
Root / Etymology
From the root דָּמַם (damam), meaning 'to be silent, to be still, to stop moving or making noise.' דְּמָמָה (demāmāh) is a feminine abstract noun formation, signifying the state or condition arising from the action of the root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, דְּמָמָה is used to describe literal silence (the absence of sound) as well as figurative stillness (such as calm in nature or the cessation of tumult). Most prominently, in 1 Kings 19:12, it describes the 'sound of thin silence' (קול דממה דקה), a phrase key to describing the subtle, nonmaterial revelation of the divine—where perception of the divine presence is not through wind, earthquake, or fire, but in profound quietude. Elsewhere (e.g., Psalm 107:29), it is applied to calm after a storm, expressing the cessation of threatening activity. Standard English translations sometimes render the word as 'silence,' 'stillness,' or 'calm,' though they may miss nuances such as the existential or expectant atmospheric hush intended in certain poetic contexts. The term is rare and poetic, not used for routine quiet, but for marked or pregnant stillness. It contrasts with שֶׁקֶט (šeqeṭ), another term for 'quiet,' which often has a connotation of security or freedom from disturbance. Usage remains largely consistent across historical periods, though its more theophanic and poetic senses are most emphasized in prophetic and wisdom texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine from דָּמַם; quiet; calm, silence, still.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דמם (d-m-m) — to be still, to be silent, to cease, to be quiet
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1746 | דּוּמָה | Dumah |
| H1826 | דָּמַם | they became silent |
| H1917 | הַדָּם | crushed fragments |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1827-01 |
דְּמָמָ֥ה | demamah | HNcfsa |
of stillness | stillness | 2 |
H1827-02 |
לִ/דְמָמָ֑ה | lidemamah | HR/Ncfsa |
to a calm | to stillness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1827-01 |
1 Kings 19:12 | דְּמָמָ֥ה | demamah | HNcfsa |
of stillness | stillness |
H1827-02 |
Psalms 107:29 | לִ/דְמָמָ֑ה | lidemamah | HR/Ncfsa |
to a calm | to stillness |
H1827-01 |
Job 4:16 | דְּמָמָ֖ה | demamah | HNcfsa |
silence | stillness |