דָּפַק
𐤃𐤐𐤒
dâphaq
H1849 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
A verb with a primary sense of striking or knocking, typically involving an impact or hitting action against a surface, person, or object. In various contexts, it describes knocking on a door (as in asking for admittance), striking someone or something, or metaphorically, pressing hard or overpowering. The semantic range includes both literal striking and more forceful, sometimes oppressive, actions.
Semantic Range
to knock at a door, to strike someone or something, to press hard against, to overdrive, to beat, to apply force physically or metaphorically
Root / Etymology
Root דפק (d-p-q), bearing the core idea of hitting, knocking, or striking. This verb reflects direct action involving physical impact but can extend metaphorically to pressing hard upon a person or situation. The root is not attested outside Biblical Hebrew and late post-biblical developments. No clear cognates in other Semitic languages, suggesting a uniquely Hebrew development or secondary borrowing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דָּפַק appears primarily in narratives or poetic settings describing someone knocking at a door, as in Song of Songs 5:2—a context emphasizing intimate or urgent request for entry. In prophetic and wisdom texts, it is used more figuratively or intensively for pressing harshly or beating upon (e.g., Judges 5:26 in Deborah’s song, describing Jael striking Sisera). The term envisions a forceful action and is less frequently used than more common verbs for 'strike' (נכה) or 'hit' (כהה). Standard English renderings often employ 'knock' or 'beat,' but these may underrepresent the range from polite request to violent impact. The verb does not acquire a technical or ritual sense in biblical usage and remains in the sphere of physical or social interaction.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to knock; by analogy, to press severely; beat, knock, overdrive.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דפק (d-p-q) — to strike, to knock, to beat
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1850 | דׇּפְקָה | in Knock-Place |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1849-01 |
דוֹפֵ֗ק | dofeq | HVqrmsa |
knocking | knocking one | 1 |
H1849-02 |
מִֽתְדַּפְּקִ֖ים | mitedapeqim | HVtrmpa |
pounding | the ones pounding persistently | 1 |
H1849-03 |
וּ/דְפָקוּ/ם֙ | udefaqum | HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3mp |
if they overdrive them | and they struck them | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1849-03 |
Genesis 33:13 | וּ/דְפָקוּ/ם֙ | udefaqum | HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3mp |
if they overdrive them | and they struck them |
H1849-02 |
Judges 19:22 | מִֽתְדַּפְּקִ֖ים | mitedapeqim | HVtrmpa |
pounding | the ones pounding persistently |
H1849-01 |
Song of Songs 5:2 | דוֹפֵ֗ק | dofeq | HVqrmsa |
knocking | knocking one |