דַּהֲהַר
𐤃𐤄𐤄𐤓
dahăhar
H1726 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A noun denoting the action or state of 'galloping' or a 'gallop,' typically describing the swift, bounding movement of horses, especially in contexts connected to warfare, battle, or martial readiness. May also connote the lively, striking, or impressive advance of horses or chariots in military procession.
Semantic Range
galloping movement of horses, martial prancing, vigorous or high-stepping movement of war animals, lively horse advance in battle
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root דהר, which means 'to gallop, dash, or move swiftly (especially of horses),' with a reduplicated pattern (as seen in the doubled consonants, דַּהֲהַר) to intensify or emphasize the quality or action. This noun form expresses the event or manner of galloping, possibly onomatopoetic, reflecting the sound or rhythm of hoofbeats.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דַּהֲהַר occurs rarely in biblical Hebrew (notably at Nahum 3:2), used to evoke the vividness and power of horses in battle imagery. In prophetic and poetic texts, it dramatizes the chaos and energy of conflict. Unlike other Hebrew words for horse movement (e.g., רוץ 'run', פרר 'to break out, burst forth'), דַּהֲהַר specifically conjures the high-stepping, vigorous motion of warhorses, with an implied sense of spectacle or martial display. Later Jewish translation traditions, and some English versions, attempt to capture the forceful energy, but 'prancing' or 'galloping' may not convey the full connotation of battle-readiness and noise (cf. Nahum 3:2, where it's coordinated with sound imagery—hoofbeats, chariot clatter). The term is not used as an ethnic or religious identifier. Its vivid usage reflects developments in Israelite martial vocabulary during the monarchic and exilic periods, and it has no connection to concepts of ethnic or religious identity. English translations sometimes narrow its sense to merely 'galloping' or 'prancing,' but the underlying Hebrew suggests a more martial and vigorous imagery.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
by reduplication from דָּהַר; a gallop; pransing.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דהר (d-h-r) — to gallop, to dash, to move swiftly (especially of horses)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1726-01 |
דַּהֲר֥וֹת | daharot | HNcfpc |
the dashings | gallopings of | 1 |
H1726-02 |
מִֽ/דַּהֲר֖וֹת | midaharot | HR/Ncfpa |
from the dashings | gallops | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1726-02 |
Judges 5:22 | מִֽ/דַּהֲר֖וֹת | midaharot | HR/Ncfpa |
from the dashings | gallops |
H1726-01 |
Judges 5:22 | דַּהֲר֥וֹת | daharot | HNcfpc |
the dashings | gallopings of |