דָּחַף
𐤃𐤇𐤐
dâchaph
H1765 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To push, drive, thrust, or press forward, often with force or urgency. The verb denotes physical action involving forceful motion, such as shoving or moving something or someone rapidly in a certain direction. In some contexts, it can carry a figurative sense of inciting, impelling, or urging a person or people to action, whether literal movement or urgent initiative.
Semantic Range
to push forcibly, to thrust, to drive forward, to press on, to urge, to impel, (figuratively) to incite to action, to be urged or pressed upon, to hasten
Root / Etymology
Root דחף (dalet-chet-pe), conveying the idea of pushing or thrusting. The verb דָּחַף is formed directly from this root and retains its core physical sense of pushing or impelling. There is no evidence of loanword influence or etymological uncertainty; the derivation is transparent within native Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דָּחַף is used in both literal and occasionally in metaphorical senses throughout its (rare) biblical attestation. The primary usage is that of physically pushing, as in the context of armies being driven or pressing forward, or objects and individuals being thrust or hurried along. In Psalm 118:13, the verb is used figuratively for the psalmist being 'pushed hard' to fall, emphasizing existential or emotional duress from enemies. In contrast with the more common verb דחה (dâchah, 'to reject, push away, thrust aside'), דָּחַף tends to highlight an impelling or urging motion rather than complete removal or rejection. The term does not, in biblical usage, take on the later rabbinic or colloquial Hebrew sense of 'hustling' or energetic promotion. Modern translations may narrow the word to 'press' or 'haste,' but its semantic field encompasses a broader range of motion involving force or urgency.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to urge, i.e. hasten; (be) haste(-ned), pressed on.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דחף (d-ḥ-p) — push, thrust, drive, impel, press forward
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4073 | מְדַחְפָה | to violent overthrows |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1765-02 |
נִדְחַ֣ף | nidechaf | HVNp3ms |
hurried | he was thrust | 2 |
H1765-03 |
וּ/דְחוּפִ֖ים | udechufim | HC/Vqsmpa |
and pressed on | and the ones pushed | 1 |
H1765-01 |
דְחוּפִים֙ | dechufim | HVqsmpa |
being hastened | driven ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1765-01 |
Esther 3:15 | דְחוּפִים֙ | dechufim | HVqsmpa |
being hastened | driven ones |
H1765-02 |
Esther 6:12 | נִדְחַ֣ף | nidechaf | HVNp3ms |
hurried | he was thrust |
H1765-03 |
Esther 8:14 | וּ/דְחוּפִ֖ים | udechufim | HC/Vqsmpa |
and pressed on | and the ones pushed |
H1765-02 |
2 Chronicles 26:20 | נִדְחַ֣ף | nidechaf | HVNp3ms |
was hastening | he was thrust |