דֶּלֶף
𐤃𐤋𐤐
deleph
H1812 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A falling or dropping of liquid in small amounts; specifically, a drip, as of water leaking from a roof, cave, or vessel. The word primarily refers to the action or occurrence of drops of fluid falling, often with the connotation of persistent or irritating leakage. In figurative contexts, it may describe something that causes annoyance through continual repetition or intrusion, such as the drip of water in a neglected house.
Semantic Range
dripping, leakage of water, persistent dripping sound, source of ongoing annoyance (literal and figurative), repeated intrusions, leaking (especially from a roof or ceiling)
Root / Etymology
Root: דלף. Derived from the root ד-ל-ף (dalaf), which means 'to drop' or 'to drip.' דֶּלֶף is a noun form constructed from this root, indicating the result of the action ('dripping,' 'leakage').
Historical & Contextual Notes
דֶּלֶף appears only a few times in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Proverbs 19:13; 27:15), typically in wisdom literature. It most often describes the annoying, persistent dripping from a leaky roof, especially during rain—an irritation in poorly maintained homes. In Proverbs, דֶּלֶף is used metaphorically to illustrate an ongoing source of vexation, such as a contentious spouse. The phenomenon described is both literal (dripping water) and figurative (source of ongoing annoyance). Later translations sometimes render the term simply as 'dripping' or use the image of a leaking roof, but the metaphorical usage may be diminished. Compared to similar terms like גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, 'rain') or טַל (tal, 'dew'), דֶּלֶף uniquely emphasizes the small, persistent, and often unwanted aspect of water entry.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דָּלַף; a dripping; dropping.
Bantu Hebrew
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דלף (d-l-p) — to drip, to drop, to leak
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1812-01 |
דֶּ֣לֶף | delef | HNcmsa |
constant dripping | dripping leak | 1 |
H1812-02 |
וְ/דֶ֥לֶף | vedelef | HC/Ncmsa |
and dripping | and a dripping | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1812-02 |
Proverbs 19:13 | וְ/דֶ֥לֶף | vedelef | HC/Ncmsa |
and dripping | and a dripping |
H1812-01 |
Proverbs 27:15 | דֶּ֣לֶף | delef | HNcmsa |
constant dripping | dripping leak |