דְּקַק
𐤃𐤒𐤒
dᵉqaq
H1855 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To crush, pulverize, or break into very small pieces, often by grinding or pounding. The term is used to describe both physical actions (such as grinding materials in a mortar or crushing objects) and metaphorically for the act of bringing something to nothing or reducing it in power or substance. In context, it commonly conveys the thoroughness of the destruction or reduction to fine particles.
Semantic Range
to crush, to pulverize, to grind to powder, to break in pieces, to destroy completely, to reduce to dust
Root / Etymology
Aramaic verb דְּקַק, corresponding to Hebrew root דָּקַק (d-q-q), which means 'to crush, pulverize, grind.' The word is the Aramaic stem derived directly from this root, with similar meaning and usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
This verb appears in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Daniel 2:35, 2:44–45), functioning as the direct equivalent of Hebrew דָּקַק. Its semantic field centers on the action of thorough crushing or grinding, applicable both to physical materials (such as stone or metal) and as metaphors for comprehensive defeat or destruction. In Daniel's context, it refers specifically to the total and utter destruction of kingdoms or entities, reduced to dust or chaff and dispersed. The notion of reduction to a state where nothing remains is critical to its usage, emphasizing not just breaking but complete pulverization. The root is distinct from related terms for breaking (e.g., שָׁבַר, 'to break, shatter'), as דְּקַק emphasizes complete grinding to the finest degree rather than merely fragmenting.
Translation Consistency
'Crush' is the most natural, common English verb that covers the full SILEX range — physical grinding or pounding into small pieces and the metaphorical reduction to nothing. It matches the majority P2 renderings ('crushed') and is broader and more idiomatic than narrower alternatives like 'grind' or the more technical 'pulverize,' so it works consistently across literal and figurative contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to דָּקַק; to crumble or (trans.) crush; break to pieces.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דקק (d-q-q) — to crush, to pulverize, to grind
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1851 | דַּק | thin-fine |
| H1852 | דֹּק | fine thin cloth |
| H1854 | דָּקַק | I will pulverize them |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1855-05 |
תַּדִּ֥ק | tadiq | AVhi3fs |
it will break in pieces | she will pulverize | it will pulverize | 2 |
H1855-07 |
וְ/הַדֵּ֖קֶת | vehadeqet | AC/Vhp3fs |
and crushed | and she pulverized | and it crushed | 2 |
H1855-04 |
מְהַדֵּ֤ק | mehadeq | AVhrmsa |
crushes | the pulverizing one | the pulverizing one | 1 |
H1855-06 |
וּ/מַדֱּקָ֔ה | umadeqah | AC/Varfsa |
and broke in pieces | and the crushing-one | and broke in pieces | 1 |
H1855-01 |
דָּ֣קוּ | daqu | AVqp3mp |
were crushed | they crushed | were crushed | 1 |
H1855-08 |
וְ/תַדְּקִנַּֽ/הּ | vetadeqinah | AC/Vai3fs/Sp3fs |
and crush it | and she will pulverize her | and it will crush her | 1 |
H1855-02 |
הַדִּֽקוּ | hadiqu | AVhp3mp |
were crushed | they pulverized | they crushed | 1 |
H1855-03 |
מַדֲּקָ֔ה | madaqah | AVarfsa |
crushed | she who pulverizes | crushed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1855-07 |
Daniel 2:34 | וְ/הַדֵּ֖קֶת | vehadeqet | AC/Vhp3fs |
and crushed | and she pulverized | and it crushed |
H1855-01 |
Daniel 2:35 | דָּ֣קוּ | daqu | AVqp3mp |
were crushed | they crushed | were crushed |
H1855-04 |
Daniel 2:40 | מְהַדֵּ֤ק | mehadeq | AVhrmsa |
crushes | the pulverizing one | the pulverizing one |
H1855-05 |
Daniel 2:40 | תַּדִּ֥ק | tadiq | AVhi3fs |
it-will-crush | she will pulverize | it will pulverize |
H1855-05 |
Daniel 2:44 | תַּדִּ֤ק | tadiq | AVhi3fs |
it will break in pieces | she will pulverize | it will pulverize |
H1855-07 |
Daniel 2:45 | וְ֠/הַדֶּקֶת | vehadeqet | AC/Vhp3fs |
and that it broke | and she pulverized | and it crushed |
H1855-02 |
Daniel 6:25 | הַדִּֽקוּ | hadiqu | AVhp3mp |
were crushed | they pulverized | they crushed |
H1855-06 |
Daniel 7:7 | וּ/מַדֱּקָ֔ה | umadeqah | AC/Varfsa |
and broke in pieces | and the crushing-one | and broke in pieces |
H1855-03 |
Daniel 7:19 | מַדֲּקָ֔ה | madaqah | AVarfsa |
crushed | she who pulverizes | crushed |
H1855-08 |
Daniel 7:23 | וְ/תַדְּקִנַּֽ/הּ | vetadeqinah | AC/Vai3fs/Sp3fs |
and crush it | and she will pulverize her | and it will crush her |