הַדָּם
𐤄𐤃𐤌
haddâm
H1917 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fragment, small piece, or portion of a material broken or crushed from a larger whole; in context, used of a bit or piece of something, especially as the result of stamping, crushing, or breaking.
Semantic Range
fragment, piece, bit, small portion (especially from something crushed or stamped), part broken off
Root / Etymology
Derived from an Aramaic root cognate to the Hebrew הֲדֹם (hadom, 'footstool' or 'something trampled upon'), reflecting the idea of being trampled, crushed, or stamped. The exact root in Aramaic is דְּמַךְ (dmekh), 'to crush, break,' making the noun refer to a piece resulting from breaking or crushing. The word הַדָּם appears as an Aramaic loanword or regionalism in post-exilic biblical texts, cognate with similar roots in Northwest Semitic languages.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term הַדָּם is attested in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Daniel), signifying a fragment or piece, typically of something broken by force. This usage reflects a linguistic transition in the post-exilic period, when Aramaic was the language of administration and daily life for many Israelites under Persian imperial rule. The related Hebrew term הֲדֹם means 'footstool,' but the meaning here is not a physical object of furniture, rather a portion resulting from the action of crushing or stamping (cf. Daniel 2:35, 44 where Aramaic is prominent). This distinction in context and period helps avoid conflating the meanings. The sense of 'piece' or 'fragment' is narrower than the later English term 'footstool,' which can introduce confusion in translation. Standard English translations (such as 'piece' or 'bit') accurately reflect the word's usage in its biblical context. The use of Aramaic in these periods often signals official, administrative, or literary contexts in Judean society under foreign rule.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to that of הֲדֹם; something stamped to pieces, i.e. a bit; piece.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דמם (d-m-m) — to crush, to stamp, to break in pieces
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1917-01 |
הַדָּמִין֙ | hadamin | ANcmpa |
pieces | crushed fragments | crushed fragments | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1917-01 |
Daniel 2:5 | הַדָּמִין֙ | hadamin | ANcmpa |
pieces | crushed fragments | crushed fragments |
H1917-01 |
Daniel 3:29 | הַדָּמִ֣ין | hadamin | ANcmpa |
pieces | crushed fragments | pieces |