What does דָּמָה (dāmāh) mean in the Bible?
דָּמָה (dāmāh): Extends from comparison to likeness: to declare or perceive resemblance between things or persons.
Hebrew · H1819
דָּמָה
To compare ; by implication, to resemble , liken , consider
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דָּמָהH1819
Pronunciationdāmāh
What does דָּמָה (dāmāh) mean in the Bible?
דָּמָה (dāmāh): Extends from comparison to likeness: to declare or perceive resemblance between things or persons.
Full entry for דָּמָה (H1819) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1819?
The BSB source-word alignment has 30 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include is like (4), and be like (2), will you liken Me (2), can be compared (1), can I compare you (1).
Where does דָּמָה (dāmāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 33:56. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (8), Ezekiel (5), Psalms (5), Song Of Solomon (5).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itis like4×Psalms 89:6, Psalms 144:4, Song Of Solomon 2:9, Song Of Solomon 7:7
and be like2×Song Of Solomon 2:17, Song Of Solomon 8:14
will you liken Me2×Isaiah 40:25, Isaiah 46:5
can be compared1×Ezekiel 31:2
can I compare you1×Lamentations 2:13
compare1×Ezekiel 31:8
could compare1×Ezekiel 31:8
his intention1×Isaiah 10:7
I compare you1×Song Of Solomon 1:9
I gave parables1×Hosea 12:10
I had planned1×Numbers 33:56
I have planned1×Isaiah 14:24
I will destroy1×Jeremiah 6:2
I will make myself like1×Isaiah 14:14
imagine that1×Esther 4:13
is like you1×Ezekiel 31:18
like1×Psalms 102:6
plotted1×2 Samuel 21:5
that we should be alike1×Isaiah 46:5
They intended1×Judges 20:5
we contemplate1×Psalms 48:9
we would have resembled1×Isaiah 1:9
will you liken1×Isaiah 40:18
You are like1×Ezekiel 32:2
you thought1×Psalms 50:21
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 33:56דִּמִּ֛יתִיtoI had plannedVerb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularJudges 20:5דִּמּ֣וּtoThey intendedVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural2 Samuel 21:5דִּמָּה־toplottedVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularEsther 4:13תְּדַמִּ֣יtoimagine thatVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person feminine singularPsalms 48:9דִּמִּ֣ינוּtowe contemplateVerb - Piel - Perfect - first person common pluralPsalms 50:21דִּמִּ֗יתָtoyou thoughtVerb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singularPsalms 89:6יִדְמֶ֥הtois likeVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 102:6דָּ֭מִיתִיtolikeVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularPsalms 144:4דָּמָ֑הtois likeVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularSong Of Solomon 1:9דִּמִּיתִ֖יךְtoI compare youVerb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular | second person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowNumbers 33:56
Aligned rows30
Books represented11
Numbers1Judges12 Samuel1Esther1Psalms5Song Of Solomon5Isaiah8Jeremiah1Lamentations1Ezekiel5Hosea1
Source forms
אֶדַּמֶּ֖ה1x’ed·dam·mehIsaiah 14:14
אֲדַמֶּה־1x’ă·ḏam·meh-Lamentations 2:13
אֲדַמֶּֽה׃1x’ă·ḏam·mehHosea 12:10
דּוֹמֶ֤ה1xdō·w·mehSong Of Solomon 2:9
דָמָ֥ה1xḏā·māhEzekiel 31:8
דָּמָ֑ה1xdā·māhPsalms 144:4
דְּמֵה־1xdə·mêh-Song Of Solomon 2:17
דִּמָּה־1xdim·māh-2 Samuel 21:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular2xLamentations 2:13, Hosea 12:10
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | first person common singular2xIsaiah 40:25, Isaiah 46:5
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular2xNumbers 33:56, Isaiah 14:24
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular2xPsalms 102:6, Jeremiah 6:2
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular2xEzekiel 31:2, Ezekiel 31:18
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2xPsalms 144:4, Ezekiel 31:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common plural1xIsaiah 46:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular1xSong Of Solomon 8:14
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Extends from comparison to likeness: to declare or perceive resemblance between things or persons.
Strong'sH1819
Lexical occurrences29 versesWord forms4 forms23 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 46:5-7Source Gloss
to compare ; by implication, to resemble , liken , consider
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Extends from comparison to likeness: to declare or perceive resemblance between things or persons.
to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider BDB: be like Usage: compare, devise, (be) like(-n), mean, think, use similitudes.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms23
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense11×
PerfectEzek 31:2 · Ezek 31:18 · Ezek 31:8 · Ps 144:4 · Isa 1:9 · Ps 102:7 · Song 7:88×
ImperfectPs 89:71×
Participle activeSong 2:91×
Sequential imperfectSong 2:171×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action10×
PerfectIsa 14:24 · Num 33:56 · 2Sam 21:5 · Judg 20:5 · Ps 48:10 · Ps 50:216×
ImperfectHos 12:11 · Lam 2:13 · Isa 10:73×
JussiveEsth 4:131×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
PerfectEzek 32:21×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others1×
ImperfectIsa 14:141×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
To compare or resemble.
Showing 1 selected witness from 29 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
דָּמָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Highlights the impossibility of equating God with idols.Isaiah 46:5-7
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.