Lexical Definition

‎דָּבַק‎ dâbaq (daw-bak') to cleave ^H:V
a primitive root

abide fast, cleave (fast together), follow close (hard after), be joined (together), keep (fast), overtake, pursue hard, stick, take.

• properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere
• figuratively, to catch by pursuit

1) to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cling, cleave to
1a2) to stay with
1b) (Pual) to be joined together
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to cause to cleave to
1c2) to pursue closely
1c3) to overtake
1d) (Hophal) to be made to cleave

See Greek: ἀκολουθέω · ἅπτομαι · ἅπτω · ἔχω · καταβαίνω · καταδιώκω · καταλαμβάνω · κολλάω · προσέχω · προσκολλάω · προστίθημι · συνδέω · φθάνω

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: de.vaq (‎ד‎ְּ‎ב‎ֵ‎ק‎ "to cleave" דְּבַק)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: דְּבַק
‎דָּבַק‎, ‎דָּבֵק‎ verb cling, cleave, keep close (Late Hebrew id., Arabic Aramaic ‎דְּבֵק‎, ‎דְּבַק‎ , ) —

Qal Perfect ‎דָּבַק‎ 1Kgs 11:2 + 2 t.; ‎וְדָבַק‎ consecutive Gen 2:24 ‎דָּבֵ֑ק‎ 2Kgs 3:3 3 feminine singular ‎דָּֽבְקָה‎ Ruth 1:14 + 5 t.; ‎דָּבֵ֑קָה‎ Job 29:10 1 singular ‎דָּבַקְתִּי‎ Ps 119:31 3 plural ‎דָּֽבְקוּ‎ 2Sam 20:2 ‎וְדָֽבְקוּ‎ consecutive Deut 28:60 ‎דָּבֵ֑קוּ‎ Job 41:15* ‎וּדְבַקְתֶּם‎ consecutive Josh 23:12 Imperfect ‎יִדְבַּק‎ Deut 13:18* + 3 t.; 3 feminine singular ‎תִּדְבַּק‎ 2Kgs 5:27; Ps 137:6 ‎וַתִּדְבַּק‎ Gen 34:3 + 2 t.; suffix ‎תִּדְבָּקַנִי‎ Gen 19:19 2 masculine singular ‎תִּדְבָּ֑ק‎ Deut 10:20; Ezek 29:4 (strike out B Co); 2 feminine singular ‎תִּדְבָּקִין‎ Ruth 2:8; Ruth 2:21 3 plural ‎יִדְבְּקוּ‎ Num 36:7; Num 36:9 2 masculine plural ‎תִּדְבָּ֑קוּ‎ Josh 23:8 ‎תִּדְבָּקוּ֑ן‎ Deut 13:5* Infinitive construct ‎וּלְדָבְקָהבּֿוֺ‎ Deut 11:22 + 2 t.; — in Hexateuch only J D, except Num 36:7; Num 36:9 (P); —

1. cling, cleave to,
a. literally followed by ‎בְּ‎ Job 19:20 (bone to skin), so followed by ‎לְ‎ Ps 102:6* followed by ‎אֶל‎ 2Sam 23:10 (hand to sword; accidentally omitted with other words 1Chr 11:13 compare Dr 2Sam 23:11), Jer 13:11 (girdle to loins), Lam 4:4 (tongue to roof of mouth, in thirst), so followed by ‎לְ‎ Job 29:10; Ps 137:6 (as a judgment); so also in metaphor Ps 44:26* ‎דָּֽבְקָה לָאָרֶץ בִּטְנֵנוּ‎ our belly cleaveth to the earth (|| ‎שָׁחָה לֶעָפָר נַפְשֵׁנוּ‎), Ps 119:25 ‎דָּֽבְקָה‎ ‎לֶעָפָר נַפְשִׁי‎; fish to scales of crocodile (figurative of Pharaoh), followed by ‎בְּ‎ Ezek 29:4 (but compare above); absolute (reciprocal) of folds of crocodile's belly Job 41:15* further of the ‎חֵרֶם‎ remaining in (sticking to) the hand followed by ‎בְּ‎ Deut 13:18* so of spot, stain Job 31:7
b. so also of abiding on the land of one's tribe Num 36:7; Num 36:9 (followed by ‎בְּ‎).
c. = remain with, close to followed by ‎עִם‎ Ruth 2:8; Ruth 2:21 followed by ‎בְּ‎ vRuth 2:23.

2. cling, cleave to,
a. figurative of loyalty, affection etc., sometimes with idea of physical proximity retained, followed by ‎בְּ‎ Gen 2:24 (J; man to wife) compare Gen 34:3 (J) 1Kgs 11:2; Josh 23:12 (D); further Ruth 1:14 (Ruth to Naomi); 2Sam 20:2 (people to king); especially (followed by ‎בְּ‎) of cleaving to ‎׳‎‎י‎ Deut 11:22 (|| ‎אָהֵב‎, ‎הָלַךְ בְּכָלדְּֿרָכָיו‎) Deut 30:20 (|| ‎אָהֵב‎, ‎שָׁמַע בְּקֹלוֺ‎), Josh 22:5 (|| ‎אָהֵב‎, ‎׳‎‎הָלַךְ וגו‎, ‎שָׁמַר מִצְוֺתָיו‎); compare further Deut 10:20; Deut 13:5*; Josh 23:8 (all D), 2Kgs 18:6; Ps 63:9* (followed by ‎אַחֲרֵי‎) & Ps 119:31 ‎דָּבַקְתּי בְֵ˜עדְוֺתֶ֑יךָ‎; so
b. of the opposite ‎בְּחַטּאֹות יָָֽרָבְעָם ֗֗֗ דָּבֵ֑ק‎ 2Kgs 3:37,
c. subject disease, calamity, followed by ‎בְּ‎ person Deut 28:60; 2Kgs 5:27 followed by ‎אַחֲרֵי‎ Jer 42:16 followed by accusative Gen 19:19 (J); subject sin Ps 101:3 (followed by ‎בְּ‎ person) Pu`al Imperfect 3 masculine plural ‎יְדֻבָּ֑קוּ‎ passive of Hiph`il 1 followed by ‎בְּ‎, of crocodile's scales, they are joined together Job 41:9* (|| ‎יִתְלַכְּדוּ‎); absolute of earth-clods Job 38:38. Hiph`il Perfect 3 feminine singular suffix ‎הִדְבִּיקָ֑תְהוּ‎ Judg 20:42 3 plural suffix ‎הִדְבִּיקֻהוּ‎ 2Sam 1:6 1 singular ‎הִדְבַּקְתִּי‎ Jer 13:11 ‎וְהִדְבַּקְתִּ֫י‎ Ezek 29:4 Imperfect jussive ‎יַדְבֵּק‎ Deut 28:21 ‎וַיַּדְבֵּק‎ Gen 31:23 ‎אַדְבִּיק‎ Ezek 3:26 ‎וַיַּדְבִּיקוּ‎ Judg 18:22; Judg 20:45 ‎וַיַּדְבְּקוּ‎ 1Sam 14:22 + 2 t. (compare Ges^{«GKC:53»§ 53} R 4 Kö^{i. 210}).

1. cause to cling or cleave to, followed by accusative + ‎אֶל‎, literally ‎וּלְשׁוֺנְךָ אַדְבִּיק אֶלחִֿכֶּ֑ךָ‎ Ezek 3:26 see also Ezek 29:4 (followed by accusative + ‎בְּ‎; literal, but in metaphor); figurative of causing to cleave to ‎׳‎‎י‎ Jer 13:11 (followed by accusative + ‎אֶל‎); compare further Deut 28:21 (subject ‎׳‎‎י‎, followed by accusative of disease + ‎בְּ‎).

2. pursue closely, followed by ‎אַחֲרֵי‎ Judg 20:45; 1Sam 14:22; 1Chr 10:2 = 1Sam 31:2 (followed by accusative); so also 2Sam 1:6 (followed by accusative)

3. overtake, followed by accusative Gen 31:23 (E), Judg 18:22 compare Judg 20:42 (subject ‎הַמִּלְחָמַה‎). Hoph`al Participle ‎וּלְשׁוֺנִי מֻדְבָּק מַלְקוֺחָ֑י‎ Ps 22:16* and my tongue is made to cleave (to) my gums; compare below

Qal 1.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References