Lexical Definition

‎דָּם‎ dâm (dawm) blood ^H:N-M
from ‎דָּמַם‎ (compare ‎אָדַם‎)

blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent.

• blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal
• by analogy, the juice of the grape
• figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood)

1) blood
1a) of wine (fig.)

See Greek: αἷμα · ἔνοχος · μέτοχος · φόνος · Ἀκελδαμά

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎דָּם‎₃₆₀ noun masculine^{Gen 9:6} blood (Late Hebrew id., Arabic , Ethiopic Assyrian damu Nor²³⁹ Zim^{BP 72, 76}; Aramaic ‎דַּם‎, ‎דְּמָא‎ , ) — absolute ‎׳‎‎ד‎ Gen 37:22 + 154 t.; construct ‎דַּם‎ Gen 9:6 + 62 t.; suffix ‎דָּמִי‎ 1Sam 26:20 + 3 t.; ‎דָּֽמְךָ‎ 2Sam 1:16 (Qr; Kt ‎דמיך‎) + 4 t.; ‎דָּמֵךְ‎ Ezek 16:22 + 3 t.; ‎דָּמוֺ‎ Gen 9:4 + 30 t.; ‎דָּמָהּ‎ Lev 4:30 (twice in verse) + 11 t.; ‎דִּמְכֶם‎ Gen 9:5 ‎דָּמָם‎ Lev 16:27 + 11 t.; plural ‎דָּמִים‎ Exod 4:25 + 35 t.; construct ‎דְּמֵי‎ Gen 4:10 + 18 t.; suffix ‎דָּמֶיךָ‎ 2Sam 1:16 Kt (Qr ‎דָּֽמְךָ‎); ‎דָּמַיִךְ‎ Ezek 16:6 (3 t. in verse); Ezek 16:9 ‎דָּמָיו‎ Lev 20:9 + 3 t.; ‎דָּמֶיהָ‎ Lev 12:7 + 2 t.; ‎דְּמֵיהֶם‎ Lev 20:11 + 5 t.; —

1. blood of man or animal, = the life (‎נֶפֶשׁ‎) Gen 9:4 (P) Deut 12:23; Lev 17:14 (twice in verse) (H); compare ‎נֶפֶשׁ הַבָּשָׂר‎ ‎בַּדָּם הִוא‎ vLev 17:11 (H) & ‎דִּמְכֶם לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם‎ Gen 9:5 (P); see also Ps 72:14 ‎וְיֵיקַר דָּמָם בְּעֵינָיו‎; hence blood of animals not to be eaten Lev 3:17; Lev 7:26; Lev 7:27(all P) Lev 17:10 (twice in verse); Lev 17:12 (twice in verse); Lev 17:14; Lev 19:26 (all H) Deut 12:16; Deut 12:23; Deut 15:23; 1Sam 14:32; 1Sam 14:33; 1Sam 14:34; Ezek 33:25 (compare RS^{K 310}), but to be poured out & covered with dust Lev 17:13 (compare RS^{Semitic i. 216 f.}).

2. usually blood become visible,
a. as from a wound ‎הַמַּכָּה‎ ‎׳‎‎ד‎ 1Kgs 22:35 (compare ‎חֲתַן דָּמִים‎ Exod 4:25; Exod 4:26 see below h); licked by dogs 1Kgs 21:19 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 22:38; Ezek 32:6 from the nose Prov 30:33 bloody issue of a woman Lev 15:19 compare vLev 15:25 plural ‎דְּמֵי טָֽהֳרָה‎ Lev 12:4; Lev 12:5, & ‎מְקֹר דָּמֶיהָ‎ vLev 12:7 (all P) Lev 20:18 (H); blood in which child welters Ezek 16:6 (twice in verse); Ezek 16:22 + vEzek 16:6 (strike out A B Co and others); of goat Gen 37:31 (JE); of slain bird Lev 14:6; Lev 14:51; Lev 14:52.
b. often object of ‎שָׁפַךְ‎, spill, shed Gen 9:6 (P) Gen 37:22 (E) Num 35:33 (P) Lev 17:4 (H) Deut 21:7; 1Sam 25:31; 1Kgs 18:28; 2Kgs 21:16; 2Kgs 24:4; 1Chr 22:8; Ezek 16:38; Ezek 22:4; Ezek 22:6; Ezek 22:9; Ezek 22:12; Ezek 22:27; Ezek 23:45; Ezek 33:25; Ezek 36:18 (strike out B Co) Prov 1:16 also Ps 79:3 ‎שָֽׁפְכוּ דָמָם כַּמַּיִם‎; ‎שֹׁפֵךְ דָּם‎ a blood-shedder Ezek 18:10 ‎עִיר שֹׁפֶכֶת דָּם‎ Ezek 22:3 compare vEzek 22:4 (also 1Kgs 2:31; Jer 22:3; Jer 22:17; 1Chr 22:8; 1Chr 28:3; Prov 6:17; Lam 4:13); less often subject of passive ‎שָׁפוּךְ‎, ‎נִשְׁפָּךְ‎, etc. Gen 9:6; Num 35:33 (both P) Deut 19:10; Zeph 1:17; Ps 79:10.
c. ‎דַּם חָלָל‎ Deut 32:42 (song) blood of slain; ‎חֲלָלִים‎ ‎׳‎‎ד‎ 2Sam 1:22 so Num 23:24 (JE), object of ‎שָׁתָה‎, of Israel under figure of lion; compare also Ezek 39:17; Ezek 39:18; Ezek 39:19, & 2Sam 23:17 = 1Chr 11:19 (‎דַּם הָאֲנָשִׁים‎ hyperbole for imperilled life); as food of young eagles Job 39:30.
d. often of innocent blood, i.e. blood shed with injustice & cruelty, ‎דָּם נָקִי‎ Deut 21:8; Deut 21:9; 1Sam 19:5; 2Kgs 21:16; 2Kgs 24:4; Ps 94:21; Ps 106:38 compare vPs 94:38; Prov 6:17; Isa 59:7; Jer 7:6; Jer 22:3 (also Jer 26:15); ‎דָּם נָקִיא‎ Joel 4:19*; Jonah 1:14 also in construct ‎דַּם נָקִי‎ Deut 19:10 compare Deut 27:25 ‎לְהַכּוֺת נֶפֶשׁ‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ ‎׳‎‎ד‎; ‎דַּם הַנָּקִי‎ Deut 19:13; Jer 22:17; 2Kgs 24:4 ‎דַּם נְקִיִּים‎ Jer 19:4 ‎דַּם נַפְשׁוֺת אֶבְיוֺנִים נְקִיִּים‎ Jer 2:34 further ‎דַּם צַדִּיקִים‎ Lam 4:13 ‎דְּמֵי חִנָּם‎ 1Kgs 2:31 in Ps 31:10* ‎דָּמִי‎ = my death (|| ‎רִדְתִּי אֶלשַֿׁחַת‎).
e. evenger of blood ‎גֹּאֵל הַדָּם‎ Num 35:19; Num 35:21; Num 35:24; Num 35:25; Num 35:27 (twice in verse) (all P); Deut 19:6; Deut 19:12; Josh 20:3; Josh 20:5; Josh 20:9; 2Sam 14:11. feminine plural ‎דָּמִים‎ of abundance, blood in quantity, hence sometimes of blood shed by rude violence, and of blood-stains; — Gen 4:10; Gen 4:11(J) as crying from the ground for vengeance (compare RS^{Semitic i. 397}), compare also 2Sam 3:28; 2Sam 16:8; 2Kgs 9:26 (twice in verse); Isa 1:15; Isa 9:4*; Isa 26:21; (3 t. in verse); Ezek 16:9; Ezek 16:36 (on text of vEzek 16:6 see above) Zech 9:7; 2Chr 24:25 ‎דְּמֵי אָדָם‎ Hab 2:8; Hab 2:17, and in other connections; but interchangeably with singular 2Sam 3:27; 2Sam 20:12; 2Kgs 9:33; Isa 34:3; Isa 34:6 (twice in verse); Isa 34:7; Ezek 21:37*; Ezek 22:13 (plural Co) Ezek 24:8 (twice in verse) and elsewhere; see especially ‎אֶרֶץ אַלתְּֿכַסִּי דָמִי‎ Job 16:18 ‎דְּמֵי ירושׁלם‎ blood-stains of Jerusalem Isa 4:4 = slaughter, singular Gen 37:26 (J) Jer 48:10; Ezek 5:17; Ezek 28:23 (|| ‎דֶּבֶר‎) Ezek 38:22 (|| id.); ‎דַּםעֲֿבָדָיו‎ Deut 32:43 (song: compare Ps 79:10); plural ‎דְּמֵי עֲבָדַי‎ 2Kgs 9:7 (twice in verse); ‎דְּמֵי יִזְרְעֶאל‎ Hos 1:4 bloodshed at Jezreel; compare ‎דָּמִים בְּדָמִים‎ ‎נָגָ֑עוּ‎ Hos 4:2 ‎דְּמֵי מִלְחָמָה‎ 1Kgs 2:5 (twice in verse); in Ezek 9:9 ‎וַתִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ חָמָס‎ (Baer) read ‎דָּמִים‎ for ‎חָמָס‎ see d. H. Vrss Co Comm.; ‎אָרַב לְדָם‎ lie in wait for blood Prov 1:11 compare vProv 1:18; Prov 12:6; Mic 7:2 ‎דָּמִים‎ of a plan of murder Isa 33:15 (object of ‎שׁמע‎); ‎מִשְׁפַּט דָּמִים‎ Ezek 7:23 bloody crime; as symbol of oppression, violence Mic 3:10 (|| ‎עַוְלָה‎), Hab 2:12 (|| id.)
g. ‎דָּמִים‎ = guilt of bloodshed, blood-guiltiness Exod 22:1*, then more generally, mortal sin (RS^{OTJC 417, 2nd ed. 441}, compare Ezek 18:13) Ps 51:16* (compare Hos 12:15*); also ‎בּוֺא בְדָמִים‎ 1Sam 25:26; 1Sam 25:33.
h. plural also in pharses: ‎חֲתַן דָּמִים‎ bloody bridegroom Exod 4:25; Exod 4:26 also those denoting character, chiefly in poetry, ‎אִישׁ דָּמִים‎ bloody man (sanguinary) 2Sam 16:8; Ps 5:7* ‎אִישׁ הַדָּמִים‎ 2Sam 16:7 ‎אַנְשֵׁי דָּמִים‎, Ps 26:9; Ps 55:24*; Ps 59:3*; Ps 139:19; Prov 29:10 ‎ואלבֵּֿית הַדָּמִים‎ bloody house 2Sam 21:1 but read with ᵐ5 We Dr ‎ואל בֵּיתֹה דמים‎, & on his house is blood; ‎עִיר דָּמִים‎ Nah 3:1 ‎עִיר‎ ‎הַדָּמִים‎ Ezek 22:2; Ezek 24:6 + vEzek 24:9 (strike out B Co).
i. ‎דָּמָיו בּוֺ‎ his blood is in (upon) him, he is responsible for his own death Lev 20:9 compare vLev 20:11 vLev 20:12 vLev 20:13 vLev 20:16 vLev 20:27 (all H), Ezek 18:13 ( + ‎יִהְיֶה‎); ‎דָּמוֺ בּוֺ‎ Ezek 33:5 ‎דָּמוֺ בְּראֹשׁוֺ‎ Josh 2:19 (twice in verse); so with ‎שָׁבוּ‎ 1Kgs 2:33, ‎יִהְיֶה‎ v1Kgs 2:37; Ezek 33:4 ‎דָּֽמְ֯יךָ עַל ראֹשֶׁ֑ךָ‎ 2Sam 1:16, and ‎אֶתדָּֿמוֺ עַלרֿאֹשׁוֺ‎ ‎׳‎‎הֵשִׁיב י‎ 1Kgs 2:32 also ‎לֹא תָשִׂים דָּמִים בְּבֵיתְךָ‎ Deut 22:8 and ‎דָּמָם לָשׂוּם‎ ‎עַל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ‎ Judg 9:24 ‎נָתַן דָּם על (אלׅ‎ Jer 26:15; Jonah 1:14 ‎וְהָיָה עָלָיךָ דָּמִים‎ Deut 19:10, see 2Sam 21:1 above; also singular Ezek 22:4 ‎בְּדָמֵךְ אָשַׁמְתְּ‎, and as subject of ‎יֵחָשֵׁב לְ‎ shall be imputed to Lev 17:4 (H); ‎אֵין לוֺ דָמִים‎ Exod 22:1* compare v.Exod 22:2* (both J E) & (singular) Num 35:27 (P).
j. of judicial process in case of bloodshed ‎דָּבָר‎ ‎לַמִּשְׁפָּט בֵּיןדָּֿם לְדָם‎ Deut 17:8 compare 2Chr 19:10 ‎לֹא תַּעֲמֹד‎ ‎עַלדַּֿם רֵעֶ֑ךָ‎ Lev 19:16 (H).
k. in phrase require blood at the hand of, exact vengeance (for it) from, ‎דָּרַשׁ דָּמוֺ מִיַּד‎ Ezek 33:6; Gen 9:5 ‎דָּמוֺ נִדְרָשׁ‎ Gen 42:22 (E); absolute ‎דֹּרשׁ דמים‎ Ps 9:13* ‎אֲבַקֵּשׁ אֶתדָּֿמוֺ מִיֶּדְכֶם‎ 2Sam 4:11 compare Ezek 3:18; Ezek 3:20; Ezek 33:8 ‎עַלֿ‎ ‎׳‎‎פָּקַד ד‎ Hos 1:4 ‎׳‎‎וְנִקֵּיתִי ד‎ Joel 4:21*; Ezek 35:6 (4 t. in verse); compare on the other hand ‎׳‎‎אַליִֿפֹּל דָּמִי אַרְצָה מִנֶּגֶד פְּנֵי י‎ 1Sam 26:20 i.e. let it not de unavenged.

1. of blood as defiling a land Num 35:33 (P) compare Ps 106:38 (plural ‎בדמים‎); ‎עֲקֻבָּה‎ ‎מִדָּם‎ Hos 6:8 of a city foot-printed (VB) with blood; defiling hands Isa 1:15; Isa 59:3; Lam 4:14 compare Ezek 23:37; Ezek 23:45 further, of blood as oppressing one who has shed it ‎עָשֻׁק בְּדַם נֶפֶשׁ‎ Prov 28:17. masculine atonement for blood-guilt is expressed by ‎וְנִכַּפֵּר לָהֶם הַדָּם‎ Deut 21:8 (on form of verb compare Ges^{«GKC:55»§ 55}, 9 & Di).
n. blood (-shedding) as connected with divine wrath ‎וְשָׁפַכְתִּ֫י חֲמָתִי עָלָיהָ בְּדָם‎ Ezek 14:19 ‎דַּם חֵמָה וְקִנְאָה‎ Ezek 16:38 see further ‎אַשְׁכִּיר חִצַּי מִדָּם‎ Deut 32:42, compare Jer 46:10 compare also of human vengeance by divine help ‎יִרְחַץ בְּדַם הָרָשָׁע‎ Ps 58:11* ‎תִּמֲחַץ רַגְלְךָ בְּדָם‎ Ps 68:24* note further Isa 49:26; Ezek 39:19 (in both figurative of being drunk with blood); then of simple human vengeance ‎וְהוֺרַדְתָּ֫ אֶתשֵֿׂיבָתוֺ בְּדָם שְׁאוֺל‎ 1Kgs 2:9.
o. of water turned into blood (singular) in Egypt, by divine power Exod 4:9 (J) Exod 7:17; Exod 7:20 (JE) vExod 7:19 vExod 7:19 vExod 7:21 (P) Ps 78:44; Ps 105:29 compare Isa 15:9 & Ezek 32:6 further, of appearance of blood in sky Joel 3:3*, & of colour of moon v.Joel 2:4 specifically of red colour of water ‎אֲדֻמִּים כַּדָּם‎ 2Kgs 3:22 compare v2Kgs 3:23.

3. blood used with religious significance,
a. blood of passover-lamb Exod 12:7; Exod 12:13 (twice in verse) (all P) vExod 12:22 vExod 12:22 vExod 12:23 (all J E); note also ‎דַּם הַבְּרִית‎, i.e. blood by which covenant was ratified Exod 24:8 (JE) Zech 9:11.
b. blood used in ritual, Lev 17:11 ‎הַדָּם הוּא בַּנֶּפֶשׁ יְכַפֵּר‎ (H); compare 2Chr 29:24 also Ezek 44:7; Ezek 44:15 (both || ‎חֵלָב‎); further Lev 1:5; Isa 1:11; Ps 50:13 thrown on altar, verb ‎זָרַק‎ usually with ‎עַל‎ Exod 24:6 (JE) Exod 29:16; Exod 29:20; Lev 1:5; Lev 1:11; Lev 3:2; Lev 3:8; Lev 3:13; Lev 7:2; Lev 7:14; Lev 8:19; Lev 8:24; Lev 9:12; Lev 9:18 (all P) Lev 17:6 (H) Num 18:17 (P) Ezek 43:18; 2Kgs 16:13; 2Kgs 16:15 (twice in verse); 2Chr 29:22 (3 t. in verse); compare 2Chr 30:16 sprinkled, verb ‎הִזָּה‎ Lev 5:9; Lev 16:19 (both P); sprinkled toward tent of meeting (verb ‎הִזָּה‎) Num 19:4 (twice in verse) (P); brought into tent of meeting Lev 4:5; Lev 4:16; Lev 6:23* compare Lev 10:18 (all P); sprinkled toward the holy of holies (verb ‎הִזָּה‎) Lev 4:6 (twice in verse); Lev 4:17; Lev 16:14 (twice in verse) (all P); brought within the veil on day of atonement Lev 16:15 (3 t. in verse) (compare vLev 16:14) vLev 16:27 (all P); thrown on people Exod 24:8 (J E; ‎זָרַק‎); sprinkled on priests (‎הִזָּה‎) Exod 29:21; Lev 8:30 (both P); on garment (in sanctuary, ‎הִזָּה‎) Lev 6:20* (P); applied with finger to horns of altar Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7; Lev 4:18; Lev 4:25; Lev 4:30; Lev 4:34; Lev 8:15; Lev 9:9 (3 t. in verse); Lev 16:18 (twice in verse) (all P; also Ezek 45:19) Ezek 43:20 applied to tip of right ear of priest Exod 29:20; Lev 8:23; Lev 8:24 (all P; also Lev 14:14; Lev 14:25 P); poured out at base of altar (‎שָׁפַךְ אֶלֿ‎) Exod 29:12; Lev 4:7; Lev 4:18; Lev 4:25; Lev 4:30; Lev 4:34 (all P); compare with ‎מָצָה‎ (Niph`al) Lev 1:15; Lev 5:9 with ‎יָצַק‎ Lev 8:15 (all P); half of blood put in basons Exod 24:6 (JE); blood poured out on altar Deut 12:27 (twice in verse); blood of red heifer burned Num 19:5 (P); see further such terms as ‎דַּם זִבְחִי‎ Exod 23:18; Exod 34:25 (both J E) (compare Deut 12:27; 2Kgs 16:15); ‎דַּם הַשְּׁלָמִים‎ Lev 7:33 (P; compare vLev 7:14); ‎דַּם חַטָּאת הַכִּפֻּרִים‎ Exod 30:10 (P) compare Ezek 45:19 ‎דַּם הָאָשָׁם‎ Lev 14:14; Lev 14:17; Lev 14:25; Lev 14:28 (see ‎זֶבַח‎, ‎שֶׁלֶם‎, ‎חַטָּאת‎, ‎אָשָׁם‎); ‎דַּםחֲֿזִיר‎, swine's blood, as heathen offering Isa 66:3 compare ‎נִסְכֵּיהֶם מִדָּם‎ Ps 16:4 (see Che).

4. figurative of wine ‎דַּםעֲֿנָבִים‎ Gen 49:11 (blessing of Jacob || ‎יַיִן‎); compare Deut 32:14 (song) ‎דַּם עֵנָב תִּשְׁתֶּהחָֿ֑מֶר‎. — ‎בְּדָֽמְךָ‎ Ezek 19:10 probably textual error compare VB; Da prop: ‎בְּרוּמָהּ‎ in her height.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References