Lexical Summary
day: Enough, sufficient, adequate
Original Word:דַּי
Part of Speech:Preposition
Transliteration:day
Pronunciation:dah-ee
Phonetic Spelling:(dahee)
KJV: able, according to, after (ability), among, as (oft as), (more than) enough, from, in, since, (much as is) sufficient(-ly), too much, very, when
NASB:often, enough, sufficient, each time, ability, according, had enough
Word Origin:[of uncertain derivation]
1. enough (as noun or adverb), used chiefly with preposition in phrases
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
able, according to, after ability, among, as oft as, more than enough, from, in,
Of uncertain derivation; enough (as noun or adverb), used chiefly with preposition in phrases -- able, according to, after (ability), among, as (oft as), (more than) enough, from, in, since, (much as is) sufficient(-ly), too much, very, when.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionsufficiency, enough
NASB Translationability (1), according (1), annually* (2), each time (2), enough (6), had enough (1), nothing* (1), often (8), overflows* (1), plenty (1), sufficient (4), sufficient numbers (1), what you need (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Late Hebrew, but not known in other cognate languages) — construct , with suffix (see below) , : —
absolute thrice onlyMalachi 3:10 I will pour you out a blessing until there is notsufficiency, i.e. until my abundance can be exhausted, or, as this can never be, for ever (comparePsalm 72:7),Esther 1:18 and (there will be)as enough (i.e. in plenty) contempt and wrath, 2 Chronicles 30:3 = for what wassufficient. With a Genitive of the person or thingfor which anything suffices:Exodus 36:5 (more) thanenough for the work,Leviticus 5:7 and if his hand do not reach (if he do not command)enough for (i.e. to buy) a lamb,Leviticus 12:8;Leviticus 25:28enough for recovering it,Deuteronomy 15:8enough for his need,Isaiah 40:16 (twice in verse). With suffixProverbs 25:16 eatthat which is sufficient for thee;Exodus 36:7;Jeremiah 49:9; Obadiah 5.. Once with Genitive of the thing which is sufficient,Proverbs 27:27enough of goats' milk.
Combined with , , and especially , () has a tendency to form compound prepositions, used idiomatically in certain applications: —
()for (thepretii)what suffices for:Nahum 2:13 the lion tare in piecesfor the need of his whelps ("" ; but ? , see ); iron.Habakkuk 2:13;Jeremiah 51:58 the peoples labourfor fire (only to satisfy the fire), and the nations weary themselvesfor what is empty. ()in the abundance of, i.e.as often asJob 39:25in the abundance of the trumpet, i.e. as often as the trumpet sounds ( elsewhere in this sense).
according to the sufficiency, orabundance, ofLeviticus 25:26 and findaccording to the sufficiency of his redemption, i.e.as much as it demands,Deuteronomy 25:2;Nehemiah 5:8 (stative construct before : Ges§ 130, 1) 'quantum in nobis erat,' after our ability,Judges 6:5 they cameaccording to the abundance of the locust in multitude (for which would ordinarily be said: compareJudges 7:12).
out of the abundance of, henceas often as; — () followed by infinitive1 Samuel 1:7 =as often as she went up,1 Samuel 18:30;1 Kings 14:28 (= 2 Chronicles 12:11)2 Kings 4:8;Isaiah 28:19as often as it passeth over,Jeremiah 31:20; () followed by substantive,Jeremiah 48:27as often as thy words (are) of him; and in the idiomatic phrases =yearly (a combination of and : see below )1 Samuel 7:16 (see Dr)Zechariah 14:16; 2Chronicles 24:5; andIsaiah 66:23as often as month (comes) in its month (i.e. in its own time: made more precise by the add. of ; compare the phrase ): soib.; () as conjunction, with the finite verb ( being understood: compare etc.),Jeremiah 20:8as often as I speak.
(i.e. ) 2 Chronicles 30:3, see
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Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Semantic RangeThe Hebrew particle דַּי arises in Scripture to convey the ideas of “enough,” “sufficiency,” “adequacy,” or a limit that should not be exceeded. It can mark contentment with what has been allotted (Genesis 45:28), impose restraint (Exodus 36:7), measure judgment (Isaiah 40:2), or express the Lord’s assessment that a matter is settled (Deuteronomy 3:26). The word thereby illuminates the divine balance between abundance and boundary, generosity and discipline.
Distribution in Scripture
Appearing roughly forty times, דַּי is found primarily in the Pentateuch and Prophets, with scattered uses in the Writings:
• Pentateuch: It punctuates narratives and legislation in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
• Historical Books: Only a few instances (for example,1 Kings 19:4).
• Prophetic Writings: It surfaces in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea, often to mark the sufficiency of punishment or provision.
• Psalmic and Wisdom Literature: Rare, but appearing in Job and Ecclesiastes to highlight the limits of human striving.
Representative Old Testament Uses
1. Adequate Comfort (Genesis 45:28): When Jacob hears Joseph is alive, he exclaims, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.” דַּי here conveys that the news alone satisfies his heart.
2. Restraining Generosity (Exodus 36:7): In building the tabernacle, “the materials they had were sufficient to perform all the work, and more.” דַּי led Moses to command the people to stop donating—an early model of stewardship.
3. Controlled Discipline (Deuteronomy 3:26): The Lord tells Moses, “Enough! Do not speak to Me again about this matter.” The term establishes the finality of divine decision.
4. Measured Judgment (Isaiah 40:2): Jerusalem has “received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.” The implied דַּי assures that chastisement has reached its appointed limit.
5. Personal Despair (1 Kings 19:4): Elijah prays, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life,” revealing the prophet’s exhaustion while resting under a broom tree.
6. Divine Provision (Ezekiel 45:9): “Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and destruction,” calling rulers to repent and administer justice.
Theological Themes
1. Divine Sufficiency and Providence
דַּי underscores that God knows what is “enough” for His people—whether manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16), sacrifices, or words of revelation. His provision perfectly meets real need without excess that fosters pride (cf.Proverbs 30:8).
2. Boundaries for Human Desire
The term places a holy curb on covetousness. By announcing “enough,” Scripture teaches gratitude and contentment (compare1 Timothy 6:6-8).
3. Limitation of Judgment
Even divine wrath is not capricious; it is measured.Jeremiah 46:28 promises, “I will discipline you with justice; I will by no means leave you unpunished,” yet punishment will be limited to what is just—an implicit דַּי.
4. Finality of Divine Decree
Whether forbidding Moses to enter Canaan (Deuteronomy 3:26) or silencing Job’s complaints (Job 38), דַּי signals that God’s verdicts stand unquestioned.
Historical and Ministry Significance
• Tabernacle Offering (Exodus 36): Israel’s response teaches congregational giving guided by tangible needs rather than perpetual fund-raising.
• Wilderness Provision: The concept of “enough” manna (Exodus 16:18) supplies a model for daily dependence in ministry, discouraging hoarding.
• Prophetic Warnings: Isaiah and Ezekiel deploy דַּי to declare a limit to wrongdoing, reminding leaders today to resist tyranny and excess.
• Pastoral Care: Elijah’s cry of דַּי points to times when servants of God feel spent; the Lord responds with rest and nourishment (1 Kings 19:5-8), offering a paradigm for pastoral encouragement.
Practical Application
1. Contentment: Believers are called to echo Jacob’s “Enough!” when beholding God’s goodness, cultivating gratitude over accumulation.
2. Stewardship: Churches should cease appeals once resources are sufficient, reflecting Moses’ directive.
3. Counseling: Recognize moments when an individual’s plea of “enough” signals burnout; respond with rest, sustenance, and renewed vision.
4. Preaching: Proclaim the measured nature of divine judgment—severe yet perfectly proportioned—thereby magnifying both God’s holiness and mercy.
Foreshadowing Fulfillment in Christ
The principle of sufficiency culminates in Jesus Christ. His atoning sacrifice is described as once-for-all, entirely adequate.Hebrews 10:14 echoes the essence of דַּי: “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” No additional sacrifice is required; at Calvary, the Father pronounced, in effect, “Enough.”
Connection with New Testament Teaching
Paul captures the spirit of דַּי when he writes, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The term “sufficient” mirrors the Hebraic sense, assuring believers that divine grace meets every need. Likewise, Jesus teaches contentment with daily bread (Matthew 6:11), continuing the Old Testament pattern of trusting God for exactly enough.
Conclusion
Across its occurrences, דַּי weaves a thread of sufficiency, limit, and satisfied completeness. From patriarchs to prophets, from wilderness to exile, the word rehearses the enduring truth that God perfectly apportions provision and discipline. Embracing this balance equips the Church to walk in gratitude, sobriety, and unwavering trust in the God who always knows what is “enough.”
Forms and Transliterations
בְּגַנָּבִ֖ים בְּדֵ֣י בְּדֵ֤י בְּדֵי־ בגנבים בדי בדי־ דֵּ֖י דֵּ֚י דֵּ֣י דֵּי֮ דַּיֶּ֑ךָּ דַּיָּ֑ם דַיָּ֛ם דַיָּֽם׃ דָֽי׃ די די׃ דיך דים דים׃ וְדֵ֤י ׀ וּכְדַ֖י וּמִדֵּ֥י ודי וכדי ומדי כְּדֵ֣י כְּדֵ֥י כְדֵֽי־ כדי כדי־ לְמַדַּ֔י למדי מִֽדֵּי־ מִדֵּ֣י מִדֵּ֤י מִדֵּ֧י מִדֵּי־ מדי מדי־ bə·ḏê bə·ḏê- bə·ḡan·nā·ḇîm bəḏê bəḏê- beDei bəḡannāḇîm begannaVim chedei Dai daiYam daiYeka ḏāy day·yām ḏay·yām day·ye·kā dayyām ḏayyām dayyekā dê dei kə·ḏê ḵə·ḏê- kəḏê ḵəḏê- keDei lə·mad·day lemadDai ləmadday mid·dê mid·dê- middê middê- midDei ū·ḵə·ḏay ū·mid·dê ucheDai ūḵəḏay ūmiddê umidDei veDei wə·ḏê wəḏê
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