Lexical Summary
dal: Poor, weak, lowly
Original Word:דַּל
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:dal
Pronunciation:dal
Phonetic Spelling:(dal)
KJV: lean, needy, poor (man), weaker
Word Origin:[fromH1809 (דָּלַל - brought low)]
1. (properly) dangling
2. (by implication) weak or thin
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
lean, needy, poor man, weaker
Fromdalal; properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin -- lean, needy, poor (man), weaker.
see HEBREWdalal
Brown-Driver-Briggs
see below .
(especially common in Wisdom literature and poetry) —Leviticus 14:21 8t.,Exodus 23:3 17t. +Psalm 82:3;Amos 2:7 17t.;Genesis 41:19; —weak, thin, of kineGenesis 41:19 (E); of Amnon2 Samuel 13:4;weak, of family of Saul2 Samuel 3:1 (opposed to ) compareJudges 6:15;reduced, poor (opposed to rich)Leviticus 14:21(P)Ruth 3:10 (opposed to )Jeremiah 5:4 (opposed to ,Jeremiah 5:5)Proverbs 28:15;Zephaniah 3:12 (); mostly substantive,a poor (man),the poorExodus 23:3 (JE); opposed toExodus 30:15 (P)Proverbs 10:15;Proverbs 22:16;Proverbs 28:11; opposed toProverbs 19:4; ""1 Samuel 2:8;Job 5:16;Psalm 72:13;Psalm 82:4;Psalm 113:7;Proverbs 14:31;Isaiah 14:30;Isaiah 25:4;Amos 4:1;Amos 8:6; compare alsoJob 20:10,19;Proverbs 22:9;Jeremiah 39:10;reduced, weak, helpless ("" )Job 34:28;Psalm 82:3("" also ),Proverbs 22:22;Proverbs 10:2;Proverbs 11:4;Proverbs 26:6;Amos 2:7; ""Job 31:16; opposed toJob 34:19; — compare alsoPsalm 41:2;Proverbs 19:17;Proverbs 21:13;Proverbs 28:3,8;Proverbs 29:7,14.
Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Conceptual OverviewThe Hebrew adjective דַּל (dal) portrays a condition of material poverty, social vulnerability, or physical weakness. While often translated “poor,” its nuance extends to the thin, powerless, or insignificant—individuals who lack the resources or influence to secure their own welfare. In many contexts דַּל is juxtaposed with the rich (ʿāšîr) or the strong (gibbôr), highlighting the sharp social contrasts within ancient Israel.
Occurrences and Distribution
Approximately forty-seven instances appear across the Hebrew canon. The term is found in the Law (Exodus 23:3;Leviticus 19:15), historical narratives (2 Samuel 12:1-4), Wisdom literature (Proverbs 13:7;Ecclesiastes 4:13), Psalms (Psalm 41:1;Psalm 82:3), and the Prophets (Isaiah 11:4;Jeremiah 5:28;Amos 2:6). This breadth signals that concern for the dal permeates Israel’s covenant life from Sinai to post-exilic hopes.
Theology of Poverty and Weakness
Scripture presents poverty neither as a virtue in itself nor as evidence of divine disfavor. Rather, דַּל highlights the reality of a fallen world where inequity persists. The condition becomes a test case for covenant faithfulness: how God’s people treat the dal reveals whether they have internalized the character of their covenant Lord, “the Father of the fatherless and defender of widows” (Psalm 68:5).
God’s Care for the Dal
1. Divine Justice: “He will judge the poor with righteousness and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth” (Isaiah 11:4). Messianic expectation centers on a ruler whose governance rectifies systemic imbalance.
2. Covenant Provision: The gleaning laws (Leviticus 19:9-10) and sabbatical cancellations of debt (Deuteronomy 15:1-11) safeguard the dal from perpetual destitution.
3. Protective Presence:Psalm 72:13-14 depicts the royal ideal— “He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the lives of the poor.”
Human Responsibility Toward the Dal
1. Impartial Justice: “You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his lawsuit” (Exodus 23:3), balancing compassion with truth.
2. Generous Charity: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD” (Proverbs 19:17). Almsgiving is framed as an investment with God Himself.
3. Social Advocacy: “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless” (Psalm 82:3). Leadership is judged by its protection of the powerless.
Prophetic Critique and Eschatological Hope
Prophets denounce exploitation of the dal as covenant treachery (Jeremiah 5:28;Amos 4:1). Judgment falls on societies that “trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth” (Amos 2:6). Yet prophetic oracles envision a future where the dal inherit security (Zephaniah 3:12-13), foreshadowing the Gospel proclamation to the poor (Isaiah 61:1).
Application in Christ-Centered Ministry
1. Christological Fulfillment: Jesus readsIsaiah 61 in Nazareth, announcing good news to the poor (Luke 4:18). The Septuagint’s ptōchos carries the semantic field of dal, tying the Hebrew hope to the Messiah’s mission.
2. Ecclesial Practice: The Jerusalem collection (2 Corinthians 8–9) mirrors Old Testament gleaning, as Gentile believers relieve Jewish poverty, embodying one body caring for its weakest members.
3. Holistic Witness: Diaconal ministry that serves the materially and socially marginalized validates the Church’s proclamation of the Kingdom (James 2:15-17).
Related Hebrew Terms
• עָנִי (ʿānî) – the afflicted, often overlapping with dal but stressing oppression.
• אֶבְיוֹן (ʾebyôn) – the needy, emphasizing destitution.
• מִסְכֵּן (misken) – poor, used sparingly, highlighting weakness.
Understanding their interplay deepens appreciation for the multifaceted biblical portrait of poverty.
Intertextual Echoes in the New Testament
The Beatitudes—“Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3)—extend dal’s concrete helplessness into spiritual neediness.Revelation 3:17 warns Laodicea, “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,” echoing prophetic admonitions that material plenty can mask profound deficiency before God.
Selected Key Passages
•Exodus 23:6 – “Do not deny justice to your poor in their lawsuits.”
•Job 34:28 – “They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him.”
•Proverbs 14:21 – “Blessed is he who is kind to the needy.”
•Isaiah 25:4 – “For You have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress.”
•Amos 5:12 – “You oppress the righteous, taking bribes and depriving the poor of justice at the gate.”
Conclusion
The theme of דַּל threads through Scripture as a barometer of covenant fidelity, a canvas for divine compassion, and a summons to redemptive action. From Sinai statutes to Messianic fulfillment, the Lord reveals His heart by His unwavering commitment to lift the dal, inviting His people to participate in that righteous and merciful work.
Forms and Transliterations
דַ֥ל דַּ֖ל דַּ֣ל דַּ֤ל דַּלִּ֑ים דַּלִּ֔ים דַּלִּ֖ים דַּלִּ֣ים דַלִּ֑ים דַלִּ֔ים דַלִּֽים׃ דַל־ דָ֑ל דָ֔ל דָּ֑ל דָּ֗ל דָּ֭ל דָּֽל׃ דל דל־ דל׃ דלים דלים׃ הַדַּ֣ל הַדַּלִּ֗ים הדל הדלים וְ֝דָ֗ל וְדַ֖ל וְדַלִּֽים׃ וְדָ֕ל וְהַדַּל֙ וָדָ֑ל ודל ודלים׃ והדל לַדַּ֣ל לַדָּ֛ל לַדָּֽל׃ לדל לדל׃ dal dāl ḏal ḏāl ḏal- dal·lîm ḏal·lîm dalLim dallîm ḏallîm had·dal had·dal·lîm haddal haddalLim haddallîm lad·dal lad·dāl laddal laddāl vaDal veDal vedalLim vehadDal wā·ḏāl wāḏāl wə·ḏal wə·ḏāl wə·ḏal·lîm wə·had·dal wəḏal wəḏāl wəḏallîm wəhaddal
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