Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "dash" is often used to describe a forceful or violent action, typically involving destruction or the breaking apart of objects or entities. The concept of dashing is frequently associated with divine judgment, warfare, and the consequences of sin.
Old Testament UsageThe Hebrew word often translated as "dash" is "נָפַץ" (naphats), which conveys the idea of shattering or breaking into pieces. One of the most vivid uses of this term is found in the context of divine judgment. In
Psalm 2:9, a messianic psalm, the psalmist declares, "You will break them with an iron scepter; You will dash them to pieces like pottery." . This imagery portrays the Messiah's authority and power to execute judgment upon rebellious nations.
In the prophetic literature, the term is used to describe the destruction that comes upon those who oppose God. For instance, in
Isaiah 13:16, the prophet speaks of the impending judgment on Babylon: "Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished." . This passage highlights the severity of divine retribution against a nation that has incurred God's wrath.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek equivalent "ῥήγνυμι" (rhēgnumi) is used in a similar context. In
Revelation 2:27, echoing
Psalm 2, it is written, "He will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery—just as I have received authority from My Father." . This passage reaffirms the authority of Christ to judge and the ultimate triumph of His kingdom over all opposition.
Symbolic and Theological ImplicationsThe act of dashing in the Bible often symbolizes the complete and utter defeat of God's enemies. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion against divine authority. The imagery of dashing to pieces underscores the finality and irreversibility of God's judgment.
From a theological perspective, the concept of dashing also points to the sovereignty of God in executing justice. It reflects the biblical theme that God will not tolerate sin indefinitely and that His righteous judgment will ultimately prevail.
Practical ApplicationFor believers, the biblical use of "dash" serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the importance of aligning oneself with God's will. It encourages a life of obedience and reverence, recognizing the authority of Christ as the righteous judge. The imagery also offers hope, assuring believers of the ultimate victory of God's kingdom and the establishment of His justice on earth.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To throw with violence or haste; to cause to strike violently or hastily; -- often used with against.
2. (v. t.) To break, as by throwing or by collision; to shatter; to crust; to frustrate; to ruin.
3. (v. t.) To put to shame; to confound; to confuse; to abash; to depress.
4. (v. t.) To throw in or on in a rapid, careless manner; to mix, reduce, or adulterate, by throwing in something of an inferior quality; to overspread partially; to bespatter; to touch here and there; as, to dash wine with water; to dash paint upon a picture.
5. (v. t.) To form or sketch rapidly or carelessly; to execute rapidly, or with careless haste; -- with off; as, to dash off a review or sermon.
6. (v. t.) To erase by a stroke; to strike out; knock out; -- with out; as, to dash out a word.
7. (v. i.) To rust with violence; to move impetuously; to strike violently; as, the waves dash upon rocks.
8. (n.) Violent striking together of two bodies; collision; crash.
9. (n.) A sudden check; abashment; frustration; ruin; as, his hopes received a dash.
10. (n.) A slight admixture, infusion, or adulteration; a partial overspreading; as, wine with a dash of water; red with a dash of purple.
11. (n.) A rapid movement, esp. one of short duration; a quick stroke or blow; a sudden onset or rush; as, a bold dash at the enemy; a dash of rain.
12. (n.) Energy in style or action; animation; spirit.
13. (n.) A vain show; a blustering parade; a flourish; as, to make or cut a great dash.
14. (n.) A mark or line [--], in writing or printing, denoting a sudden break, stop, or transition in a sentence, or an abrupt change in its construction, a long or significant pause, or an unexpected or epigrammatic turn of sentiment. Dashes are also sometimes used instead of marks or parenthesis.
15. (n.) The sign of staccato, a small mark [/] denoting that the note over which it is placed is to be performed in a short, distinct manner.
16. (n.) The line drawn through a figure in the thorough bass, as a direction to raise the interval a semitone.
17. (n.) A short, spirited effort or trial of speed upon a race course; -- used in horse racing, when a single trial constitutes the race.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DASHThe idea of "to throw violently" or "to strike" with purpose of causing destruction is usually connected with the word "to dash." There is perhaps but one exception to this:Psalm 91:12 and the quotations of this passage in the New Testament (Matthew 4:6Luke 4:11, proskopto), have the meaning "to strike against accidentally" and not intentionally.Nahum 2:1, "he that dasheth in pieces" is doubtful. "He that scatters" would be in better harmony with the Hebrew mephits, and the following description of destruction. In all other cases "to dash" is connected with the idea of destruction, especially the infliction of punishment which is usually expressed by raTash, "to dash to the ground" (2 Kings 8:12Isaiah 13:16, et al., "to dash in pieces," the King James Version simply "to dash"), but also by naphats, "to break to pieces" (Psalm 2:9;Psalm 137:9, et al.). See alsoPUNISHMENTS.
A. L. Breslich
Greek
4366. prosregnumi -- to break against... to break against. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prosregnumi Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-rayg'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I
dash against Definition: I
dash...4350. proskopto -- to strike against, to stumble
... over (1), stumbles (2). beat upon,dash, stumble. From pros and kopto; to
strike at, ie Surge against (as water); specially, to stub...
1474. edaphizo -- to raze
... to raze. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: edaphizo Phonetic Spelling:
(ed-af-id'-zo) Short Definition: Idash to the ground Definition: Idash to the...
4486. rhegnumi -- to break apart, by ext. to throw down
... Phonetic Spelling: (hrayg'-noo-mee) Short Definition: I break, break forth Definition:
I rend, break asunder; I break forth (into speech); I throw ordash down...
123. aigialos -- the seashore
... shore. From aisso (to rush) and hals (in the sense of the sea; a beach (on which
the wavesdash) -- shore. see GREEK hals. (aigialon) -- 6 Occurrences....
2626. katakluzo -- to inundate
... overflow, flood, inundate. From kata and the base of kludon; todash (wash) down,
ie (by implication) to deluge -- overflow. see GREEK kata. see GREEK kludon....
2830. kludon -- a billow (of water)
... raging, wave. From kluzo (to billow ordash over); a surge of the sea (literally
or figuratively) -- raging, wave. (kludoni) -- 2 Occurrences. 2829, 2830....
3729. hormao -- to set in motion, to hasten on
... run violently, rush. From horme; to start, spur or urge on, ie (reflexively)
todash or plunge -- run (violently), rush. see GREEK horme....
4917. sunthlao -- to crush together
... break. From sun and thlao (to crush); todash together, ie Shatter -- break. see
GREEK sun. (sunthlasthesetai) -- 2 Occurrences. 4916, 4917. sunthlao. 4918 >...
Strong's Hebrew
7376. ratash -- todash in pieces... ratash. 7377 . to
dash in pieces. Transliteration: ratash Phonetic Spelling:
(raw-tash') Short Definition: pieces. Word Origin a prim.
...dash in pieces.
...6584. pashat -- to strip off, make adash, raid
... 6583, 6584. pashat. 6585 . to strip off, make adash, raid. Transliteration:
pashat Phonetic Spelling: (paw-shat') Short Definition: strip. Word Origin a prim...
1725. dahar -- to rush,dash (of a horse)
... 1724, 1725. dahar. 1726 . to rush,dash (of a horse). Transliteration: dahar
Phonetic Spelling: (daw-har') Short Definition: galloping. Word Origin a prim....
6327. puwts -- to be dispersed or scattered
... breakdash, shake in to pieces, cast abroad, disperse selves, drive, scatter
abroad, spread abroad A primitive root; todash in...
5310. naphats -- to shatter
... be beaten in sunder, break in pieces, broken,dash in pieces, dispersed,
be overspread, scatter A primitive root; todash to pieces...
5062. nagaph -- to strike, smite
... beat,dash, hurt, plague, slay, smite down, strike, stumble,. A primitive
root; to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a...
7492. raats -- to shatter
...dash in pieces, vex. A primitive root; to break in pieces; figuratively, harass --
dash in pieces, vex. 7491, 7492. raats. 7493 . Strong's Numbers.
156. adash -- thresh
... 155, 156. adash. 157 . thresh. Transliteration: adash Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-dash') Short Definition: thresh. Word Origin the same as dush, qv. thresh...
7323. ruts -- to run
... root Definition to run NASB Word Usage carried them speedily (1), courier runs
(1), courier runs to another (1), couriers (6),dash to and fro (1), guard (6...
5310a. naphats -- to shatter
... root Definition to shatter NASB Word Usage broken (1),dash (1), dashes (1), pulverized
(1), shatter (11), shattered (1), shattering (1), smashed (1)....
Library
Chart of the Sixty-Six Books of the Bible
... 4. Where the books of a division are separated into two groups by adash, those
above thedash are historical, those beneath thedash are biographical, or...
Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
... Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shaltdash them in pieces like a
potter's vessel.... He shalldash them in pieces like a potter's vessel (Psalm 2:9)....
Heretics, in Quoting Scripture, Follow the Example of the Devil. ....
... give His angels charge concerning thee, that they may keep thee in all thy ways:
In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest perchance thoudash thy foot...
The Pilgrim Band, 1736-1743.
... the Saviour to the world"; and the Count's noble motto was: "The earth is the Lord's;
all souls are His; I am debtor to all." There was adash of romance in...
Preface. --It is Useless to Attempt to Benefit those who Will Not
... his ruin nurse it and coddle it; while we, seeking the blessing in the prophet
("Blessed shall he be who shall take thy children, and shalldash them against...
The Temptation of Christ
... down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in
[their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thoudash thy foot...
The Possibility of Repentance is a Reason Why Baptism Should not...
... [3158] And yet he calls for a healer for her, and says: "Blessed is he who shall
take thy little ones anddash them against the rock." [3159] That is to say...
Psalm CXXXVII.
... is born, before evil habit giveth it strength against thee, when lust is little,
by no means let it gain the strength of evil habit; when it is little,dash it...
Reform
... of Africa? Might we not exhort them to serve Jehovah and todash the gods
of their fathers in pieces? Assuredly we might. But imagine...
Putting on the Armour
... of our text. They have adash of contempt and sarcasm, all the more galling
because of their unanswerable common-sense. 'The time...
Thesaurus
Dash (30 Occurrences)... reduce, or adulterate, by throwing in something of an inferior quality; to overspread
partially; to bespatter; to touch here and there; as, to
dash wine with
...Smash (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To break in pieces by violence; todash
to pieces; to crush. 2. (vi) To break up, or to pieces...
Altars (55 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:13 but you shall break down their altars, anddash in pieces their pillars,
and you shall cut down their Asherim; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT...
Ashe'rim (19 Occurrences)
... Ashe'rim (19 Occurrences). Exodus 34:13 But ye shall break down their altars, and
dash in pieces their pillars, and ye shall cut down their Asherim. (See RSV)....
Asherim (20 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:13 but you shall break down their altars, anddash in pieces their pillars,
and you shall cut down their Asherim; (WEB JPS ASV NAS)....
Poles (58 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 34:13 but you shall break down their altars, anddash
in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherim; (See NIV)....
Tear (97 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:13 but you shall break down their altars, anddash in pieces their
pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherim; (See NAS RSV)....
Pillars (132 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:13 but you shall break down their altars, anddash in pieces their pillars,
and you shall cut down their Asherim; (WEB JPS ASV BBE YLT NAS RSV)....
Lest (282 Occurrences)
... down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in
their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thoudash thy foot...
Engraved (62 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 7:5 But you shall deal with them like this: you shall break down their
altars, anddash their pillars in pieces, and cut down their Asherim, and...
Resources
What does it mean that the scepter will not depart from Judah (Genesis 49:10)? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Bernard of Clairvaux? | GotQuestions.orgIs God a megalomaniac? | GotQuestions.orgDash: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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