דָּבַק, H1692
To cling, cleave, stick fast; of personal devotion, physical adhesion, close pursuit, and causative attachment.
Davaq is one of the Hebrew Bible's most tactile and emotionally resonant verbs. At its physical core, it describes things sticking together — tongue to palate, skin to bones, scales of Leviathan locked tight. But its theological power comes from its relational extension: a man 'cleaves' to his wife (Gen 2:24), Ruth 'clings' to Naomi (Ruth 1:14), and Israel is commanded to 'hold fast' to Yahweh (Deut 10:20; 11:22; 13:4). The same verb that describes disease adhering to skin describes covenant loyalty adhering to God. Arabic dabiq preserves the sticky, adhesive core, while Korean captures the relational dimension with 붙좇다 ('to follow closely, attached') and the physical dimension with 달라붙다 ('to stick fast'). The Hifil stem splits into two distinct directions: pursuing someone in battle and causing something to stick — reflecting how the same causative energy can be directed toward persons (pursuit) or objects (adhesion).
4. stick together (passive) — Pual/Hofal passive: to be stuck together, joined, or made to cling — the passive of physical adhesion. Four occurrences, concentrated in Job: Leviathan's scales 'stick together' so tightly no air passes between them (Job 41:17, 23), dust clods 'cling together' (Job 38:38), and the psalmist's heart 'is melted like wax' and his bones 'cling' (Ps 22:15, where the passive conveys helpless collapse). Spanish pegados ('stuck together') and French s'attacher (reflexive passive) mark the involuntary, resultant-state quality. These are not acts of clinging but states of being stuck. 4×
AR["مُلْتَصِقٌ","مُلْتَصِقَةٌ","يَلْتَصِقُ.","يَلْتَصِقُونَ"]·ben["লেগে-আছে","লেগে-থাকে"]·DE["anhing","sticks"]·EN["cling-together","stick-together","sticks","they-cling"]·FR["de-s'attacher","s'attacher"]·heb["דבקו","ידובקו","מודבק"]·HI["चिपक-जाते-हैं","चिपकी-है","चिपके-हैं","जुड़ी-हैं"]·ID["melekat"]·IT["attaccarsi","si-attacco'"]·jav["kreket","nempel-sesarengan","sami-rumaket;"]·KO["달라붙는다","달라붙다","달라붙었다","달라붙었도다"]·PT["estão-grudados","estão-unidas","se-grudavam.","se-grudou"]·RU["прилип","прилипают","слипаются","слипшиеся"]·ES["pegada","pegados","se-pegan"]·SW["imeshikamana","umeambatana","yanashikamana","zimeshikamana"]·TR["birbirine-yapışmış","birbirine-yapışır","yapıştı","yapıştırılmışlar"]·urd["جڑ جاتے ہیں","جڑی-ہوئی-ہیں","جڑے-ہیں","چپکی-ہوئی"]
▼ 4 more senses below
Senses
1. cling to in devotion — Qal relational: clinging to a person, to God, or to a group in loyalty, devotion, or covenant faithfulness. The largest cluster at 20 occurrences, spanning from the primordial marriage bond ('a man shall cleave to his wife,' Gen 2:24) through covenant theology ('you shall hold fast to the LORD your God,' Deut 10:20; Josh 23:8) to Ruth's iconic declaration (Ruth 1:14; 2:8, 21). Arabic iltasaqa bi ('to adhere to someone') and Korean 붙좇다 / 붙어 있다 convey the relational bonding. Spanish adherirse and French s'attacher both select 'attach oneself to' vocabulary rather than mere physical sticking, confirming a lexicalized devotional sense. 20×
AR["الْتَصَقَ","تَعَلَّقَتْ","تَلْتَصِقُ","تَلْتَصِقُونَ","تَلْزَمِينَ","لَزِمُوا","لَصِقْتُ","وَ-الْتَصَقْتُمْ","وَ-تَعَلَّقَتْ","وَ-لَزِمَتْ","وَ-لِتَلْتَصِقُوا-","وَ-يَلْتَصِقُ","وَالتَصَقَ","وَلِتَتَعَلَّقَ-","وَلِتَلْتَصِقُوا-","يَلْتَصِقُونَ"]·ben["আঁকড়ে-ধরবে","আঁকড়ে-ধরল","আটকে-থাকবে","আমি-লেগে-থেকেছি","আর-জড়িয়ে-গেল","আর-যুক্ত-হবে","এবং-আঁকড়ে-ধরতে-","এবং-আঁকড়ে-ধরবে","এবং-আঁকড়ে-ধরলেন","এবং-আটকে-থাকতে-","এবং-আসক্ত-হতে-","এবং-সে-লেগে-রইল","তুমি-লেগে-থাকবে","তুমি-লেগে-থাকো","থাকবে","লেগে-থাকল","লেগে-রইলেন"]·DE["anhing","clung","du-soll-anhangen","du-wird-anhangen","er-clung","ich-haben-clung","und-anhangen","und-anhing","und-du-anhangen","und-er-clung","und-hing","und-zu-anhangen","und-zu-anhangen-","wird-anhangen"]·EN["I-have-clung","and-cling","and-clung","and-he-clung","and-she-clung","and-to-cling","and-to-cling-","and-you-cling","clung","he-clung","will-cling","you-shall-cling","you-will-cling"]·FR["et-cling","et-clung","et-elle-s'attacha","et-il-s'attacha","et-tu-s'attacher","et-à-cling-","et-à-s'attacher","fera-cling","il-s'attacha","s'attacha","s'attacher","tu-devra-cling","tu-devra-s'attacher","tu-sera-s'attacher"]·heb["דבק","דבקה","דבקו","דבקתי","ו-דבק","ו-דבקה","ו-דבקתם","ו-ל-דבקה","ו-ל-דבקה-","ו-תדבק","ידבקו","תדבק","תדבקו","תדבקון","תדבקין"]·HI["और-चिपक-गई","और-चिपकने-","और-चिपका","और-चिपकी-रही","और-चिपकोगे","और-मिला-रहेगा","और-लिपटने","और-लिपटे-रहने-को-","चिपका","चिपका-रहा","चिपकी-रहना","चिपकी-रही","चिपके-रहोगे","जुड़े-रहे","जुड़े-रहेंगे","लिपट-रह","लिपटे-रहोगे-तुम"]·ID["Dan-ia-berpegang-teguh","Dan-melekatlah","Dan-terikat-lah","aku-berpegang-teguh","berpautlah","berpeganglah","dan-bersatu","dan-kamu-berpaut","dan-untuk-berpaut-","dan-untuk-berpegang-teguh-","engkau-akan-melekat","ia-melekat","kamu-berpaut","melekat"]·IT["e-a-aderire-","e-a-aggrapparsi","e-cling","e-clung","e-egli-si-aggrappò","e-ella-si-aggrappò","e-tu-aggrapparsi","egli-si-aggrappò","fara-aderire","si-aggrappò","si-attacco'","tu-dovere-aggrapparsi","tu-dovra-aderire","tu-volere-aggrapparsi"]·jav["Kula-rumaket","Lan-manahipun-rumaket","kedah-panjenengan-kumantil.","lan-rumaket","lan-supados-lumeket","lan-supados-rumaket","panjenengan-lumeket","rumaket","rumaketan","tumempel"]·KO["그가-붙어-있었다","그리고-그녀가-붙어-있었다","그리고-달라붙을-것이다","그리고-믙붙도록-","그리고-붙었다","그리고-붙으려고-","그리고-붙잡기를-","그리고-붙잡으라","네가-붙어-있어라","달라붙었다","붙어-있어라","붙어있었다","붙었다","붙으라","붙으리라-너희는","붙을-것이다","붙잡았나이다","붙잡으라"]·PT["Apeguei-me","E-apegou-se","aderirão","apegar-te-ás","apegaram-se","apegou-se","e-para-apegar-se","e-para-apegar-se-a-","e-unir-se-á","e-vos-apegardes","te-apegues","vos-apegardes","vos-apegareis","§ E-apegou-se"]·RU["И-прилепилась","Прилепился-я","держись","и-держалась","и-прилепился","и-прилепитесь","и-прилепится","и-прилепляться","и-прилепляться-","прилепилась","прилепились","прилепился","прилепись","прилепитесь","прилепляйтесь","прилепятся"]·ES["Me-adherí","Y-se-aferró","Y-se-apegó","os-apegaréis","se-apegaron","se-apegarán","se-apegó","te-apegarás","te-unirás","y-apegarse-a","y-os-apegáis","y-para-allegarte","y-se-apegó","y-se-unirá","y-uniéndoos"]·SW["alishikamana","moyo","mshikamane","na-akashikamana","na-alishikamana","na-ataambatana","na-kushikamana","na-kushikamana-","na-kushikamana-na","nimeshikamana","shikamana","shikamaneni","ushikamane","wakashikamana-na","wataambatana"]·TR["Ve-yapıştı","bağlanacaksınız","sarılacak","ve-bağlanacak","ve-bağlı-kaldı","ve-yapışmak-","ve-yapışmak-için-","ve-yapıştı","ve-yapışırsanız","yapisti","yapışacaksın","yapışacaksınız","yapıştı","yapıştılar","yapıştım"]·urd["اور-لپٹا-رہا","اور-لپٹو-گے","اور-لپٹے-رہنا","اور-لپٹے-رہنے-","اور-لپٹے-رہنے-کے-لیے-","اور-لگ-گئی","اور-چمٹی-رہی","اور-چپکے-گا","لپٹا-رہ","لپٹے-رہو","لگے-رہو-گے","لگے-رہے","چمٹ-گئی","چمٹ-گیا","چمٹا-رہا","چمٹی-رہ","چمٹے-رہیں","چمٹے-رہے"]
Gen 2:24, Gen 34:3, Num 36:7, Num 36:9, Deut 10:20, Deut 11:22, Deut 13:4, Deut 30:20, Josh 22:5, Josh 23:8, Josh 23:12, Ruth 1:14 (+8 more)
2. cling physically, stick to — Qal physical: sticking or adhering physically — tongue to palate, skin to bones, garments to body, disease clinging to a person. Seventeen occurrences covering bodily imagery (Job 19:20, 'my bone clings to my skin'; Ps 137:6, 'let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth'; Lam 4:4, 'the infant's tongue cleaves to its palate') and divine judgment (Deut 28:60, diseases 'clinging' to Israel; 2 Kgs 5:27, Naaman's leprosy 'clinging' to Gehazi). Arabic dabiq ('to be sticky') preserves the core adhesive semantics. The physical and relational senses share the same Qal morphology but are distinguished by their collocations: body-part subjects signal physical adhesion, person subjects signal devotion. 17×
AR["الْتَصَقَ","تَلْتَصِقُ","لَصِقَ","لَصِقَت","لَصِقَتْ","وَتَلْتَصِقُ","وَلَصِقَتْ","يَلتَصِق","يَلْتَصِقُ","يَلْتَصِقُ-","يَلْتَصِقْ-"]·ben["আটকে-গেছে","এবং-লেগে-থাকল","এবং-সেগুলি-লাগবে","লাগবে।","লাগে","লেগে-আছে","লেগে-থাকছে","লেগে-থাকত","লেগে-থাকবে","লেগে-থাকুক","লেগে-থাকুক-","লেগে-থাকে","লেগেছে","লেপটে-থাকবে","লেপটে-থাকে","লেপ্টে-গেছে"]·DE["[ידבק]","[תדבק]","anhing","clings","es-wird-cling","hat-clung","lass-cling","soll-anhangen","soll-cling","und-clung","und-sie-anhangen"]·EN["Cleaves","and-clung","and-they-cling","cleaved","clings","has-clung","it-will-cling","let-cling","shall-cling","shall-stick"]·FR["[דבק]","[ידבק]","devra-cling","devra-s'attache","et-ils-cling","et-s'attacha","s'attacher"]·heb["דבק","דבקה","ו-דבקו","ו-תדבק","ידבק","תדבק","תדבק-"]·HI["और-चिपक-गया","और-चिपकेंगे","चिपक-गई","चिपक-गया","चिपक-जाए","चिपक-जाती-थी","चिपकता-है","चिपका","चिपकी-रहेंगी","चिपकी-है","चिपकेगा","चिपकेगी","चिपट-जाएगा","लिपटेगी"]·ID["Biarlah-melekat-","Melekat","akan-melekat","akan-melekat.","akan-mengikuti","dan-melekat","melekat","menempel"]·IT["[דבק]","[ידבק]","[תדבק]","attaccarsi","dovra-aderire","dovrà-aggrappati","e-essi-aderire","e-si-aggrappò","si-attacco'"]·jav["Kecemplung","Mugi-rumeket-","Nempel","badhe-nempel.","badhe-tumempel","badhé-rumaket","badhé-tumut","kedah-kraket","kraket","lan-nempel","lan-tumempel","nempel","nèmpèl","rumaket","sampun-kraket"]·KO["그리고-달라붙었다","그리고-달라붙으리라","달라붙겠다","달라붙었네","달라붙었도다","달라붙을-것이다","달라붙지","묻었다","붙는다","붙었나니","붙었나이다","붙었는데","붙었도다","붙으리라","붙을지어다"]·PT["Apegada","Apegou-se","Apegue-se-","Grudou","colava","e-aderirão","e-grudou","está-apegado","grudarão","grudou","pegará-em","se-apega","se-apegaram","se-apegará","vos-seguirá"]·RU["Прилип","Прильнула","да-прилипнет","и-прилипла","и-прилипнут","прилепилась","прилепится","прилеплю","прилипает","прилипал","прилипла","прилипли","прилипнет-","прильнёт","пристало","пусть-прилипнет-"]·ES["Está-pegada","Se-ha-adherido","Se-ha-pegado","Se-pegue-","se-adhiere","se-ha-pegado","se-os-pegará","se-pega","se-pegará","se-pegarán","se-pegó","y-se-pegarán","y-se-pegó"]·SW["Imeshikamana","Kinagandamana","imeshikamana","itanishikilia","itawafuata","kushikamana","na-ukashikamana","na-yataambatana","ugandamane","ulishikamana","unashikamana","utabandika","utashikamana-","yanashikamana","zimeshikamana"]·TR["Yapıştı","ve-yapışacaklar","ve-yapıştı","yapisssin-","yapışacak","yapışsın-","yapıştı","yapışır","yapışıyor"]·urd["اور-چمٹیںگی","اور-چپک-گیا","چمٹ-جائےگا","چمٹ-گئی-ہے","چمٹی رہتی تھی","چمٹی ہوئی","چِمٹی","چپک-جائیں-گی","چپک-جائے","چپک-گئی","چپکا","چپکتا-ہے","چپکی","چپکے-گا"]
Deut 13:17, Deut 28:60, 2 Sam 23:10, 2 Kgs 5:27, Job 19:20, Job 29:10, Job 31:7, Ps 44:25, Ps 63:8, Ps 101:3, Ps 102:5, Ps 119:25 (+5 more)
3. pursue closely, overtake — Hifil of pursuit: to press hard after, pursue closely, and overtake — used of military chase and calamity catching up to someone. Nine occurrences, predominantly in battle narratives: Laban pursuing Jacob (Gen 31:23), the Philistines pressing hard on Saul (1 Sam 31:2), Israelite tribes chasing Benjamin (Judg 20:42, 45). The disaster extension appears in Genesis 19:19, where Lot fears evil will 'overtake' him. Spanish alcanzar ('to reach, overtake') and French rattraper ('to catch up to') both select pursuit-and-overtake vocabulary, sharply distinct from the adhesion senses. Korean 추격하다 ('to chase') confirms the military register. 9×
AR["أَدْرَكُوهُ","تُدْرِكَنِي","لَحِقَتْهُ","وَ-لَحِقَ","وَ-لَحِقُوا","وَ-لَحِقُوهُ","وَلَحِقَ"]·ben["আর-তাড়া-করল","আর-ধরল","এবং-ধরে-ফেলল","এবং-ধাওয়া-করলেন","ও-তাড়া-করেছিল","তাঁকে-ধরে-ফেলছিল","ধরে-ফেলবে-আমাকে","ধরে-ফেলেছিল-তাকে"]·DE["[וידבקו]","holte-ein-ihn","mich-erreicht","overtook-ihn","und-holte-ein","und-pressed-hard","und-sie-verfolgte","und-verfolgte"]·EN["and-he-overtook","and-overtook","and-pressed-hard","and-pursued","and-they-pursued","overtake-me","overtook-him"]·FR["[וידבקו]","et-il-rattrapa","et-ils-poursuivit","et-overtook","et-poursuivit","et-pressed-dur","overtook-lui","rattraper-moi"]·heb["הדביקו-הו","הדביקתהו","ו-דבקו","ו-הדביקו","ו-ידבק","ו-ידבקו","תדבקני-י"]·HI["और-जा-पहुँचा","और-जुड़-गए","और-पकड़ा","और-पकदे","और-पीछा-किया","चिपक-जये-मुझसे","पकड़-लिए-उसे","पकड़-लिया-उसे"]·ID["Dan-mengejar","Dan-mengejar-ketat","dan-ia-menyusul","dan-mengejar","dan-menyusul","dan-mereka-mengejar","mengejarnya","menjangkau-aku","menyusulnya"]·IT["[וידבקו]","e-egli-overtook","e-essi-inseguì","e-inseguì","e-premette-duro","e-raggiunse","overtake-me","raggiunse-lui"]·jav["Lan-ngruruhi","Lan-nututi","lan-nututi","lan-piyambakipun-nututi","lan-piyambakipun-nyusul","ngandhutaken-kula","nututi-piyambakipun","nyedhaki-piyambakipun"]·KO["그리고-따라갔다","그리고-따라잡았다","그리고-바짝쫓았다","그리고-쪰아서","그리고-추격했다","따라잡다","따라잡았다","따라잡았다-그를"]·PT["E-alcançaram","E-perseguiram","alcance-me","alcançaram-o","alcançou-o","e-alcançaram","e-alcançou","e-perseguiram"]·RU["и-догнали","и-настиг","и-настигли","и-преследовали","и-присоединились","настигла-его","настигли-его","настигло-меня"]·ES["Y-alcanzaron","Y-persiguieron","lo-alcanzaron","lo-alcanzó","me-alcance","y-alcanzaron","y-alcanzó","y-persiguieron"]·SW["Na-wakawafuata-kwa-karibu","itanibaka","na-akampata","na-wakamfuatia-kwa-karibu","na-wakawafuata","viliwafuata","walimkaribia"]·TR["Ve-takip-ettiler","Ve-yakın-tuttular","ona-yetiştiler","ve-kovaladılar","ve-yetişti","ve-yetiştiler","yetişir-bana","yetişti-onu"]·urd["اور-بھاگے","اور-جا-پکڑا","اور-لٗگے","اور-لگے","اور-پکڑا-اُنہوں-نے","اور-پیچھا-کیا","جا-لگے-اُسے","پکڑ-لی-اُسے","پکڑے-مجھے"]
5. cause to cling, make stick — Hifil causative of adhesion: to cause something to cling, to make stick or adhere — God making a curse, plague, or commitment cling to someone. Four occurrences, all theologically loaded: God will 'make pestilence cling to you' (Deut 28:21), God 'caused the loincloth to cling' to Jeremiah's waist as a prophetic sign (Jer 13:11), and God 'will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth' to silence Ezekiel (Ezek 3:26; cf. 29:4 where fish 'are made to cling' to Pharaoh-as-crocodile's scales). Spanish hará pegarse ('will cause to stick') and the German/French causative constructions all confirm the agentive, divinely-imposed quality. Distinct from sense 3's Hifil of pursuit by its adhesion (not chase) semantics. 4×
AR["أَلْصَقْتُ","أُلْصِقُهُ","وَأُلْصِقُ","يُلْصِقُ"]·ben["আমি-লাগিয়ে-দেব","আর-আমি-লাগাব","লাগাবেন","লাগিয়েছিলাম-আমি"]·DE["[אדביק]","[הדבקתי]","[והדבקתי]","macht-anhangen"]·EN["I-caused-to-cling","I-shall-cause-to-cling","and-I-will-make-stick","makes-cling"]·FR["[הדבקתי]","et-s'attacher","makes-cling","s'attacher"]·heb["אדביק","הדבקתי","ו-הדבקתי","ידבק"]·HI["और-चिपकाऊंगा","चिपकाएगा","चिपकाया-मैंने","मैं-चिपकाऊंगा"]·ID["Aku-akan-melekatkan","Aku-melekatkan","Melekatkan","dan-Aku-akan-melekatkan"]·IT["[אדביק]","[הדבקתי]","[והדבקתי]","fa-aderire"]·jav["Badhe-nepangaken","Ingsun-nèmpèlaken","Kawula-badhé-nempelaken","lan-Kawula-badhe-nempelaken"]·KO["그리고-붙게-할-것이다-내가","내가-붙게-했다","내가-붙이겠다","붙이시리라"]·PT["e-farei-grudar","farei-aderir","fará-aderir","fiz-apegar"]·RU["Прилепит","и-прилеплю","прилепил-Я","прилеплю-я"]·ES["Hará-pegarse","adherí","pegaré","y-haré-pegar"]·SW["ataambatanisha","na-nitabandika","niliwashikamanisha","nitaushikamanisha"]·TR["ve-yapıştıracağım","yapıştıracak","yapıştıracağım","yapıştırdım"]·urd["اور-چپکاؤں-گا-میں","لگائےگا","میں-چپکا-دوں-گا","چپکایا-میں-نے"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
דָּבַק, דָּבֵק vb. cling, cleave, keep close (NH id., Arabic دَبِقَ, Aramaic דְּבֵק, דְּבַק, ܕܒܶܩ, ܕܒܰܩ )— Qal Pf. דָּבַק 1 K 11:2 + 2 times; וְדָבַק consec. Gn 2:24; דָּבֵ֑ק 2 K 3:3; 3 fs. דָּֽבְקָה Ru 1:14 + 5 times; דָּבֵ֑קָה Job 29:10; 1 s. דָּבַקְתִּי ψ 119:31; 3 pl. דָּֽבְקוּ 2 S 20:2; וְדָֽבְקוּ consec. Dt 28:60; דָּבֵ֑קוּ Jb 41:15; וּדְבַקְתֶּם consec. Jos 23:12; Impf. יִדְבַּק Dt 13:18 +…