H1818 H1818
Blood as physical substance (sacrificial, dietary, bodily); bloodshed or violence (metonymic); bloodguilt or blood-liability (juridical).
Dam is a word that pulses through the entire sacrificial, moral, and legal fabric of the Hebrew Bible. At its most concrete, it is the red fluid of life -- sprinkled on doorposts at Passover (Exod 12:7), poured at the base of the altar (Lev 4:30), and forbidden as food because 'the life is in the blood' (Lev 17:11). In its metonymic extension, often signaled by the plural damim, blood stands for violence itself: Ezekiel's 'city of bloods' (Ezek 22:2) and the cry of Abel's blood 'from the ground' (Gen 4:10). A further juridical specialization appears in formulas like 'his blood be upon his head' (Josh 2:19), where damim denotes the guilt or liability for shedding blood.
Senses
1. [split] blood (physical substance) — The literal red fluid of humans and animals, encompassing sacrificial blood applied to altars and doorposts (Exod 12:7, 13, 22; Lev 4:30), the dietary prohibition against consuming blood (Gen 9:4; Lev 17:11-14), blood of wounds and battlefield slaughter, and menstrual or postpartum blood (Lev 12:7). Glosses across all languages converge: 'la-sangre,' 'le-sang,' 'das-Blut,' 'the-blood.' This overwhelmingly dominant sense (327 occurrences) is the foundation upon which the metonymic senses build. 1×
AR["-الدَّمَ", "-الدَّمِ", "الدَّمَ", "الدَّمُ", "الدَّمِ"]·ben["রক্ত", "রক্তের", "সেই-রক্ত"]·DE["das-Blut", "der-Blut"]·EN["the-blood"]·FR["le-sang"]·heb["ה-דם"]·HI["लहू", "लहू-में-से"]·ID["darah", "darah itu", "darah-itu"]·IT["il-sangue"]·jav["rah", "rah-punika", "rah-punika,"]·KO["그-피", "그-피가", "그-피를", "그-피의"]·PT["o-sangue"]·RU["крови", "кровь", "кровью"]·ES["la-sangre"]·SW["damu", "ya-damu"]·TR["-kan", "kan", "kandan", "kanı", "kanın"]·urd["-خون", "خون"]
Exod 7:21, Exod 12:7, Exod 12:13, Exod 12:13, Exod 12:22, Exod 12:23, Exod 24:6, Exod 24:6, Exod 24:8, Exod 29:12, Exod 29:20, Exod 29:21 (+38 more)
1. blood (literal fluid) — Split from sense 91756. Criteria: The physical red fluid in humans and animals: sacrificial blood on altars (Exod 12:7, Lev 4:30), dietary prohibitions (Gen 9:4, Lev 17:11-14), menstrual blood (Lev 12:7), wounds. 190×
AR["-الدَّمَ", "-الدَّمِ", "الدَّمَ", "الدَّمُ", "الدَّمِ"]·ben["রক্ত", "রক্তের", "সেই-রক্ত"]·DE["das-Blut", "der-Blut"]·EN["the-blood"]·FR["le-sang"]·heb["ה-דם"]·HI["लहू", "लहू-में-से"]·ID["darah", "darah itu", "darah-itu"]·IT["il-sangue"]·jav["rah", "rah-punika", "rah-punika,"]·KO["그-피", "그-피가", "그-피를", "그-피의"]·PT["o-sangue"]·RU["крови", "кровь", "кровью"]·ES["la-sangre"]·SW["damu", "ya-damu"]·TR["-kan", "kan", "kandan", "kanı", "kanın"]·urd["-خون", "خون"]
Exod 7:19, Exod 7:19, Exod 7:21, Exod 12:7, Exod 12:13, Exod 12:13, Exod 12:22, Exod 12:23, Exod 24:6, Exod 24:6, Exod 24:8, Exod 29:12 (+38 more)
2. bloodshed, violence, murder — Bloodshed, violence, or murder by metonymy, where blood stands for the act of killing rather than the substance itself. Often marked by the plural damim, as in 'city of bloods' (Nah 3:1; Ezek 22:2) or 'innocent blood' shed unjustly (Deut 19:10; Jer 22:3). The cry of Abel's blood 'from the ground' (Gen 4:10-11) is the paradigmatic instance. Spanish 'las-sangres' and German 'der-bloodshed' reflect translators' effort to capture this shift from substance to event. Includes contexts of ambush, conspiracy, and prophetic denunciation of violence. 28×
AR["الدِّماءِ", "الدِّمَاءِ", "بِدَمِ", "بِسَبَبِ-دِماءِ", "دَمٍ", "دِماءٍ"]·ben["-রক্তের-জন্য", "থেকে-রক্তের-", "রক্ত", "রক্তকে", "রক্তগুলির", "রক্তপাতের", "রক্তপাতের,", "রক্তের"]·DE["Blut", "der-bloodshed", "in-Blut-von", "von-Blut-von"]·EN["because-of-blood-of", "blood", "bloodshed", "for-blood-of", "the-blood", "the-bloods", "the-bloodshed"]·FR["le-sang-versé", "sang"]·heb["ב-דם", "דמים", "ה-דמים", "מ-דמי"]·HI["के-खून-के", "खून", "खून-का", "खून-के", "खूनों", "खूनों-का", "खूनों-के", "खूनों-के-कारण", "रक्त-के", "रक्तों-के", "लहू-का", "लहू-के"]·ID["-darah", "darah", "darah-darah", "karena-darah", "penumpah-darah", "pertumpahan-darah!"]·IT["da-sangue-di", "il-sangue", "il-spargimento-di-sangue", "sangue"]·jav["Gusti Allah", "amargi-getih", "amargi-rah-", "badhé-nyangga", "getih", "ingkang-ngwutahaken-rah", "rah", "rah-punika", "rah-rah"]·KO["그-피들의", "로-인하여-사람-들의-피", "로-인하여-사람-의-피", "신랑이다", "에-피", "피-를", "피-의", "피들-의", "피의"]·PT["de-sangue", "de-sangues", "os-sangues", "pelos-sangues-de", "por-sangues-de-", "sangue", "sangues"]·RU["-кровей", "за-кровь", "и-объяви", "кровей", "крови", "кровожадные", "кровь"]·ES["las-sangres", "las-sangres?", "por-sangre-de", "por-sangre-de-", "sangre", "sangres"]·SW["-damu", "damu", "kwa-sababu-ya-damu-ya", "wa-damu", "ya-damu"]·TR["kancı", "kanları", "kanların", "kanlarından", "kanında"]·urd["خون", "خون-ریز", "خون-والے", "خون-کا", "خون-کی", "خون-کے", "خون-کے-سبب", "خونریز", "خونوں-کے"]
Gen 4:10, Gen 4:11, Exod 4:25, Exod 4:26, 1 Sam 25:26, 1 Sam 25:33, 2 Sam 16:7, 2 Sam 16:8, 2 Sam 21:1, 1 Chr 22:8, 2 Chr 24:25, Ps 5:6 (+16 more)
2. bloodguilt, blood-liability (juridical) — Split from sense 91756. Criteria: Legal responsibility for bloodshed, guilt requiring atonement. The lemma gloss explicitly lists 'bloodguilt or blood-liability (juridical)' as a distinct sense. 69×
AR["الدَّمَ", "الدَّمُ", "الدَّمِ", "دَمًا", "دَمٌ", "دَمَ-", "دَمِ"]·ben["রক্ত", "রক্ত-", "রক্তপাতের-দোষ।", "রক্তে", "রক্তের", "সেই-রক্ত", "সেই-রক্তের"]·DE["Blut", "Blut-", "Blut-von", "der-Blut"]·EN["blood", "blood-", "blood-of", "the-blood"]·FR["le-sang", "sang", "sang-", "sang-de"]·heb["דם", "דם-", "ה-דם"]·HI["को", "खून", "खून-का", "खून-के", "रक्त", "लहू", "लहू-", "लहू-का", "लहू-के"]·ID["darah", "darah-"]·IT["il-sangue", "sangue", "sangue-", "sangue-di"]·jav["getih", "getih-", "rah", "sang-getih"]·KO["(접)-피-의", "그-피의", "피", "피가", "피로", "피를", "피를-", "피의"]·PT["o-sangue", "sangue", "sangue-"]·RU["-крови", "-кровь", "крови", "кровь", "кровь-", "кровью"]·ES["la-sangre", "la-sangre-", "sangre"]·SW["damu", "damu-", "damu-ya-", "ha-damu", "wa-damu"]·TR["-kanın", "kan", "kanla", "kanı", "kanın", "kanını", "kanını-"]·urd["خون", "خون-", "خون-سے", "خون-کا", "خون-کے"]
3. bloodguilt, blood-liability — Bloodguilt or blood-liability, the juridical responsibility incurred by shedding blood. Appears in legal formulas: 'his blood shall be upon him' (Lev 20:9), 'his blood be upon his own head' (Josh 2:19; 2 Sam 1:16), and David's plea 'deliver me from bloodguilt' (Ps 51:14[16]). English 'bloodguilt' and 'bloodguiltiness' along with German 'bloodguilt' and French 'sang-versé' distinguish this from mere violence (sense 2) by emphasizing legal culpability. Found in casuistic law (Exod 22:2-3) and Deuteronomic legislation (Deut 19:10; 22:8). 6×
AR["دَمٌ", "دِمَاءً", "دِمَاءٌ", "مِنَ-الدِّمَاءِ", "وَدِماؤُهُ"]·ben["এবং-তার-রক্তপাত", "রক্ত", "রক্তপাত", "রক্তপাত।", "হইতে-রক্তপাত"]·DE["bloodguilt", "und-Blut", "von-Blut"]·EN["and-his-bloodguilt", "bloodguilt", "from-bloodguiltiness"]·FR["de-sang", "et-sang", "sang-versé"]·heb["דמים", "ו-דמיו", "מ-דמים"]·HI["और-उसके-खून", "खून", "खून-का-दोष", "लहू", "लहूों-के-दोष-से"]·ID["darah"]·IT["bloodguilt", "da-sangue", "e-sangue"]·jav["dhateng-kula", "getih", "lan-rah", "salah-getih", "salah-getih."]·KO["그리고-그의-피들을", "피-의-값이", "피-흘림-에서", "피가", "피를"]·PT["de-sangue", "e-sangues-dele", "sangues"]·RU["и-кровь-его", "кровная-вина", "кровной-вины", "кровь", "от-кровей"]·ES["de-sangres", "sangre", "sangres", "y-su-sangre"]·SW["damu", "na-damu", "na-damu-yake"]·TR["kan-borçlusu", "kan-suçundan", "kanlar", "ve-kanlarını"]·urd["اور-اُس-کا-خون", "خون", "خونوں-سے"]
3. bloodshed, violence (metonymic) — Split from sense 91756. Criteria: Metonymic use for violent death, murder, or bloodshed. The lemma gloss explicitly lists 'bloodshed or violence (metonymic)' as a distinct sense. 68×
AR["الدَّمَ", "الدَّمِ", "دَماً", "دَمًا", "دَمٌ", "دَمٍ", "دَمَ", "دِماءً", "ٱلدَّمِ"]·ben["রক্ত", "রক্ত-", "রক্তে", "রক্তের", "রক্তের-জন্য", "সেই-রক্ত"]·DE["Blut", "das-Blut", "der-Blut"]·EN["blood", "blood-of", "the-blood"]·FR["le-sang", "sang"]·heb["דם", "דמים", "ה-דם"]·HI["के-लिए-लहू", "खून", "रक्त", "लहू", "लहू-की"]·ID["darah", "darah,"]·IT["il-sangue", "sangue"]·jav["getih", "rah", "rah-punika", "rah-rah", "rah."]·KO["그-피의", "피", "피-를", "피-를-위한", "피로", "피로-", "피를"]·PT["o-sangue", "sangue", "sangue-de-"]·RU["-кровь", "для-крови", "крови", "крови-", "кровь", "кровь.", "кровью", "проливать"]·ES["la-sangre", "sangre", "sangre-de", "sangres"]·SW["damu"]·TR["kan", "kan-", "kan-için", "kani-", "kanlarla", "kanı", "kanın", "ve-dökenlerin", "ve-vereceğim"]·urd["خون", "خون-سے", "خون-کے", "خون-کے-لیے"]
Gen 9:6, Gen 9:6, Gen 37:22, Lev 17:4, Lev 17:4, Deut 17:8, Deut 21:7, Deut 32:42, Deut 32:43, 1 Sam 25:31, 2 Sam 1:22, 2 Sam 16:8 (+38 more)
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† דָּם360 n.m. Gn 9:6 blood (NH id. Arabic دَمٌ, Ethiopic ደም: Assyrian damu Nor 239 ZimBP 72, 76; Aramaic דַּם, דְּמָא, ܕܶܡ, ܕܡܳܐ )—abs. ד׳ Gn 37:22 + 154 times; cstr. דַּם Gn 9:6 + 62 times; sf. דָּמִי 1 S 26:20 + 3 times; דָּֽמְךָ 2 S 1:16 (Qr; Kt דמיך) + 4 times; דָּמֵךְ Ez 16:22 + 3 times; דָּמוֹ Gn 9:4 + 30 times דָּמָהּ Lv 4:30(×2) + 11 times; דִּמְכֶם Gn 9:5; דָּמָם Lv 16:27 + 11 times;…