H1823 H1823
Likeness, resemblance, or form; the quality of being similar in appearance, used of God's image, visionary forms, and concrete designs.
A noun expressing resemblance or similitude, most famously appearing in Genesis 1:26 where humanity is made 'in our likeness.' In Ezekiel's visions it describes the approximate appearance of heavenly beings and thrones — something that looked like but defied full description. The Spanish 'semejanza' and German 'Gleichheit' consistently render the abstract sense of resemblance, while at 2 Kings 16:10 the word shifts to a concrete 'pattern' or 'design' — a blueprint Ahaz sent from Damascus. This range from divine image to architectural model shows how Hebrew thought held together abstract likeness and tangible form.
Senses
1. likeness, resemblance, similitude — Abstract resemblance or similitude — the quality of being like something. Central to the imago Dei theology of Genesis 1:26 and 5:1-3, where it pairs with tselem ('image'). Spanish consistently uses 'semejanza' and French 'ressemblance,' confirming the comparative meaning. In Ezekiel's throne visions (1:5, 26; 10:1), it functions as an approximation marker: 'the likeness of...' signals that what the prophet saw was beyond precise description yet bore recognizable form. Also used in simile at Psalm 58:4 and Daniel 10:16. 24×
AR["شَبَهًا", "شَبَهٌ", "شَبَهُ", "شَبَهِ", "شِبْهُ", "شِبْهِ", "كَ-شَبَهِنَا", "كَ-مِثلِ", "وَ-شَبَهٌ", "وَ-شَبَهُ", "وَشَبَهُ"]·ben["আকৃতি", "আমাদের-সদৃশে", "আর-আকৃতি", "আর-সাদৃশ্য", "সদৃশ্য", "সাদৃশ্য"]·DE["Gleichnis", "[דמות]", "nach-unserer-Gleichheit", "und-Gleichnis", "wie-der-likeness-von"]·EN["according-to-likeness-our", "and-likeness-of", "like-the-likeness-of", "likeness-of", "likeness-of-", "will-you-compare"]·FR["[דמות]", "[ודמות]", "comme-ressemblance", "et-ressemblance", "ressemblance", "selon-à-ressemblance-notre"]·heb["דמות", "ו-דמות", "כ-דמות", "כ-דמות-נו"]·HI["आकृति", "और-आकृति", "और-समानता", "रूप", "समान", "समानता", "हमारी-समानता-में"]·ID["Dan-rupa", "dan-gambaran", "dan-rupa", "menurut-rupa-Kita", "rupa"]·IT["[דמות]", "[ודמות]", "[כדמות]", "e-parabola", "parabola", "secondo-a-likeness-nostro"]·jav["Lan-rupinipun", "Lan-wujud", "gegambaran", "lan-rupinipun", "lan-wujud", "miturut-rupa-Kita", "rupi", "rupinipun", "saking-gu-kandhutan", "wujud"]·KO["그리고-모양의", "그리고-형상", "그리고-형상은", "그리고-형상이", "닮음이다", "모양-으로", "에-우리의-모양대로", "형상", "형상을", "형상의", "형상이", "형상이라"]·PT["E-semelhança", "E-semelhança-de", "conforme-nossa-semelhança", "e-semelhança-de", "semelhança", "semelhança-de"]·RU["военачальников", "и-подобие", "по-подобию-Нашему", "подобен", "подобие", "подобии", "подобия"]·ES["Y-figura-de", "Y-semejanza", "Y-semejanza-de", "como-semejanza-de", "según-nuestra-semejanza", "semejanza", "semejanza-de", "y-semejanza-de"]·SW["kama-sumu", "kwa-sura-yetu", "mfano", "mfano-wa", "na-mfano", "na-mfano-wa", "wa-mfano"]·TR["Ve-şekli", "benzeri", "benzerinde-", "benzerlik", "benzerliğimize-göre", "gibi", "görünüşü", "lacivert-taşının", "tahtın", "tarşiş'in", "ve-benzerlik", "ve-benzerliği", "ve-üzerinde"]·urd["اور-شبیہ", "اور-شکل", "اور-صورت", "اپنی-مشابہت-میں", "شبیہ", "شکل", "صورت", "کَ-مِسل"]
2. pattern, form, design — A concrete pattern, model, or design meant for replication. At 2 Kings 16:10 Ahaz sends the 'demut' of the Damascus altar to Uriah the priest — here Spanish shifts to 'diseno' (design) rather than 'semejanza,' and the context demands a physical blueprint rather than abstract similarity. This single occurrence stands apart from the word's dominant usage, showing a practical, architectural extension of the root idea of likeness. 1×
AR["شَكْلِ"]·ben["আকৃতি"]·DE["likeness-von"]·EN["likeness-of"]·FR["likeness-de"]·heb["דמות"]·HI["आकृति"]·ID["rupa"]·IT["somiglianza-di"]·jav["gambaran"]·KO["본-을"]·PT["semelhança-de"]·RU["образ"]·ES["diseño-de"]·SW["mfano"]·TR["benzerini"]·urd["نمونہ"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† דְּמוּת n.f. likeness, similitude (mostly late) (according to LagBN 12, 147 ff. mispunct. for דִּמְוַת from דִּמְוָה; according to WeProl. 413, Eng. Tr 389 an Aramaic loan-word, but v. Di Gn 5:1, DrJPh. xi. 216 CheOP. 474)—abs. ד׳ Is 40:18 + 3 times; cstr. ד׳ Gn 5:1 + 16 times; sf. דְּמוּתוֹ Gn 5:3; דְּמוּתֵנוּ 1:26;— 1. likeness, similitude, of external appearance, chiefly in Ezek.: Ez 1:5…