Lexical Summary
demamah: Silence, stillness, calm
Original Word: דְּמָמָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: dmamah
Pronunciation: deh-mah-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (dem-aw-maw')
KJV: calm, silence, still
NASB: blowing, silence, still
Word Origin: [feminine from H1826 (דָּמַם - To be silent)]
1. quiet
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
calm, silence, still
Feminine from damam; quiet -- calm, silence, still.
see HEBREW damam
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
damamDefinitiona whisper
NASB Translationblowing (1), silence (1), still (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(on formation compare Ba
NB 87) —
1 Kings 19:12;
Job 4:16 a whisper and a voice, i.e. an articulate whisper (compare Di);
Psalm 107:29 he settleth storm into whisper. Topical Lexicon
Concept and ImageryThe noun דְּמָמָה (demamah) evokes a profound, almost tangible stillness—a cessation of sound that heightens awareness of God’s presence and authority. Scripture employs the term both literally, as a calm after a storm, and figuratively, as the inward hush in which divine revelation dawns. Demamah is therefore not mere absence of noise but the charged quiet that surrounds the self-disclosure of the Lord.
Occurrences in Scripture
1. 1 Kings 19:12 records that after wind, earthquake, and fire, Elijah encountered “a gentle whisper” (demamah).
2. Job 4:16 depicts Eliphaz’s terrifying vision: “a form was before my eyes, and there was silence; then I heard a voice.”
3. Psalm 107:29 testifies, “He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”
Stillness as the Venue of Revelation (1 Kings 19:12)
At Mount Horeb Elijah expected God in dramatic phenomena reminiscent of Sinai. Instead, the prophet discerned the Word of the Lord in demamah. The text teaches that God’s self-manifestation transcends human expectation; He speaks with sovereign freedom, often in the quiet that follows the collapse of human strength. Pastors and believers alike draw comfort that spiritual discernment matures in solitude and attentiveness rather than in spectacle.
Silence that Awakens Holy Fear (Job 4:16)
Eliphaz’s experience occurs in the midnight hush of visionary dread. Here demamah intensifies awe, underscoring humanity’s frailty before the unseen realm. Within the broader theology of Job, this surge of stillness foreshadows the climactic silences that envelop Job when the Almighty queries him from the whirlwind (Job 38—42). Demamah thus exposes the limits of human wisdom and the necessity of divine revelation.
Calming the Chaos (Psalm 107:29)
Psalm 107 celebrates God’s deliverance of seafarers caught in a tempest: “He calmed the storm to a whisper.” Demamah marks the moment chaotic seas submit to their Creator. The pattern reflects Genesis 1, where God orders primordial waters, and anticipates Jesus Christ, who “rebuked the wind and the raging waters” (Luke 8:24). The Psalm invites worshipers to praise the Lord who transforms turmoil into tranquil confidence.
Theological Themes
• Divine Sovereignty: Only God can impose demamah upon nature and the human heart.
• Revelation in Humility: God’s voice is clearest when competing clamor is silenced.
• Redemptive Peace: Demamah symbolizes the shalom granted to those delivered from external storms and internal anxieties (compare Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 30:15).
• Eschatological Expectation: Revelation 8:1’s “silence in heaven for about half an hour” heightens anticipation of God’s final judgments and consummated peace.
Historical Setting
1 Kings 19 occurs during the apostasy under Ahab and Jezebel; Elijah’s retreat to Horeb recalls covenant roots while pointing forward to a renewed, quieter mode of prophetic ministry. Job reflects pre-Mosaic wisdom traditions where divine mystery outweighs doctrinal precision. Psalm 107, likely post-exilic, summons the worshiping community to recount God’s steadfast love across varied crises, seafaring dangers included.
Ministry Implications
• Spiritual Formation: Practices of silence and solitude cultivate attentiveness to the “gentle whisper” of Scripture and Spirit.
• Pastoral Care: In seasons of emotional storm, directing believers to the Lord who brings demamah fosters hope beyond circumstances.
• Preaching: Emphasizing God’s self-revelation in stillness challenges congregations to value quiet reflection over incessant activity.
• Corporate Worship: Moments of reverent silence can embody Psalm 62:1—“My soul finds rest in God alone”—reinforcing dependence on grace.
New Testament Parallels
The calming of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24) mirrors Psalm 107:29, identifying Jesus with the Lord who commands demamah. Likewise, the gentle descent of the Spirit as a dove (Matthew 3:16) and the stillness of early resurrection dawns invite believers to listen for God’s voice amid serenity.
Key Cross-References
Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 30:15; Habakkuk 2:20; Zechariah 2:13; Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24; Acts 21:40; Revelation 8:1.
Summary
Demamah is holy quiet—the hush that follows God’s subduing of chaos and precedes His intimate speech. Whether stilling seas, confronting human presumption, or guiding weary prophets, the Lord uses silence to disclose His character and purposes. Attentiveness to this divine stillness remains essential for faithful living and ministry today.
Forms and Transliterations
דְּמָמָ֖ה דְּמָמָ֥ה דממה לִדְמָמָ֑ה לדממה də·mā·māh demaMah dəmāmāh liḏ·mā·māh lidmaMah liḏmāmāh
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