Original Word: דָּהַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: dahar
Pronunciation: dah-HAR
Phonetic Spelling: (daw-har')
KJV: pause
NASB: galloping
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to curvet or move irregularly

pause

A primitive root; to curvet or move irregularly -- pause.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to rush, dash (of a horse)
NASB Translation
galloping (1).

[דָּהַר] verb rush, dash, of horse (onomatopoetic? perhaps compare Arabic befall, fall upon, overcome, conquer) —

Qal Participle סוּס דֹּהֵר Nahum 3:2.

Root Meaning and Semitic Background

The Hebrew verb דָּהַר (dāhar) conveys rapid, forceful motion, especially of horses and chariots. Parallel Semitic cognates reinforce the concept of relentless forward drive.

Biblical Usage in Nahum 3:2

Nahum 3:2 records the sole occurrence: “The crack of the whip, the rumble of the wheel, galloping horses and bounding chariots!” (Berean Standard Bible). The verb supplies an onomatopoetic burst of speed, placing the listener amid the thunderous charge that accompanies the siege of Nineveh.

Historical Context: Assyrian Cavalry and Chariot Warfare

Seventh-century Assyria excelled in deploying swift horses and light chariots. Bas-reliefs from Nineveh depict teams racing in tight formation, bows drawn. Nahum seizes this familiar spectacle to portray both the apex of Assyrian military pride and the chaos of its collapse. דָּהַר thus evokes a cultural icon of might now conscripted by God for judgment.

Theological Significance of Swiftness in Divine Judgment

Scripture often links speed with the certainty of divine retribution (Isaiah 30:16; Habakkuk 1:8). By using דָּהַר, the prophet underlines that God governs even the velocity of invading forces. What once secured imperial dominance now announces destruction, echoing “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31).

Intertextual Echoes and Related Vocabulary

Verbs such as שׁוּק (“to gallop,” Jeremiah 46:9) and קַלַל (“to be swift,” Habakkuk 1:8) expand the biblical imagery of rapid movement. דָּהַר’s unique, solitary appearance punctuates the prophetic oracle like a single thunderclap, heightening its dramatic effect.

Ministry and Practical Application

1. Urgency of Repentance—The rush of chariots warns that divine reckoning comes quickly (2 Corinthians 6:2).
2. Assurance of Justice—Believers under oppression find confidence that God acts without delay (2 Peter 3:10).
3. Vigilance in Warfare—The adversary also moves swiftly; Christians must stay alert (1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:13).
4. Zeal in Mission—Paul’s image of running the race (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) mirrors דָּהַר’s energy, urging the church to advance the Gospel with purposeful speed.

Summary

דָּהַר encapsulates relentless forward motion. In its lone biblical appearance it dramatizes the swiftness of God’s judgment on Nineveh, reminding every generation that His purposes advance unhindered and call for immediate, wholehearted response.

דֹּהֵ֔ר דהר dō·hêr doHer dōhêrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts