Original Word: דַּי
Part of Speech: Preposition
Transliteration: day
Pronunciation: dah-ee
Phonetic Spelling: (dahee)
KJV: able, according to, after (ability), among, as (oft as), (more than) enough, from, in, since, (much as is) sufficient(-ly), too much, very, when
NASB: often, enough, sufficient, each time, ability, according, had enough
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. enough (as noun or adverb), used chiefly with preposition in phrases

able, according to, after ability, among, as oft as, more than enough, from, in,

Of uncertain derivation; enough (as noun or adverb), used chiefly with preposition in phrases -- able, according to, after (ability), among, as (oft as), (more than) enough, from, in, since, (much as is) sufficient(-ly), too much, very, when.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
sufficiency, enough
NASB Translation
ability (1), according (1), annually* (2), each time (2), enough (6), had enough (1), nothing* (1), often (8), overflows* (1), plenty (1), sufficient (4), sufficient numbers (1), what you need (1).

דַּי substantive sufficiency, enough (Late Hebrew, but not known in other cognate languages) — construct דֵּי, with suffix (see below) דַּיֶּ֑ךָּ, דַּיָּם: —

1 absolute thrice only Malachi 3:10 I will pour you out a blessing עַדבְּֿלִידָֽֿי until there is not sufficiency, i.e. until my abundance can be exhausted, or, as this can never be, for ever (compare Psalm 72:7), Esther 1:18 וּכְדַי בִּזָּיוֺן וָקָ֑צֶף and (there will be) as enough (i.e. in plenty) contempt and wrath, 2 Chronicles 30:3 לְמַדַּי = לְמַהדַּֿי for what was sufficient. With a Genitive of the person or thing for which anything suffices: Exodus 36:5 מִדֵּי הָעֲבֹדָה (more) than enough for the work, Leviticus 5:7 and if his hand do not reach (if he do not command) דֵּי שֶׂה enough for (i.e. to buy) a lamb, Leviticus 12:8; Leviticus 25:28 דֵּי הָשִׁיב לוֺ enough for recovering it, Deuteronomy 15:8 דֵּי מַחְסֹרוֺ enough for his need, Isaiah 40:16 (twice in verse). With suffix Proverbs 25:16 אֱכֹל דַּיֶּ֑ךָּ eat that which is sufficient for thee; דַּיָּם Exodus 36:7; Jeremiah 49:9; Obadiah 5.. Once with Genitive of the thing which is sufficient, Proverbs 27:27 דֵּי חֲלֵב עִזִּים enough of goats' milk.

2 Combined with בְּ, כְּ, and especially מִן, דַּי (דֵּי) has a tendency to form compound prepositions, used idiomatically in certain applications: —

a. בְּדֵי (α) for (the בְּ pretii) what suffices for: Nahum 2:13 the lion tare in pieces בְּדֵי גֹרוֺתָיו for the need of his whelps ("" לְלִבְאֹתָיו; but ? כְּדֵי, see b); iron. Habakkuk 2:13; Jeremiah 51:58 the peoples labour בְּדֵיאֵֿשׁ for fire (only to satisfy the fire), and the nations weary themselves בְּדֵירִֿיק for what is empty. (β) in the abundance of, i.e. as often as Job 39:25 בְּדֵי שׁוֺפָר in the abundance of the trumpet, i.e. as often as the trumpet sounds (מִדֵּי elsewhere in this sense).

b. כְּדֵי according to the sufficiency, or abundance, of Leviticus 25:26 and find כְּדֵי גְאֻלָּתוֺ according to the sufficiency of his redemption, i.e. as much as it demands, Deuteronomy 25:2; Nehemiah 5:8 כְּדֵי בָנוּ (stative construct before בְּ: Ges^{§ 130}, 1) 'quantum in nobis erat,' after our ability, Judges 6:5 they came כְּדֵי אַרְבֶּה לָרֹב according to the abundance of the locust in multitude (for which כָּאַרְבֶּה לָרֹב would ordinarily be said: compare Judges 7:12).

c. מִדֵּי out of the abundance of, hence as often as; — (α) followed by infinitive 1 Samuel 1:7 מִדֵּי עֲלֹתָהּ = as often as she went up, 1 Samuel 18:30; 1 Kings 14:28 (= 2 Chronicles 12:11) 2 Kings 4:8; Isaiah 28:19 מִדֵּי עָבְרוֺ as often as it passeth over, Jeremiah 31:20; (β) followed by substantive, Jeremiah 48:27 מִדֵּי דְבָרֶיךָ בּוֺ as often as thy words (are) of him; and in the idiomatic phrases מִדֵּי שָׁנָה בְּשָׁנָה = yearly (a combination of מִדֵּי שָׁנָה and שָׁנָה בְּשָׁנָה: see below שָׁנָה) 1 Samuel 7:16 (see Dr) Zechariah 14:16; 2Chronicles 24:5; and מִדֵּי חֹדֶשׁ בְּחָדְשׁוֺ Isaiah 66:23 as often as month (comes) in its month (i.e. in its own time: חֹדֶשׁ made more precise by the add. of בְּחָדְשׁוֺ; compare the phrase דְּבַר יוֺם בְּיוֺמוֺ): so מִדֵּי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבַּתּוֺ ib.; (γ) as conjunction, with the finite verb (אֲשֶׁר being understood: compare בַּעֲבוּר etc.), Jeremiah 20:8 מִדֵּי אֲדַבֵּר as often as I speak.

מַדַּי (i.e. מַהדַּֿי) 2 Chronicles 30:3, see מה

1e.

מִדֵּי see דַּי.

מִדְיָן, מְדִינָה see דין.

מִדְיָנִים see I. מדון. מְדֹכָה see דוך.

מַדְמֵן, I, II. מַדְמֵנָה, מַדְמַנָּה see דמן.

מְדָן see דין. מְדָנִים see מדון, מִדְיָנִי.

מַדַּע, מֹדַע, מֹדַ֫עַת see ידע.

[מַדְקָרָה], plural construct מַדְקְרוֺת see דקר.

מַדְרֵגָה see דרג. מְדֻרָה see דור.

[מִדְרָךְ] see דרך. [מִדְרָשׁ] see דרשׁ.

[מְדֻשָׁה] see דושׁ.

Meaning and Semantic Range

The Hebrew particle דַּי arises in Scripture to convey the ideas of “enough,” “sufficiency,” “adequacy,” or a limit that should not be exceeded. It can mark contentment with what has been allotted (Genesis 45:28), impose restraint (Exodus 36:7), measure judgment (Isaiah 40:2), or express the Lord’s assessment that a matter is settled (Deuteronomy 3:26). The word thereby illuminates the divine balance between abundance and boundary, generosity and discipline.

Distribution in Scripture

Appearing roughly forty times, דַּי is found primarily in the Pentateuch and Prophets, with scattered uses in the Writings:

• Pentateuch: It punctuates narratives and legislation in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
• Historical Books: Only a few instances (for example, 1 Kings 19:4).
• Prophetic Writings: It surfaces in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea, often to mark the sufficiency of punishment or provision.
• Psalmic and Wisdom Literature: Rare, but appearing in Job and Ecclesiastes to highlight the limits of human striving.

Representative Old Testament Uses

1. Adequate Comfort (Genesis 45:28): When Jacob hears Joseph is alive, he exclaims, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.” דַּי here conveys that the news alone satisfies his heart.
2. Restraining Generosity (Exodus 36:7): In building the tabernacle, “the materials they had were sufficient to perform all the work, and more.” דַּי led Moses to command the people to stop donating—an early model of stewardship.
3. Controlled Discipline (Deuteronomy 3:26): The Lord tells Moses, “Enough! Do not speak to Me again about this matter.” The term establishes the finality of divine decision.
4. Measured Judgment (Isaiah 40:2): Jerusalem has “received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.” The implied דַּי assures that chastisement has reached its appointed limit.
5. Personal Despair (1 Kings 19:4): Elijah prays, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life,” revealing the prophet’s exhaustion while resting under a broom tree.
6. Divine Provision (Ezekiel 45:9): “Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and destruction,” calling rulers to repent and administer justice.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sufficiency and Providence

דַּי underscores that God knows what is “enough” for His people—whether manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16), sacrifices, or words of revelation. His provision perfectly meets real need without excess that fosters pride (cf. Proverbs 30:8).

2. Boundaries for Human Desire

The term places a holy curb on covetousness. By announcing “enough,” Scripture teaches gratitude and contentment (compare 1 Timothy 6:6-8).

3. Limitation of Judgment

Even divine wrath is not capricious; it is measured. Jeremiah 46:28 promises, “I will discipline you with justice; I will by no means leave you unpunished,” yet punishment will be limited to what is just—an implicit דַּי.

4. Finality of Divine Decree

Whether forbidding Moses to enter Canaan (Deuteronomy 3:26) or silencing Job’s complaints (Job 38), דַּי signals that God’s verdicts stand unquestioned.

Historical and Ministry Significance

• Tabernacle Offering (Exodus 36): Israel’s response teaches congregational giving guided by tangible needs rather than perpetual fund-raising.
• Wilderness Provision: The concept of “enough” manna (Exodus 16:18) supplies a model for daily dependence in ministry, discouraging hoarding.
• Prophetic Warnings: Isaiah and Ezekiel deploy דַּי to declare a limit to wrongdoing, reminding leaders today to resist tyranny and excess.
• Pastoral Care: Elijah’s cry of דַּי points to times when servants of God feel spent; the Lord responds with rest and nourishment (1 Kings 19:5-8), offering a paradigm for pastoral encouragement.

Practical Application

1. Contentment: Believers are called to echo Jacob’s “Enough!” when beholding God’s goodness, cultivating gratitude over accumulation.
2. Stewardship: Churches should cease appeals once resources are sufficient, reflecting Moses’ directive.
3. Counseling: Recognize moments when an individual’s plea of “enough” signals burnout; respond with rest, sustenance, and renewed vision.
4. Preaching: Proclaim the measured nature of divine judgment—severe yet perfectly proportioned—thereby magnifying both God’s holiness and mercy.

Foreshadowing Fulfillment in Christ

The principle of sufficiency culminates in Jesus Christ. His atoning sacrifice is described as once-for-all, entirely adequate. Hebrews 10:14 echoes the essence of דַּי: “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” No additional sacrifice is required; at Calvary, the Father pronounced, in effect, “Enough.”

Connection with New Testament Teaching

Paul captures the spirit of דַּי when he writes, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The term “sufficient” mirrors the Hebraic sense, assuring believers that divine grace meets every need. Likewise, Jesus teaches contentment with daily bread (Matthew 6:11), continuing the Old Testament pattern of trusting God for exactly enough.

Conclusion

Across its occurrences, דַּי weaves a thread of sufficiency, limit, and satisfied completeness. From patriarchs to prophets, from wilderness to exile, the word rehearses the enduring truth that God perfectly apportions provision and discipline. Embracing this balance equips the Church to walk in gratitude, sobriety, and unwavering trust in the God who always knows what is “enough.”

בְּגַנָּבִ֖ים בְּדֵ֣י בְּדֵ֤י בְּדֵי־ בגנבים בדי בדי־ דֵּ֖י דֵּ֚י דֵּ֣י דֵּי֮ דַּיֶּ֑ךָּ דַּיָּ֑ם דַיָּ֛ם דַיָּֽם׃ דָֽי׃ די די׃ דיך דים דים׃ וְדֵ֤י ׀ וּכְדַ֖י וּמִדֵּ֥י ודי וכדי ומדי כְּדֵ֣י כְּדֵ֥י כְדֵֽי־ כדי כדי־ לְמַדַּ֔י למדי מִֽדֵּי־ מִדֵּ֣י מִדֵּ֤י מִדֵּ֧י מִדֵּי־ מדי מדי־ bə·ḏê bə·ḏê- bə·ḡan·nā·ḇîm bəḏê bəḏê- beDei bəḡannāḇîm begannaVim chedei Dai daiYam daiYeka ḏāy day·yām ḏay·yām day·ye·kā dayyām ḏayyām dayyekā dê dei kə·ḏê ḵə·ḏê- kəḏê ḵəḏê- keDei lə·mad·day lemadDai ləmadday mid·dê mid·dê- middê middê- midDei ū·ḵə·ḏay ū·mid·dê ucheDai ūḵəḏay ūmiddê umidDei veDei wə·ḏê wəḏêInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts