Original Word: דָּשָׁא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: dasha
Pronunciation: dah-SHAH
Phonetic Spelling: (daw-shaw')
KJV: bring forth, spring
NASB: sprout, turned green
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to sprout

bring forth, spring

A primitive root; to sprout -- bring forth, spring.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to sprout, shoot, grow green
NASB Translation
sprout (1), turned green (1).

[דָּשָׁא] verb sprout, shoot, grow green (Assyrian dašû Pi`el make abundant Lyon^{Sargontexte 77}; compare also below דֶּשֶׁא, whence, according to others, verb denominative) —

Qal Perfect דָּֽשְׁאוּ Joel 2:22 (subject נְאוֺת מִדְבָּר).

Hiph`il Imperfect3feminine singular תַּדְשֵׁא (jussive) Genesis 1:11 cause to sprout or shoot forth תַּדְשֵׁא הָאָרֶץ דֶּשֶׁא. — דָּשָׁא Jeremiah 50:11 see below דּוּשׁ.

Overview

דָּשָׁא (dāshāʾ) conveys the idea of sprouting, shooting forth, or growing green. In both of its occurrences the verb underscores divine activity that awakens the earth to fruitfulness, framing Scripture’s earliest creation narrative and a later prophetic promise of restoration.

Occurrences and Contexts

• Genesis 1:11 – “Then God said, ‘Let the earth sprout vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds.’ And it was so.”
• Joel 2:22 – “Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field, for the open pastures are becoming green; the trees bear their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.”

Literary Setting

1. Creation Foundation (Genesis 1:11)

– The verb appears on the third day, marking the first act in which the earth is commanded to participate in God’s creative work. The call to “sprout” initiates a pattern of ordered productivity that sets the stage for every subsequent reference to sowing, harvest, and covenant provision.
2. Prophetic Renewal (Joel 2:22)

– Joel’s oracle reverses earlier judgment imagery (Joel 1:10-12). The same verb used at creation reemerges to announce a fresh start for land, livestock, and people after repentance. The land’s greening signifies divine mercy, covenant faithfulness, and the certainty of promised abundance.

Theological Themes

• Sovereign Creativity: דָּשָׁא illustrates that vegetation exists because God speaks; natural processes are the outworking of His sovereign decree.
• Covenant Provision: From Eden to the Promised Land, sprouting vegetation represents God’s ongoing commitment to sustain His creation and His people (Psalm 104:14; Deuteronomy 8:7-10).
• Restoration after Judgment: Joel links greening fields with the outpouring of God’s Spirit that follows (Joel 2:28-29), tying physical renewal to spiritual revival.
• Eschatological Hope: Prophets often use agricultural rebirth to anticipate the messianic age (Isaiah 35:1-2; Amos 9:13), echoing the formative use of דָּשָׁא in Joel.

Agricultural and Ecological Imagery

Scripture consistently employs the cycle of sprouting, growing, and harvesting to teach reliance on the Lord of the harvest (Matthew 6:26-33). דָּשָׁא introduces that imagery, highlighting:
• Dependence: Humanity cannot compel the earth to sprout; God alone grants increase (1 Corinthians 3:7).
• Rhythm of Work and Rest: Sabbath laws allow the land to rejuvenate under God’s care (Leviticus 25:2-5), mirroring His original act of causing the earth to bring forth.
• Stewardship: Because the earth sprouts at God’s command, believers are entrusted to cultivate creation responsibly (Genesis 2:15).

Prophetic Significance

Joel uses דָּשָׁא to reassure both animals and humans, portraying creation itself as a participant in redemption (Romans 8:19-22). The greening fields prefigure the comprehensive renewal accomplished in Christ, in whom “all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).

Ministry Application

• Preaching and Teaching: Emphasize the continuity between creation and new creation, showing how God’s first “sprouting” word guarantees His last word of restoration.
• Worship and Prayer: Praise God for daily provisions that echo Genesis 1:11; intercede for regions suffering drought or famine, appealing to the Creator who commands the earth to sprout.
• Environmental Ethics: Encourage congregations to care for soil, water, and seed—as the arena where God’s דָּשָׁא still unfolds—while keeping ultimate hope in the coming renewed earth (Revelation 21:1).

דָשְׁא֖וּ דשאו תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א תדשא ḏā·šə·’ū ḏāšə’ū dasheU taḏ·šê taḏšê tadSheInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts