The Sound of Silence — I Kings 19:12-13
· דְּמָמָה –dᵉmâmâh, dem-aw-maw’; feminine from H1826; quiet:—
calm, silence, still.1
· דַּק daq,
dak; from H1854;
crushed, i.e. (by implication) small or
thin:—dwarf, lean(-fleshed), very
little thing, small, thin.2
· קוֹל qôwl, kole; or קֹל qôl; from an unused root meaning to call
aloud; a voice or sound; aloud, bleating, crackling, cry(out
fame, lightness, lowing, noise,
hold peace, (pro-) claim,
proclamation, sing, sound, spark,
thunder(-ing), voice, yell3
Kol d’ma.ma da.ka—the sound of thin silence OR
is it roaring and thundering voice?
Job 4:13-17 Psalm 107:24-31
The midrash turns the text into a dialogue:
Elijah: The Israelites have broken God’s covenant.
God: Is it then your covenant?
Elijah: They have torn down Your altars
God: But were they your altars?
Elijah: They have put Your prophets to the sword.
God: But you are alive.
Elijah: I alone am left.
God: Instead of hurling accusations against Israel, should you not have pleaded their cause? 4
Hebrews 12:18-24—God’s Law (Thundervoice)-vs. God’s Grace (Still Small Voice)
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1 “H1827— demanah—Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (KJV),” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 10 Sept. 2019.
https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1827&t=KJV
2 “H1851— daq—Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 10 Sept. 2019.
https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1851&t=KJV
3 “H6963— qowl– Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 10 Sept. 2019
4 Shir ha-Shirim Rabbah1;6
https://www.sefaria.org/Shir_HaShirim_Rabbah.1.1?lang=bi. Accessed 10 Sept. 2019.