I. Name
In the Hebrew Bible the word dwd means ‘Beloved’, ‘Love’, ‘Uncle’ (father’s brother). The etymology of the word is problematic (Sanmartin-Ascaso 1977:153; HALAT 206). The connection to the name David has become rickety (Stamm 1960: 166–169). It has been assumed that Dod serves in the Hebrew Bible as an epithet for Yahweh (e.g. Van Zijl 1960:190).
II. Identity
In Akkadian one finds the word dādu(m), ‘Beloved’, ‘Darling’, used of family members, kings, and deities (CADD. 149). A distinction …