The Hebrew verb dabaq means to cling, adhere, follow closely, or hold fast. It is the primary word for intimate attachment and loyalty. Dabaq is used of the union between husband and wife (Genesis 2:24), Ruth's loyalty to Naomi, Israel's covenant fidelity to God, and the soul's longing for God in the Psalms.
Dabaq defines what genuine covenantal love looks like in action: leaving, cleaving, becoming one. Jesus quotes Genesis 2:24 in Matthew 19:5 as the foundation of marriage. Paul applies the same language to the believer's union with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17). Theologically, dabaq represents the call to wholehearted commitment — to God, to His word, and to one another.