Demiy is a noun meaning rest, cessation, or silence. It is related to the verb damam (to be silent, to be still) and shares semantic range with demamah. The word describes a pause, a halting, or a state of quietness — whether the cessation of activity, sound, or even life.
The word appears in Psalm 83:1 with al-demiy lach — 'do not be silent' — as an urgent plea for God to speak and act. The flip side of God's silence is heard in Psalm 22:2 where the sufferer cries by day and God is silent (lo demiyah — not resting). Together these psalms show the tension of faith: when God seems still, His people plead for Him to break His silence. Yet in trusting seasons, God's silence is itself a form of peaceful rest.