to cleave
da.vaq denotes close attachment: holding to a person or God, sticking fast physically, or catching up with someone in pursuit.
The verb most often marks close adherence to a person, group, or the LORD; it also describes things sticking fast or remaining attached, and in Hiphil forms it can portray pursuers catching up with their target.
Senses in use
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Hold closely to a person or commitment · dominant
Qal forms describe sustained attachment to the LORD, as the clauses pair clinging to him with loving, hearing, serving, or walking in his ways in Deuteronomy 10:20, Deuteronomy 30:20, and Joshua 22:5. The same close attachment is shown when Judah remains with its king in 2 Samuel 20:2, Ruth remains with Naomi in Ruth 1:14, and Solomon attaches himself to foreign women in 1 Kings 11:2.
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Stick fast or remain attached · common
The verb describes concrete attachment: a warrior's hand remains on his sword in 2 Samuel 23:10, a tongue sticks to the roof of the mouth in Ezekiel 3:26, and fish cling to scales in Ezekiel 29:4. It also portrays pestilence or diseases remaining upon people in Deuteronomy 28:21 and Deuteronomy 28:60, while Job 38:38 uses a passive form for clods that cleave together.
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Catch up with in pursuit · occasional
Hiphil forms occur in pursuit scenes where those following reach their target: Laban's party overtakes Jacob in Genesis 31:23, men near Micah overtake the Danites in Judges 18:22, and the Philistines overtake Saul and his sons in 1 Samuel 31:2. In Jeremiah 42:16, the feared sword is said to overtake those who go to Egypt.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB often uses “cling,” “hold fast,” or “cleave” in attachment clauses, and “overtook” in pursuit scenes. Because the English is a whole-verse translation, these renderings indicate the clauses' presentation rather than a fixed English equivalent.