--- title: דָּבָר — speech · The Tanakh dictionary description: דָּבָר (1697), a word of Biblical Hebrew, used 1441 times: speech. BDB 1906: n.m. speech, word. With 2 verses in Hebrew, word for word and JPS 1917. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/1697.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [Tanakh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/) / [ד](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/1491.md)‎ / דָּבָר‎ # דָּבָר «דָּבָר» in the Tanakh dictionary: **speech** — how often it is used, MACULA's glosses, its meanings in the printed dictionaries and why they were chosen, and 2 verses in layers. **Used:** 1441 times · **Key:** 1697 · **BDB:** דָּבָר ### Glosses the.word (238); words (234); word (196) ### Meaning (OSHB) speech [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1491/1697/#m1) ### Meaning (BDB 1906) n.m. speech, word [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1491/1697/#m2) **The whole BDB entry:** n.m. speech, word—Gn 18:14 + 446 times; cstr. דְּבַר Gn 12:17 + 361 times; sf. דְּבָרִי Nu 11:23 + (sfs. 66 times); sg. in all 875 times; pl. דְּבָרִים Ex 4:10 + 182 times; cstr. דִּבְרֵי Gn 24:30 + 253 times; sf. דְּבָרָיו Gn 37:8 (sfs. 127 times); pl. in all 564 times;— sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken: of men, נְבוֹן דָּבָר discreet in speech 1 S 16:18; ד׳ שְׂפָתַיִם speech of lips ψ 59:13, mere talk Is 36:5 (= 2 K 18:20) Pr 14:23 (cf. ψ 17:4 speech of God’s lips); דָּבָר מָר bitter speech ψ 64:4; ד׳ כָּזָב lying speech Pr 30:8; טוֹב דְּבָֽרְךָ thy saying is good 1 S 9:10; וּדְבַר אַבְנֵר הָיָה עִם and the speech of Abner had been with the elders of Israel 2 S 3:17 (cf. 1 K 1:7); †אמר הדבר הזה say this saying Je 23:38; 31:23 cf. 13:12; 14:17 (of God), 1 S 8:10 (דִּבְרֵי י׳). word of command, ד׳ (הַ)מֶּלֶךְ 1 Ch 21:4, 6 Est 1:12 + 6 times Est, Ec 8:4 cf. 2 Ch 30:5; 31:5 Dn 9:23, 25; †ד׳ מַלְכוּת royal edict Est 1:19; עשׂה כדבר do according to the command of Gn 44:2; 47:30 Ex 8:9, 27; 12:35; 32:28 (J) Lv 10:7 (P) Ju 11:10 Ezr 10:5 Ne 5:12, 13; cf. 2 S 17:6 (word of counsel), 1 K 3:12 (request), 1 K 17:13 (proposal; on these meanings v. infr.) message, report, tidings, וַיִּשְׁמַע הָעָם אֶת־הַדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה and the people heard this evil report Ex 33:4 (JE) cf. 1 K 20:12; אמת (היה) הדבר the report was true 1 K 10:6 = 2 Ch 9:5; עַד בּוֹא דָבָר מֵעִמָּכֶם until word come from you 2 S 15:28; ויגע הדבר אל מלך נינוה Jon 3:6; †הֵשִׁיב דָּבָר return or bring word, report Gn 37:14 Nu 13:26; 22:8 (J) Dt 1:22, 25 Jos 14:7; 22:32 (D) 1 K 2:30; 20:9 2 K 22:9, 20 (= 2 Ch 34:16, 28), but answer 1 S 17:30 2 S 3:11; 24:13 (= 1 Ch 21:12), 1 K 12:6, 9 (= 2 Ch 10:6, 9), 12:16 Ne 2:20 Pr 18:13; 27:11 Is 41:28 Ez 9:11 (DrSm p. 190 explains the phrase as turn back with a word); cf. ענה (לא) דבר answer something or nothing 1 K 18:21 2 K 18:36 ψ 119:42 Is 36:21 Je 44:20 vid. IV. 6; השׁיב דברים return words Ex 19:8 (E) Pr 24:26 vid. III. 1. advice, counsel, בדבר בלעם by advice of Balaam Nu 31:16 (P), cf. Ju 20:7 2 S 19:44 Est 5:5. request, אמתו of his maid, עבדו of his servant 2 S 14:15, 22. promise, לא יחל דברו he shall not break his word Nu 30:3 (P), cf. הקים דבר perform a promise Ne 5:13, vid. also 2 b. charge, complaint, אם אמת היה הדבר הזה if this charge be true Dt 22:20 cf. 13:15; 17:4, שׂים דבר בְּ 1 S 22:15, שׂים עלילות דברים לְ Dt 22:14, 17. decision, sentence, דְּבַר דַמִּשְׁפָּט the sentence of judgment Dt 17:9 cf. v 10, 11. theme, story, רָחַשׁ לִבִּי דָּבָר טוֹב my heart swells with a good theme ψ 45:2; דְּבַר גְּבוּרוֹת the story of his great might Jb 41:4. word of God, as a divine communication in the form of commandments, prophecy, and words of help to his people, used 394 times. This word is communicated in several ways: ויהי דבר י׳ אל then the word of Yahweh came unto 1 S 15:10 2 S 7:4 (cf. אלהים 1 Ch 17:3), 1 K 6:11; 13:20; 16:1; 17:2, 8; 21:17, 28 2 Ch 11:2 (cf. האלהים 1 K 12:22); cf.1 Ch 22:8 (על by confusion), Is 38:4 Je 1:4 + 20 times Je, Ez 3:16 + 41 times Ez, Jon 1:1; 3:1 Hg 2:20 Zc 4:8; 6:9; 7:4, 8; 8:1 (without אל) v 18; †היה ד׳ י׳ אל Gn 15:1 2 Ch 12:7 Je 25:3 + 4 times Je, Ez 1:3 + 7 times Ez, Dn 9:2 Zc 1:1, 7; 7:1; †הנה ד׳ י׳ אל Gn 15:4 1 K 19:9; †ד׳ י׳ היה אל 2 S 24:11 1 K 16:7; 18:1 2 K 20:4 Ez 24:20; †היה ד׳ י׳ ביד Hg 1:1; 2:1, 10; †ויהי ד׳ י׳ ביד Hg 1:3; †ד׳ י׳ אשׁר היה אל Ho 1:1 Jo 1:1 Mi 1:1 Zp 1:1; †אשׁר היה ד׳ י׳ אליו 1 K 18:31 Je 1:2; †אשׁר היה ד׳ י׳ אל יר׳ Je 14:1; 46:1; 47:1; 49:34 (vid. אשׁר 6 a; הדבר אשׁר היה אל Je 7:1 + 11 times Je; †את ד׳ י׳ 2 K 3:12 Je 23:28; 27:18; cf. אֵלַי דָּבָר יְגֻנָּב unto me a word was brought by stealth Jb 4:12, cf. וְטֶרֶם יִגָּלֶה אֵלָיו דְּבַר י׳ and the word of Yahweh was not yet revealed unto him 1 S 3:7. Yahweh also sends his word שׁלח ψ 107:20; 147:18 Is 9:7 Je 42:5 (cf. pl. Zc 7:12) and makes it an object of vision ראה Je 2:31; 38:21 (cf. pl. Ez 11:25), חזה Is 2:1; it is also commanded צוה Ex 16:16, 32; 35:4 Lv 8:5; 9:6; 17:2 Nu 30:2; 36:6 (P) Dt 4:2; 13:1; 15:15 Jos 1:13; 4:10 (D) 1 Ch 16:15 (= ψ 105:8) Ne 1:8 Je 7:23, cf. הדברים אשׁר צוה Ex 35:1 Lv 8:36 (P) Ex 19:7 (E) Dt 6:6. Yahweh confirms his word of promise Dt 9:5 1 S 1:23 (where read דְּבָרֵךְ thy word according to 𝔊 𝔖 \& Dr), 1 K 2:4; 6:12; 8:20 Je 29:10; 33:14, and his word of warning 1 K 12:15 Dn 9:12; his word stands for ever Is 40:8; it is settled for ever in heaven ψ 119:89; he remembers his holy word דבר קדשׁו ψ 105:42 (cf. דִּבְרֵי קָדְשׁוֹ Je 23:9); he himself Jo 2:11, the angels ψ 103:20, and forces of nature ψ 148:8 עשׂה דברו do his word of command; by his word the heavens were made ψ 33:6; it is near his people, in their mouth and heart Dt 30:14; a lamp to their feet ψ 119:105. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse:— of men, דָּבָר בְּעִתּוֹ a word in due season Pr 15:23 cf. Jb 4:2 Pr 12:25; commonly in plural, †דִּבְרֵי (הַ)שִּׁירָ(ה) words of the song (i.e. its lines of poetry) Dt 31:30; 32:44 ψ 18·1 (= 2 S 22:1) 137:3; הלל בדברי דויד to sing praises with the words of David (his psalms) 2 Ch 29:30; דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים sentences of the wise Pr 1:6; 22:17 Ec 9:17; 12:11; these sayings are commonly written, cf. דברי האגרת words of the letter Est 9:26; הדברים עתיקים the records are ancient 1 Ch 4:22; דִּבְרֵי (ה)סֵפֶר Is 29:11, 18 Je 29:1. title of writings: דִּבְרֵי קֹהֶלֶת Ec 1:1, ד׳ אגור Pr 30:1, ד׳ למואל Pr 31:1, ד׳ ירמיהו Je 1:1, so Am 1:1 Ne 1:1; cf. in appended phrase or clause, Je 51:64, ד׳ איוב Jb 31:40. in Ch name of a work: ד׳ החזים 2 Ch 33:18, 19, בד׳ שׁמעיה 2 Ch 12:15, בד׳ יהוא 2 Ch 20:34, על ד׳ שׁמואל 1 Ch 29:29; על ד׳ נתן 1 Ch 29:29 2 Ch 9:29, על ד׳ גד 1 Ch 29:29. (It is not certain whether writings of prophets or histories about them are referred to; in the latter case they are acts, IV. 2, vid. DrIntr. 497.) of God: עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים the ten words (sentences in the tables) Ex 34:28 (JE) Dt 4:13; 10:4, referred to as הדברים Ex 34:1 (JE) Dt 4:10, 36; 5:19; 9:10; 10:2; of commands of covenant code Ex 24:3, 4, 8 cf. 34:27 (JE); of Deuteronomic code Dt 17:19 (+ 16 times D) 2 K 22:11; 23:3–24 (cf. 2 Ch 34:19–31) Je 11:2–8; 34:18; the lawbook of joshua Jos 24:26 (E); of the code of Ezra Ezr 7:11; 9:4 Ne 8:9, 13; the words of Yahweh written by Jeremiah Je 25:13; 36:4–32; 51:61; the words of the book of Daniel Dn 12:4; 9 commands in general 1 S 15:11 ψ 50:17; 119:57, 130, 139; promises 2 S 7:28 Ne 9:8, cf. 1 Ch 25:5 2 Ch 36:16. a word, words:— of men: שָׂפָה אֶחָ֑ת וּדְבָרִים אֲחָדִים one lip, and one and the same words Gn 11:1 (J); אֵין אֹמֶר וְאֵין דְּבָרִים no speech and no words ψ 19:4; אִישׁ דְּבָרִים man of words, ready in speech, Ex 4:10 (J); רב דברים multitude of words Jb 11:2 Pr 10:19 Ec 5:2; קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם דְּבָרִים take with you words Ho 14:3; דבר(י) (ה)שׁקר lying word(s) Ex 5:9; 23:7 (E) Pr 13:5; 29:12 Is 59:13 Je 7:4, 8; דִּבְרֵי רוּחַ words of wind, vain words Jb 16:3; וּמַה־שֶּׁמֶץ דָּבָר נִשְׁמַע־בּוֹ and what a whisper of a word we hear of him! Jb 26:14. of God. It is difficult to determine how many of the following should come under II. 2. The pl. for words of God is relatively seldom: Gn 20:8 Ex 19:6 Nu 12:6 Jos 3:9 (E) Ex 4:28, 30 Nu 11:24 (J) Dt 18:19 Jos 23:14 (D) 1 S 3:18; 8:10; 15:1 2 Ch 11:4 Jb 42:7 Pr 30:6 Is 31:2 Dn 10:11 Am 8:11 Mi 2:7, apart from Je 3:12 + 30 times Je, Ez 2:7 + 4 times Ez, Zc 1:6 + 4 times Zc. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks:— business, occupation: דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ king’s business 1 S 21:9; לְכָל־דְּבַר for every matter of 1 Ch 26:32; 27:1 2 Ch 19:11; לְכָל־דְּבָרֶיךָ for all thine affairs 1 Ch 28:21; דבר המזבח Nu 18:7; דָּבָר אֵין־לָהֶם עִם they had no dealings with Ju 18:7, 28; †דְּבַר־יוֹם בְּיוֹמוֹ the task or portion of a day in its day, daily duty or due Ex 5:13, 19 (E) 16:4 (J) Lv 23:37 (P) 1 K 8:59 2 K 25:30 1 Ch 16:37 2 Ch 8:13 (ביום) v 14 31:16 Ezr 3:4 Ne 11:23; 12:47 Je 52:34 Dn 1:5; †דבר שׁנה בשׁנה 1 K 10:25 2 Ch 9:24. pl. acts cstr. דִּבְרֵי 1 K 11:41(×2) 1 Ch 29:29 2 Ch 12:15; 16:11; †דְּבָרָיו his acts 2 Ch 13:22; 35:27; especially in phrases, וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי … עַל־סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים and the rest of the acts of … in the book of the chronicles (daily record of events) of 1 K 14:29 + 32: times K.; וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי 2 Ch 13:22 + 8 times Ch, וְיֶתֶר דְּבָרָיו 2 Ch 28:26, שְׁאָר דִּבְרֵי 2 Ch 9:29 are referred to various sources; cf. also במספר דברי הימים 1 Ch 27:24, בדברי דויד 1 Ch 23:27, על־דברי מלכי ישׂראל 2 Ch 33:18: דברים טובים good deeds 2 Ch 12:12; 19:3; דִּבְרֵי עֲוֹנֹת acts of iniquity ψ 65:4 (De, Fälle von Missethaten); דִּבְרֵי־רָע evil deeds Je 5:28. It is used of God, only in כל דבריו לא יענה Jb 33:13, ד׳ אֹתוֹתָיו ψ 105:27, ד׳ נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ ψ 145:5. matter, affair: דבר אוריה affair of Uriah 1 K 15:5; שׁרשׁ דבר root of the matter Jb 19:28; מה היה הדבר how went the matter? 1 S 4:16 2 S 1:4 cf. Ru 3:18; סבב את פני הדבר change the face of the matter 2 S 14:20; דִּבְרֵי הָאֲתֹנוֹת the matter of the asses 1 S 10:2; זה דבר הרצח this is the case of the slayer Dt 19:4; לְכָל־דְּבָרָיו 1 K 6:38 as to all its particulars; Pr 13:13; 16:20. events, things: †אחר הדברים האלה after these things (events in time) Gn 15:1; 22:1; 40:1 (E) 39:7 (J) 1 K 17:17; 21:1 Ezr 7:1 Est 2:1; 3:1; †אחרי הדברים האלה Gn 48:1 Jos 24:29 (E) Gn 22:20 (J) 2 Ch 32:1. cause, case for judicial investigation: כִּי־יִהְיֶה לָהֶם דָּבָר if they have a case Ex 18:16 cf. 18:22; 22:8; בעל דברים one having a case Ex 24:14, cf. בדבר משׁפט 2 Ch 19:6; דְּבָרֶיךָ טוֹבִים וּנְכֹחִים pleas, good and right 2 S 15:3 cf. Jos 20:4. something, anything (indefinite): עשׂה דבר do a thing Gn 22:16 + (frequent); עשׂה דברים Is 42:16 + (less frequent); היפלא מי׳ דבר Gn 18:14 cf. Je 32:17, 27; לא … דבר nothing 1 K 5:7; 10:3 Is 39:2 Je 42:4 + (frequent), אין דבר Ex 5:11 (E) Nu 20:19 1 S 20:21; לא דבר מ׳ nothing of Ex 9:4 (J) Jos 8:35; 11:15; 21:45; 23:14 (D); כל דבר anything Nu 31:23 Dt 23:20 +; דבר רע ψ 141:4 +; ד׳ טוב 1 K 14:13 +; דְּבַר־מָה whatsoever Nu 23:3 (E); עֶרְוַת דבר Dt 23:15 nakedness of a thing, i.e. unclean or unseemly thing (indecency in camp); so of a wife 24:1. way, manner: זֶה דְּבַר הַשְּׁמִטָּה this is the manner of the release Dt 15:2 (cf. SI1); כֵּן דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ so was the way of the king Est 1:13; כדבר הזה after this manner, thus †Gn 18:25; 32:20; 44:7 (JE) 2 S 15:6 Ezr 10:5 Ne 5:12, 13 with (עשׂה), 1 S 9:21 2 S 14:3; 17:6 (דבר), 1 S 17:27, 30 Is 8:20 (אמר), Ne 6:4, 5 (שׁלח), Ne 6:4 (השׁיב) cf. 1 S 17:30, 2 K 7:19 (היה); (peculiar to D, כדבר הרע הזה such a wicked deed as this Dt 13:12; 19:20, כדבר הגדול הזה Dt 4:32); כדברים האלה עשׂה thus and thus did he Gn 39:19 (J) 1 S 2:23 (but usually the pl. = these words). reason, cause: זֶה דְבַר־הַמַּס 1 K 9:15; זה הדבר אשׁר this is the reason why Jos 5:4 (D) 1 K 11:27; so 1 S 17:29 AV RV, was it not but a word? Th Ke RVm VB Dr; … עַל דְּבַר, עַל־דִּבְרֵי for the sake of, in reference to, v. KöExpositor, Aug. 1902, 142–148; and add for עַל־דְּבַר Nu 25:18(×3); 31:16 2 S 18:5, and for עַל־דִּבְרֵי Je 7:22 2 K 22:13 = 2 Ch 34:21a, and perhaps ψ 7:1. because of, for the sake of Gn 20:11, 18 (E) 12:17; 43:18 Ex 8:8 (J) Nu 17:14 (P) ψ 45:5; 79:9, עַל דִּבְרֵי Je 14:1; עַל־דִּבְרֵיכֶם for your sakes Dt 4:21, עַל דְּבַר אשׁר Dt 22:24(×2); 23:5 2 S 13:22.. Oldest tradition (Jerome) seems to waver between דָּג fish and דָּגָן grain, as explan. of דָּגוֹן, v. בית ד׳. Why these entries: BDB: headword, part of speech agrees, 447 of its verses cited, 1 words shared with the glosses, lists its Strong's number (8 candidates); OSHB: headword, part of speech agrees, 1 words shared with the BDB entry, 0 with the glosses (8 candidates) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every English meaning of «דָּבָר» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1491/1697/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames. ### In the verses [Proverbs 24:26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.24.26/) שְׂפָתַ֥יִם יִשָּׁ֑ק מֵ֝שִׁ֗יב דְּבָרִ֥ים נְכֹחִֽים׃ *Word for word:* lips he.kisses \[one.who\].brings.back words straightforward *JPS 1917:* He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer. [Psalms 52:6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PSA.52.6/) אָהַ֥בְתָּ כָֽל־דִּבְרֵי־בָ֗לַע לְשׁ֣וֹן מִרְמָֽה׃ *Word for word:* you.love all words of.swallowing a.tongue of.deceit *JPS 1917:* Thou lovest all devouring words, the deceitful tongue. - ← previous: [דָבַר](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/1696.md) - next →: [דֶּבֶר](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/1698.md) - ↑ back to [ד](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/1491.md)