דָּבָר
A word ; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing ; adverbially, a cause
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
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Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does דָּבָר (dāḇār) mean in the Bible?
דָּבָר (dāḇār) is a Hebrew word meaning "a word ; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing ; adverbially, a cause". The term emphasizes the accumulation of speech that increases opportunities for sin. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Revelation.
Meaning
Word that moves from speech to action: what is spoken becomes a matter of real consequence and effect.
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause BDB: speech Usage: act, advice, affair, answer, × any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, chronicles, commandment, × commune(-ication), concern(-ing), confer, counsel, dearth, decree, deed, × disease, due, duty, effect, eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, glory, harm, hurt, iniquity, judgment, language, lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, × ought, × parts, pertaining, please, portion, power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, × (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, sign, so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, song, speech, × spoken, talk, task, that, × there done, thing (concerning), thought, thus, tidings, what(-soever), wherewith, which, word, work.
Why This Word Matters
The term emphasizes the accumulation of speech that increases opportunities for sin. Hosea 1:1-1
Affirms the permanence of God’s covenant promise. Isaiah 40:1-11
Establishes prophetic authority as originating in divine speech. Proverbs 10:19
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Old Testament Witnesses
Showing 8 of 1455 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.