Hebrew · H559, H1696 · unreviewed

אָמַר / דִּבֶּר

To say (used with great latitude) · perhaps properly, to arrange ; but used figuratively (of words), to speak ; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

אָמַר H559 to say (used with great latitude)
Pronunciation ʾāmar
Speech-act verb encompassing utterance, declaration, and performative command; foundational for covenant-making and divine will expression.
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דָבַר H1696 perhaps properly, to arrange ; but used figuratively (of words), to speak ; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
Pronunciation dābar
Speech arranges reality: God's word creates and commands; human speech binds covenantally through promise and declaration.
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What does אָמַר / דִּבֶּר (amar / dibber) mean in the Bible?

אָמַר · דָבַר is a Hebrew word meaning "say, speak, promise".

Full entry for אָמַר / דִּבֶּר (H559, H1696) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

say, speak, promise
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 1262×
Perfect 1Chr 15:2 · 1Chr 17:4 · 1Chr 17:7 · 1Chr 21:10 · 1Chr 21:11 · 1Chr 21:18 · 1Chr 23:25 · 1Chr 27:23 · 1Chr 28:3 · 1Kgs 1:48 · 1Kgs 2:26 · 1Kgs 2:30 · 1Kgs 8:12 · 1Kgs 11:2 · 1Kgs 11:18 · 1Kgs 11:31 890×
Imperfect 1Kgs 1:36 · 1Kgs 22:14 · 1Sam 20:7 · 1Sam 24:14 · 2Chr 18:13 · 2Sam 15:26 · 2Sam 16:10 · Deut 5:27 · Deut 15:16 · Eccl 8:4 · Eccl 8:17 · Esth 2:15 · Exod 8:23 · Exod 21:5 · Exod 22:8 · Gen 31:8 197×
Sequential imperfect 1Kgs 12:23 · 1Kgs 18:8 · 1Kgs 18:11 · 1Kgs 18:14 · 1Kgs 18:44 · 1Sam 9:27 · 2Chr 11:3 · 2Kgs 4:13 · 2Kgs 8:10 · Deut 1:42 · Deut 5:30 · Esth 5:14 · Exod 6:6 · Exod 7:19 · Exod 8:1 · Exod 8:12 80×
Participle active 1Kgs 3:22 · 1Kgs 3:23 · 1Kgs 3:26 · 1Kgs 5:19 · 1Kgs 18:11 · 1Kgs 18:14 · 1Kgs 22:20 · 2Chr 13:8 · 2Chr 18:19 · 2Chr 28:10 · 2Chr 28:13 · 2Sam 21:4 · Amos 7:16 · Exod 2:14 · Exod 5:16 · Exod 5:17 65×
Jussive 1Kgs 22:8 · 1Sam 16:16 · 2Chr 18:7 · 2Sam 13:32 · Isa 56:3 · Joel 4:10 · Ps 118:2 · Ps 124:1 · Ps 129:1 · Deut 9:4 · Eccl 5:5 · Eccl 7:10 · Jer 1:7 · Prov 3:28 · Prov 20:22 · Prov 24:29 21×
Infinitive absolute 1Sam 2:30 · 1Sam 20:21 · Exod 21:5 · Jer 23:17 · Judg 15:2 · Num 6:23
Infinitive construct Ezek 25:8 · Prov 25:7
Cohortative Ps 42:10
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 20×
Imperfect Ezek 13:12 · Gen 10:9 · Gen 22:14 · Gen 32:29 · Hos 2:1 · Isa 4:3 · Isa 19:18 · Isa 32:5 · Isa 61:6 · Isa 62:4 · Jer 4:11 · Jer 7:32 · Jer 16:14 · Num 21:14 · Num 23:23 · Ps 87:5 19×
Perfect Dan 8:26
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action
Perfect Deut 26:17
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others
Imperfect Ps 94:4
Sources