H1697. dabar

דָּבָר‎₁₄₃₉ noun masculine speech, word — Genesis 18:14 446t.; construct דְּבַר‎ 12:17 361t.; suffix דְּבָרִי‎ Numbers 11:23 + (suffixes 66 t.); singular in all 875 t.; plural דְּבָרִים‎ Exodus 4:10 182t.; construct דִּבְרֵי‎ Genesis 24:30 253t.; suffix דְּבָרָיו‎ 37:8 (suffixes 127 t.); plural in all 564 t.; —

I. singular speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken:

1 of men,

a. דָּבָר נְבוֺן‎ discreet in speech 1 Samuel 16:18; ׳ד שְׂפָתַיִם‎ speech of lips Psalm 59:13, mere talk Isaiah 36:5 (= 2 Kings 18:20) Proverbs 14:23 (compare Psalm 17:4 speech of God's lips); מָר דָּבָר‎ bitter speech 64:4; ׳ד כָּזָב‎ lying speech Proverbs 30:8; טוֺכ דְּבָֽרְךָ‎ thy saying is good 1 Samuel 9:10; עִם הָיָה אַבְנֵר וּדְבַר‎ and the speech of Abner had been with the elders of Israel 2 Samuel 3:17 (compare 1 Kings 1:7); הזה הדבר אמר‎ say this saying Jeremiah 23:38; 31:23; compare 13:12; 14:17 (of God), 1 Samuel 8:10 (י ׳דִּבְרֵי‎).

b. word of command, ׳ד (הַ)מֶּלֶךְ‎ 1 Chronicles 21:4, 6; Esther 1:12 6t. Esther; Ecclesiastes 8:4 compare 2 Chronicles 30:5; 31:5; Daniel 9:23, 25; ׳ד מַלְכוּת‎ royal edict Esther 1:19; עשׂה כדבר‎ do according to the command of Genesis 44:2; 47:30; Exodus 8:9; 8:27; 12:35; 32:28 (J) Leviticus 10:7 (P) Judges 11:10; Ezra 10:5; Nehemiah 5:12-13, compare 2 Samuel 17:6 (word of counsel), 1 Kings 3:12 (request), 17:13 (proposal; on these meanings see below)

c. message, report, tidings, הַזֶּה הָרָע אֶתהַֿדָּבָר הָעָם וַיִּשְׁמַע‎ and the people heard this evil report Exodus 33:4 (JE) compare 1 Kings 20:12; הדבר (היה) אמת‎ the report was true 10:6 2 Chronicles 9:5; מֵעִמָּכֶם דָבָר בּוֺא עַד‎ until word come from you 2 Samuel 15:28; נינוה מלך אל הדבר ויגע‎ Jonah 3:6; דָּבָר הֵשִׁיב‎ return or bring word, report Genesis 37:14; Numbers 13:26; 22:8 (J) Deuteronomy 1:22, 25; Joshua 14:7; 22:32 (D) 1 Kings 2:30; 20:9; 2 Kings 22:9, 20 (= 2 Chronicles 34:16, 28), but answer 1 Samuel 17:30; 2 Samuel 3:11; 24:13 (= 1 Chronicles 21:12), 1 Kings 12:6, 9 (= 2 Chronicles 10:6, 9), 12:16; Nehemiah 2:20; Proverbs 18:13; 27:11; Isaiah 41:28; Ezekiel 9:11 (Dr^{Sm, p, 190 explains the phrase as} turn back with a word); compare ענה (לא) דבר‎ answer something or nothing 1 Kings 18:21; 2 Kings 18:36; Psalm 119:42; Isaiah 36:21; Jeremiah 44:20 see IV. 6; השׁיב דברים‎ return words Exodus 19:8 (E) Proverbs 24:26 see

III. 1. d. advice, counsel, בלעם בדבר‎ by advice of Balaam Numbers 31:16 (P), compare Judges 20:7; 2 Samuel 19:44; Esther 5:5.

e. request, אמתו‎ of his maid, עבדו‎ of his servant 2 Samuel 14:15, 22.

f. promise, דברו יחל לא‎ he shall not break his word Numbers 30:3 (P), compare דבר הקים‎ perform a promise Nehemiah 5:13, see also

2b. g. charge, complaint, הזה הדבר היה אמת אם‎ if this charge be true Deuteronomy 22:20; compare 13:15; 17:4, בְּ דבר שׂים‎ 1 Samuel 22:15, לְ דברים עלילות שׂים‎ Deuteronomy 22:14, 17.

h. decision, sentence, הַמִּשְׁמָּט דְּבַר‎ the sentence of judgment Deuteronomy 17:9 compare 17:10; 17:11.

i. theme, story, טוֺב דָּבָר לִבִּי רָחַשׁ‎ my heart swells with a good theme Psalm 45:2; דְּבַרגְּבוּרוֺת‎ the story of his great might Job 41:4.

2 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:

a. י דבר ׳ויהי אל‎ then the word of Yahweh came unto 1 Samuel 15:10; 2 Samuel 7:4 (compare אלהים‎ 1 Chronicles 17:3), 1 Kings 6:11; 13:20; 16:1; 17:2, 8; 21:17, 28; 2 Chronicles 11:2 (compare האלהים‎ 1 Kings 12:22): compare 1 Chronicles 22:8 (על‎ by confusion), Isaiah 38:4; Jeremiah 1:4 20t. Jeremiah, Ezekiel 3:16 41t. Ezekiel; Jonah 1:1; 3:1; Haggai 2:20; Zechariah 4:8; 6:9; 7:4, 8; 8:1 (without אל‎) 8:18; ד ׳היה ׳י אל‎ Genesis 15:1; 2 Chronicles 12:7; Jeremiah 25:3-4t. Jeremiah; Ezekiel 1:3 7t. Ezekiel; Daniel 9:2; Zechariah 1:1, 7; 7:1; ד ׳הנה ׳י אל‎ Genesis 15:4; 1 Kings 19:9; ׳ד ׳י אל היה‎ 2 Samuel 24:11; 1 Kings 16:7; 18:1; 2 Kings 20:4; Ezekiel 24:20; ד ׳היה ׳י ביד‎ Haggai 1:1; 2:1, 10; ד ׳ויהי ׳י ביד‎ 1:3; ד אל ׳היה ׳י אשׁר‎ Hosea 1:1; Joel 1:1; Micah; Zephaniah 1:1; ד היה אשׁר ׳אליו ׳י‎ 1 Kings 18:31; Jeremiah 1:2; ד היה ׳אשׁר ׳י יר ׳אל‎ 14:1; 46:1; 47:1; 49:34 (see אשׁר‎ 6a); אל היה אשׁר הדבר‎ 7:1 11t. Jeremiah; ד ׳את ׳י‎ 2 Kings 3:12; Jeremiah 23:28; 27:18; compare יְגֻנָּב דָּבָר אֵלַי‎ unto me a word was brought by stealth Job 4:12, compare י דְּבַר אֵלָיו יִגָּלֶה ׳וְטֶרֶם‎ and the word of Yahweh was not yet revealed unto him 1 Samuel 3:7. Yahweh also sends his word שׁלח‎ Psalm 107:20; 147:18; Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 42:5 (compare plural Zechariah 7:12) and makes it an object of vision ראה‎ Jeremiah 2:31; 38:21 (compare plural Ezekiel 11:25), חזה‎ Isaiah 2:1; it is also commanded צוה‎ Exodus 16:16, 32; 35:4; Leviticus 8:5; 9:6; 17:2; Numbers 30:2; 36:6 (P) Deuteronomy 4:2; 13:1; 15:15; Joshua 1:13; 4:10 (D) 1 Chronicles 16:15 (= Psalm 105:8) Nehemiah 1:8; Jeremiah 7:23, compare צוה אשׁר הדברים‎ Exodus 35:1; Leviticus 8:36 (P) Exodus 19:7 (E) Deuteronomy 6:6.

b. Yahweh confirms his word of promise Deuteronomy 9:5; 1 Samuel 1:23 (where read דְּבָרֵךְ‎ thy word according to ᵑ6 ᵐ5‎ & Dr), 1 Kings 2:4; 6:12; 8:20; Jeremiah 29:10; 33:14, and his word of warning 1 Kings 12:15; Daniel 9:12; his word stands for ever Isaiah 40:8; it is settled for ever in heaven Psalm 119:89; he remembers his holy word קדשׁו דבר‎ 105:42 (compare קָדְשׁוֺ דִּבְרֵי‎ Jeremiah 23:9); he himself Joel 2:11, the angels Psalm 103:20, and forces of nature 148:8 דברו עשׂה‎ do his word of command; by his word the heavens were made 33:6; it is near his people, in their mouth and heart Deuteronomy 30:14; a lamp to their feet Psalm 119:105.

II. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse: —

1 of men,

a. בְּעִתּוֺ דָּבָר‎ a word in due season Proverbs 15:23 compare Job 4:2; Proverbs 12:25; commonly in plural, (הַ)שִּׁירָ(הׅ דִּבְרֵי‎ words of the song (i.e. its lines of poetry) Deuteronomy 31:30; 32:44; Psalm 18:1 (= 2 Samuel 22:1) Psalm 137:3; דויד בדברי הלל‎ to sing praises with the words of David (his psalms) 2 Chronicles 29:30; חֲכָמִים דִּבְרֵי‎ sentences of the wise Proverbs 1:6; 22:17; Ecclesiastes 9:17; 12:11; these sayings are commonly written, compare האגרת דברי‎ words of the letterEsther 9:26; עתיקים הדברים‎ the records are ancient 1 Chronicles 4:22; (ה)סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי‎ Isaiah 29:11, 18; Jeremiah 29:1.

b. title of writings: קֹהֶלֶת דִּבְרֵי‎ Ecclesiastes 1:1, ׳ד אגור‎ Proverbs 30:1, ׳ד למואל‎ 31:1, ׳ד ירמיהו‎ Jeremiah 1:1, so Amos 1:1; Nehemiah 1:1; compare in appended phrase or clause, Jeremiah 51:64, ׳ד איוב‎ Job 31:40.

c. in Chronicles name of a work: ׳ד החזים‎2 Chronicles 33:18-19, ׳בד שׁמעיה‎12:15, ׳בד יהוא‎20:34, ד על ׳שׁמואל‎ 1 Chronicles 29:29; ד ׳על נתן‎ 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29, ׳ד על גד‎ 1 Chronicles 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, see Dr^{Intr 497}.)

2 of God: הַדְּבָרִים עֲשֶׂרֶת‎ the ten words (sentences in the tables) Exodus 34:28 (JE) Deuteronomy 4:13; 10:4, referred to as הדברים‎ Exodus 34:1 (JE) Deuteronomy 4:10, 36; 5:19; 9:10; 10:2; of commands of covenant code Exodus 24:3-4, 8; compare 34:27 (JE); of Deuteronomic code Deuteronomy 17:19 (+ 16 t. D) 2 Kings 22:11; 23:3-24 (compare 2 Chronicles 34:19-31) Jeremiah 11:2-8; 34:18; the law-book of Joshua Joshua 24:26 (E); of the code of Ezra Ezra 7:11; 9:4; Nehemiah 8:9, 13; the words of Yahweh written by Jeremiah Jeremiah 25:13; 36:4-32; 51:61; the words of the book of Daniel Daniel 12:4, 9; commands in General 1 Samuel 15:11; Psalm 50:17; 119:57; 119:130; 119:139; promises 2 Samuel 7:28; Nehemiah 9:8, compare 1 Chronicles 25:5; 2 Chronicles 36:16.

III. a word, words: —

1 of men: אֲחָדִים וּדְבָרִים אֶחָ֑ת שָׂפָה‎ one lip, and one and the same words Genesis 11:1 (J); דְּבָרִים וְאֵין אֹמֶר אֵין‎ no speech and no words Psalm 19:4; דְּבָרִים אִישׁ‎ man of words, ready in speech, Exodus 4:10 (J); דברים רב‎ multitude of words Job 11:2; Proverbs 10:19; Ecclesiastes 5:2; דְּבָרִים עִמָּכֶם קְחוּ‎ take with you words Hosea 14:3; (ה)שׁקר דבר(י)‎ lying word(s) Exodus 5:9; 23:7 (E) Proverbs 13:5; 29:12; Isaiah 59:13; Jeremiah 7:4, 8; רוּחַ דִּבְרֵי‎ words of wind, vain words Job 16:3; נִשְׁמַעבּֿוֺ דָּבָר וּמַהשֶּֿׁמֶץ‎ and what a whisper of a word we hear of him! 26:14.

2 of God. It is difficult to determine how many of the following should come under

II. 2. The plural for words of God is relatively seldom: Genesis 20:8; Exodus 19:6; Numbers 12:6; Joshua 3:9 (E) Exodus 4:28, 30; Numbers 11:24 (J) Deuteronomy 18:19; Joshua 23:14 (D) 1 Samuel 3:18; 8:10; 15:1; 2 Chronicles 11:4; Job 42:7; Proverbs 30:6; Isaiah 31:2; Daniel 10:11; Amos 8:11; Micah 2:7; apart from Jeremiah 3:12 30t. Jeremiah; Ezekiel 2:7 4t. Ezekiel; Zechariah 1:6 4t. Zechariah.

IV. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks: —

1 business, occupation: הַמֶּלֶךְ דְּבַר‎ king's business 1 Samuel 21:9; לְכָלדְּֿבַר‎ for every matter of 1 Chronicles 26:32; 27:1; 2 Chronicles 19:11; לְכָלֿ דְּבָרֶיךָ‎ for all thine affairs 1 Chronicles 28:21; המזבח דבר‎ Numbers 18:7; עִם אֵיןלָֿהֶם דָּבָר‎ they had not dealings with Judges 18:7, 28; בְּיוֺמוֺ דְּבַריֿוֺם‎ the task or portion of a day in its day, daily duty or due Exodus 5:13, 19 (E) 16:4 (J) Leviticus 23:37 (P) 1 Kings 8:59; 2 Kings 25:30; 1 Chronicles 16:37; 2 Chronicles 8:13 (ביום‎) 8:14; 31:16; Ezra 3:4; Nehemiah 11:23; 12:47; Jeremiah 52:34; Daniel 1:5; בשׁנה שׁנה דבר‎ 1 Kings 10:25; 2 Chronicles 9:24.

2 plural acts construct דִּבְרֵי‎ 1 Kings 11:41 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 12:15; 16:11; דְּבָרָיו‎ his acts13:22; 35:27; especially in phrases, דִּבְרֵי עַלסֵֿפֶר ֗֗֗ דִּבְרֵי וְיֶתֶר הַיָּמִים‎ and the rest of the acts of . . . in the book of the chronicles (daily record of events) of 1 Kings 14:29 32t. Kings; דִּבְרֵי וְיֶתֶר‎2 Chronicles 13:22 8t. Chronicles, דְּבָרָיו וְיֶתֶר‎28:26, דִּבְרֵי שְׁאָר‎9:29 are referred to various sources; compare also הימים דברי במספר‎ 1 Chronicles 27:24, דויד בדברי‎ 23:27, ישׂראל מלכי עלדֿברי‎2 Chronicles 33:18: טובים דברים‎ good deeds12:12; 19:13; עֲוֺנֹת דִּבְרֵי‎ acts of iniquity Psalm 65:4 (De, Fälle von Missethaten); דִּבְרֵירָֿע‎ evil deeds Jeremiah 5:28. It is used of God, only in יענה לא דבריו כל‎ Job 33:13, ׳ד אֹתוֺתָיו‎ Psalm 105:27, ׳ד נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ‎ 145:5.

3 matter, affair: אוריה דבר‎ affair of Uriah 1 Kings 15:5; דבר שׁרשׁ‎ root of the matter Job 19:28; הדבר היה מה‎ how went the matter ? 1 Samuel 4:16; 2 Samuel 1:4 compare Ruth 3:18; הדבר פני את סבב‎ change the face of the matter 2 Samuel 14:20; הָאֲתֹנוֺת דִּבְרֵי‎ the matter of the asses 1 Samuel 10:2; הרצח דבר זה‎ this is the case of the slayer Deuteronomy 19:4; לְכָלדְּֿבָרָיו‎ 1 Kings 6:38 as to all its particulars.

4 events, things: in the phrase, האלה הדברים אחר‎ after these things (events in time) Genesis 15:1; 22:1; 40:1 (E) 39:7 (J) 1 Kings 17:17; 21:1; Ezra 7:1; Esther 2:1; 3:1; הדברים אחרי האלה‎ Genesis 48:1; Joshua 24:29 (E) Genesis 22:20 (J) 2 Chronicles 32:1.

5 cause, case for judicial investigation: דָּבָר לָהֶם כִּייִֿהְיֶה‎ if they have a case Exodus 18:16; compare 18:22; 22:8; דברים בעל‎ one having a case 24:14, compare משׁפט בדבר‎2 Chronicles 19:6; וּנְכֹחִים טוֺבִים דְּבָרֶיךָ‎ pleas, good and right 2 Samuel 15:3 compare Joshua 20:4.

6 something, anything (indefinite): דבר עשׂה‎ do a thing Genesis 22:16 + (frequent); דברים עשׂה‎ Isaiah 42:16 + (less frequent); מי ׳היפלא דבר‎ Genesis 18:14 compare Jeremiah 32:17, 27; דבר ֗֗֗ לא‎ nothing 1 Kings 5:7; 10:3; Isaiah 39:2; Jeremiah 42:4 + (frequent), דבר אין‎ Exodus 5:11 (E) Numbers 20:19; 1 Samuel 20:21; מ דבר ׳לא‎ nothing of Exodus 9:4 (J) Joshua 8:35; 11:15; 21:45; 23:14 (D); דבר כל‎ anything Numbers 31:23; Deuteronomy 23:20 +; רע דבר‎ Psalm 141:4 +; ׳ד טוב‎ 1 Kings 14:13 +; דְּבַרמָֿה‎ whatsoever Numbers 23:3 (E); דבר עֶרְוַת‎ Deuteronomy 23:15 naked-ness of a thing, i.e. unclean or unseemly thing (indecency in camp); so of a wife 24:1.

7 way, manner: הַשְּׁמִטָּה דְּבַר זֶה‎ this is the manner of the release Deuteronomy 15:2 (compare SI¹); הַמֶּלֶךְ דְּבַר כֵּן‎ so was the way of the king Esther 1:13; כדבר הזה‎ after this manner, thus Genesis 18:25; 32:20; 44:7 (JE) 2 Samuel 15:6; Ezra 10:5; Nehemiah 5:12-13, with (עשׂה‎), 1 Samuel 9:21; 2 Samuel 14:3; 17:6 (דבר‎), 1 Samuel 17:27, 30; Isaiah 8:20 (אמר‎), Nehemiah 6:4-5, (שׁלח‎), 6:4 (השׁיב‎) compare 1 Samuel 17:30; 2 Kings 7:19 (היה‎) (peculiar to D, הזה הרע כדבר‎ such a wicked deed as this Deuteronomy 13:12; 19:20, הזה הגדול כדבר‎ 4:32); עשׂה האלה כדברים‎ thus and thus did he Genesis 39:19 (J) 1 Samuel 2:23 (but usually the plural = these words).

8 reason, cause: דְבַרהַֿמַּס זֶּה‎ 1 Kings 9:15; אשׁר הדבר זה‎ this is the reason why Joshua 5:4 (D) 1 Kings 11:27; so 1 Samuel 17:29 AV RV, was it not but a word ? Th Ke RVm VB Dr; ֗֗֗ דְּבַר עַל‎ because of, for the sake of Genesis 20:11, 18 (E) 12:17; 43:18; Exodus 8:8 (J) Numbers 17:14 (P) Psalm 45:5; 79:9, דִּבְרֵי עַל‎ Jeremiah 14:1; עַלדִּֿבְרֵיכֶם‎ for your sakes Deuteronomy 4:21, אשׁר דְּבַר עַל‎ 22:24 (twice in verse); 23:5; 2 Samuel 13:22.