דָּבָר

H1697. dabar
דָּבָר1439 noun masculine speech, word — Gen 18:14 446t.; construct דְּבַר Gen 12:17 361t.; suffix דְּבָרִי Num 11:23 + (suffixes 66 t.); singular in all 875 t.; plural דְּבָרִים Exo 4:10 182t.; construct דִּבְרֵי Gen 24:30 253t.; suffix דְּבָרָיו Gen 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 1Sa 16:18; ׳ד שְׂפָתַיִם speech of lips Psa 59:13, mere talk Isa 36:5 (= 2Ki 18:20) Pro 14:23 (compare Psa 17:4 speech of God's lips); מָר דָּבָר bitter speech Psa 64:4; ׳ד כָּזָב lying speech Pro 30:8; טוֺכ דְּבָֽרְךָ thy saying is good 1Sa 9:10; עִם הָיָה אַבְנֵר וּדְבַר and the speech of Abner had been with the elders of Israel 2Sa 3:17 (compare 1Ki 1:7); הזה הדבר אמר say this saying Jer 23:38; Jer 31:23; compare Jer 13:12; Jer 14:17 (of God), 1Sa 8:10 (י ׳דִּבְרֵי).
b. word of command, ׳ד (הַ)מֶּלֶךְ 1Ch 21:4, 1Ch 21:6; Est 1:12 Est 1:6t. Esther; Ecc 8:4 compare 2Ch 30:5; 2Ch 31:5; Dan 9:23, Dan 9:25; ׳ד מַלְכוּת royal edict Est 1:19; עשׂה כדבר do according to the command of Gen 44:2; Gen 47:30; Exo 8:9; Exo 8:27; Exo 12:35; Exo 32:28 (J) Lev 10:7 (P) Jdg 11:10; Ezr 10:5; Neh 5:12-13, compare 2Sa 17:6 (word of counsel), 1Ki 3:12 (request), 1Ki 17:13 (proposal; on these meanings see below)
c. message, report, tidings, הַזֶּה הָרָע אֶתהַֿדָּבָר הָעָם וַיִּשְׁמַע and the people heard this evil report Exo 33:4 (JE) compare 1Ki 20:12; הדבר (היה) אמת the report was true 1Ki 10:6 2Ch 9:5; מֵעִמָּכֶם דָבָר בּוֺא עַד until word come from you 2Sa 15:28; נינוה מלך אל הדבר ויגע Jon 3:6; דָּבָר הֵשִׁיב return or bring word, report Gen 37:14; Num 13:26; Num 22:8 (J) Deu 1:22, Deu 1:25; Jos 14:7; Jos 22:32 (D) 1Ki 2:30; 1Ki 20:9; 2Ki 22:9, 2Ki 22:20 (= 2Ch 34:16, 2Ch 34:28), but answer 1Sa 17:30; 2Sa 3:11; 2Sa 24:13 (= 1Ch 21:12), 1Ki 12:6, 1Ki 12:9 (= 2Ch 10:6, 2Ch 10:9), 2Ch 12:16; Neh 2:20; Pro 18:13; Pro 27:11; Isa 41:28; Eze 9:11 (DrSm, p, 190 explains the phrase as turn back with a word); compare ענה (לא) דבר answer something or nothing 1Ki 18:21; 2Ki 18:36; Psa 119:42; Isa 36:21; Jer 44:20 see IV. 6; השׁיב דברים return words Exo 19:8 (E) Pro 24:26 see
III. 1. d. advice, counsel, בלעם בדבר by advice of Balaam Num 31:16 (P), compare Jdg 20:7; 2 Samuel 19:44; Est 5:5.
e. request, אמתו of his maid, עבדו of his servant 2Sa 14:15, 2Sa 14:22.
f. promise, דברו יחל לא he shall not break his word Num 30:3 (P), compare דבר הקים perform a promise Neh 5:13, see also
2b. g. charge, complaint, הזה הדבר היה אמת אם if this charge be true Deu 22:20; compare Deu 13:15; Deu 17:4, בְּ דבר שׂים 1Sa 22:15, לְ דברים עלילות שׂים Deu 22:14, Deu 22:17.
h. decision, sentence, הַמִּשְׁמָּט דְּבַר the sentence of judgment Deu 17:9 compare Deu 17:10; Deu 17:11.
i. theme, story, טוֺב דָּבָר לִבִּי רָחַשׁ my heart swells with a good theme Psa 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 1Sa 15:10; 2Sa 7:4 (compare אלהים 1Ch 17:3), 1Ki 6:11; 1Ki 13:20; 1Ki 16:1; 1Ki 17:2, 1Ki 17:8; 1Ki 21:17, 1Ki 21:28; 2Ch 11:2 (compare האלהים 1Ki 12:22): compare 1Ch 22:8 (על by confusion), Isa 38:4; Jer 1:4 20t. Jeremiah, Eze 3:16 41t. Ezekiel; Jon 1:1; Jon 3:1; Hag 2:20; Zec 4:8; Zec 6:9; Zec 7:4, Zec 7:8; Zec 8:1 (without אל) Zec 8:18; ד ׳היה ׳י אל Gen 15:1; 2Ch 12:7; Jer 25:3-4t. Jeremiah; Eze 1:3 Eze 1:7t. Ezekiel; Dan 9:2; Zec 1:1, Zec 1:7; Zec 7:1; ד ׳הנה ׳י אל Gen 15:4; 1Ki 19:9; ׳ד ׳י אל היה 2Sa 24:11; 1Ki 16:7; 1Ki 18:1; 2Ki 20:4; Eze 24:20; ד ׳היה ׳י ביד Hag 1:1; Hag 2:1, Hag 2:10; ד ׳ויהי ׳י ביד Hag 1:3; ד אל ׳היה ׳י אשׁר Hos 1:1; Joe 1:1; Micah; Zep 1:1; ד היה אשׁר ׳אליו ׳י 1Ki 18:31; Jer 1:2; ד היה ׳אשׁר ׳י יר ׳אל Jer 14:1; Jer 46:1; Jer 47:1; Jer 49:34 (see אשׁר 6a); אל היה אשׁר הדבר Jer 7:1 Jer 7:11t. Jeremiah; ד ׳את ׳י 2Ki 3:12; Jer 23:28; Jer 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 1Sa 3:7. Yahweh also sends his word שׁלח Psa 107:20; Psa 147:18; Isa 9:7; Jer 42:5 (compare plural Zec 7:12) and makes it an object of vision ראה Jer 2:31; Jer 38:21 (compare plural Eze 11:25), חזה Isa 2:1; it is also commanded צוה Exo 16:16, Exo 16:32; Exo 35:4; Lev 8:5; Lev 9:6; Lev 17:2; Num 30:2; Num 36:6 (P) Deu 4:2; Deu 13:1; Deu 15:15; Jos 1:13; Jos 4:10 (D) 1Ch 16:15 (= Psa 105:8) Neh 1:8; Jer 7:23, compare צוה אשׁר הדברים Exo 35:1; Lev 8:36 (P) Exo 19:7 (E) Deu 6:6.
b. Yahweh confirms his word of promise Deu 9:5; 1Sa 1:23 (where read דְּבָרֵךְ thy word according to ᵑ6 ᵐ5 & Dr), 1Ki 2:4; 1Ki 6:12; 1Ki 8:20; Jer 29:10; Jer 33:14, and his word of warning 1Ki 12:15; Dan 9:12; his word stands for ever Isa 40:8; it is settled for ever in heaven Psa 119:89; he remembers his holy word קדשׁו דבר Psa 105:42 (compare קָדְשׁוֺ דִּבְרֵי Jer 23:9); he himself Joe 2:11, the angels Psa 103:20, and forces of nature Psa 148:8 דברו עשׂה do his word of command; by his word the heavens were made Psa 33:6; it is near his people, in their mouth and heart Deu 30:14; a lamp to their feet Psa 119:105.
II. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse: —
1 of men,
a. בְּעִתּוֺ דָּבָר a word in due season Pro 15:23 compare Job 4:2; Pro 12:25; commonly in plural, (הַ)שִּׁירָ(הׅ דִּבְרֵי words of the song (i.e. its lines of poetry) Deu 31:30; Deu 32:44; Psa 18:1 (= 2Sa 22:1) Psa 137:3; דויד בדברי הלל to sing praises with the words of David (his psalms) 2Ch 29:30; חֲכָמִים דִּבְרֵי sentences of the wise Pro 1:6; Pro 22:17; Ecc 9:17; Ecc 12:11; these sayings are commonly written, compare האגרת דברי words of the letterEst 9:26; עתיקים הדברים the records are ancient 1Ch 4:22; (ה)סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי Isa 29:11, Isa 29:18; Jer 29:1.
b. title of writings: קֹהֶלֶת דִּבְרֵי Ecc 1:1, ׳ד אגור Pro 30:1, ׳ד למואל Pro 31:1, ׳ד ירמיהו Jer 1:1, so Amo 1:1; Neh 1:1; compare in appended phrase or clause, Jer 51:64, ׳ד איוב Job 31:40.
c. in Chronicles name of a work: ׳ד החזים2Ch 33:18-19, ׳בד שׁמעיה2Ch 12:15, ׳בד יהוא2Ch 20:34, ד על ׳שׁמואל 1Ch 29:29; ד ׳על נתן 1Ch 29:29; 2Ch 9:29, ׳ד על גד 1Ch 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 DrIntr 497.)
2 of God: הַדְּבָרִים עֲשֶׂרֶת the ten words (sentences in the tables) Exo 34:28 (JE) Deu 4:13; Deu 10:4, referred to as הדברים Exo 34:1 (JE) Deu 4:10, Deu 4:36; Deu 5:19; Deu 9:10; Deu 10:2; of commands of covenant code Exo 24:3-4, Exo 24:8; compare Exo 34:27 (JE); of Deuteronomic code Deu 17:19 (+ 16 t. D) 2Ki 22:11; 2Ki 23:3-24 (compare 2Ch 34:19-31) Jer 11:2-8; Jer 34:18; the law-book of Joshua Jos 24:26 (E); of the code of Ezra Ezr 7:11; Ezr 9:4; Neh 8:9, Neh 8:13; the words of Yahweh written by Jeremiah Jer 25:13; Jer 36:4-32; Jer 51:61; the words of the book of Daniel Dan 12:4, Dan 12:9; commands in General 1Sa 15:11; Psa 50:17; Psa 119:57; Psa 119:130; Psa 119:139; promises 2Sa 7:28; Neh 9:8, compare 1Ch 25:5; 2Ch 36:16.
III. a word, words: —
1 of men: אֲחָדִים וּדְבָרִים אֶחָ֑ת שָׂפָה one lip, and one and the same words Gen 11:1 (J); דְּבָרִים וְאֵין אֹמֶר אֵין no speech and no words Psa 19:4; דְּבָרִים אִישׁ man of words, ready in speech, Exo 4:10 (J); דברים רב multitude of words Job 11:2; Pro 10:19; Ecc 5:2; דְּבָרִים עִמָּכֶם קְחוּ take with you words Hos 14:3; (ה)שׁקר דבר(י) lying word(s) Exo 5:9; Exo 23:7 (E) Pro 13:5; Pro 29:12; Isa 59:13; Jer 7:4, Jer 7:8; רוּחַ דִּבְרֵי words of wind, vain words Job 16:3; נִשְׁמַעבּֿוֺ דָּבָר וּמַהשֶּֿׁמֶץ and what a whisper of a word we hear of him! Job 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: Gen 20:8; Exo 19:6; Num 12:6; Jos 3:9 (E) Exo 4:28, Exo 4:30; Num 11:24 (J) Deu 18:19; Jos 23:14 (D) 1Sa 3:18; 1Sa 8:10; 1Sa 15:1; 2Ch 11:4; Job 42:7; Pro 30:6; Isa 31:2; Dan 10:11; Amo 8:11; Mic 2:7; apart from Jer 3:12 30t. Jeremiah; Eze 2:7 Eze 2:4t. Ezekiel; Zec 1:6 Zec 1:4t. Zechariah.
IV. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks: —
1 business, occupation: הַמֶּלֶךְ דְּבַר king's business 1Sa 21:9; לְכָלדְּֿבַר for every matter of 1Ch 26:32; 1Ch 27:1; 2Ch 19:11; לְכָלֿ דְּבָרֶיךָ for all thine affairs 1Ch 28:21; המזבח דבר Num 18:7; עִם אֵיןלָֿהֶם דָּבָר they had not dealings with Jdg 18:7, Jdg 18:28; בְּיוֺמוֺ דְּבַריֿוֺם the task or portion of a day in its day, daily duty or due Exo 5:13, Exo 5:19 (E) Exo 16:4 (J) Lev 23:37 (P) 1Ki 8:59; 2Ki 25:30; 1Ch 16:37; 2Ch 8:13 (ביום) 2Ch 8:14; 2Ch 31:16; Ezr 3:4; Neh 11:23; Neh 12:47; Jer 52:34; Dan 1:5; בשׁנה שׁנה דבר 1Ki 10:25; 2Ch 9:24.
2 plural acts construct דִּבְרֵי 1Ki 11:41 (twice in verse); 1Ch 29:29; 2Ch 12:15; 2Ch 16:11; דְּבָרָיו his acts2Ch 13:22; 2Ch 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 1Ki 14:29 32t. Kings; דִּבְרֵי וְיֶתֶר2Ch 13:22 2Ch 13:8t. Chronicles, דְּבָרָיו וְיֶתֶר2Ch 28:26, דִּבְרֵי שְׁאָר2Ch 9:29 are referred to various sources; compare also הימים דברי במספר 1Ch 27:24, דויד בדברי 1Ch 23:27, ישׂראל מלכי עלדֿברי2Ch 33:18: טובים דברים good deeds2Ch 12:12; 19:13; עֲוֺנֹת דִּבְרֵי acts of iniquity Psa 65:4 (De, Fälle von Missethaten); דִּבְרֵירָֿע evil deeds Jer 5:28. It is used of God, only in יענה לא דבריו כל Job 33:13, ׳ד אֹתוֺתָיו Psa 105:27, ׳ד נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ Psa 145:5.
3 matter, affair: אוריה דבר affair of Uriah 1Ki 15:5; דבר שׁרשׁ root of the matter Job 19:28; הדבר היה מה how went the matter ? 1Sa 4:16; 2Sa 1:4 compare Rth 3:18; הדבר פני את סבב change t