דָּבָר

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

1. of men,
\ \ a. נְבוֺן דָּבָר discreet in speech 1 Sam 16,18 שְׂפָתַיִם ׳ד speech of lips Sl 59,13, mere talk Es 36,5 (= 2 Kong 18,20) Ord 14,23 (compare Sl 17,4 speech of God's lips); דָּבָר מָר bitter speech Sl 64,4 כָּזָב ׳ד lying speech Ord 30,8 דְּבָֽרְךָ טוֺכ thy saying is good 1 Sam 9,10 וּדְבַר אַבְנֵר הָיָה עִם and the speech of Abner had been with the elders of Israel 2 Sam 3,17 (compare 1 Kong 1,7); אמר הדבר הזה say this saying Jer 23,38; Jer 31,23 compare Jer 13,12; Jer 14,17 (of God), 1 Sam 8,10 (׳דִּבְרֵי י).
\ \ b. word of command, (הַ)מֶּלֶךְ ׳ד 1 Kron 21,4; 1 Kron 21,6; Est 1,12 + 6 t. Esther; Praed 8,4 compare 2 Kron 30,5; 2 Kron 31,5; Dan 9,23; Dan 9,25 מַלְכוּת ׳ד royal edict Est 1,19 כדבר עשׂה do according to the command of 1 Mos 44,2; 1 Mos 47,30; 2 Mos 8,9; 2 Mos 8,27; 2 Mos 12,35; 2 Mos 32,28 (J) 3 Mos 10,7 (P) Dom 11,10; Ezr 10,5; Neh 5,12; Neh 5,13 compare 2 Sam 17,6 (word of counsel), 1 Kong 3,12 (request), 1 Kong 17,13 (proposal; on these meanings see below)
\ \ c. message, report, tidings, וַיִּשְׁמַע הָעָם אֶתהַֿדָּבָר הָרָע הַזֶּה and the people heard this evil report 2 Mos 33,4 (JE) compare 1 Kong 20,12 אמת (היה) הדבר the report was true 1 Kong 10,6 = 2 Kron 9,5 עַד בּוֺא דָבָר מֵעִמָּכֶם until word come from you 2 Sam 15,28 ויגע הדבר אל מלך נינוה Jon 3,6 הֵשִׁיב דָּבָר return or bring word, report 1 Mos 37,14; 4 Mos 13,26; 4 Mos 22,8 (J) 5 Mos 1,22; 5 Mos 1,25; Jos 14,7; Jos 22,32 (D) 1 Kong 2,30; 1 Kong 20,9; 2 Kong 22,9; 2 Kong 22,20 (= 2 Kron 34,16; 2 Kron 34,28), but answer 1 Sam 17,30; 2 Sam 3,11; 2 Sam 24,13 (= 1 Kron 21,12), 1 Kong 12,6; 1 Kong 12,9 (= 2 Kron 10,6; 2 Kron 10,9), 2 Kron 12,16; Neh 2,20; Ord 18,13; Ord 27,11; Es 41,28; Ezk 9,11 (Dr^{Sm, p, 190 explains the phrase as} turn back with a word); compare דבר (לא) ענה answer something or nothing 1 Kong 18,21; 2 Kong 18,36; Sl 119,42; Es 36,21; Jer 44,20 see IV. 6; דברים השׁיב return words 2 Mos 19,8 (E) Ord 24,26 see

III. 1. d. advice, counsel, בדבר בלעם by advice of Balaam 4 Mos 31,16 (P), compare Dom 20,7; 2 Sam 19,44; Est 5,5.
\ \ e. request, אמתו of his maid, עבדו of his servant 2 Sam 14,15; 2 Sam 14,22.
\ \ f. promise, לא יחל דברו he shall not break his word 4 Mos 30,3 (P), compare הקים דבר perform a promise Neh 5,13, see also 2 b. g. charge, complaint, אם אמת היה הדבר הזה if this charge be true 5 Mos 22,20 compare 5 Mos 13,15; 5 Mos 17,4, שׂים דבר בְּ 1 Sam 22,15, שׂים עלילות דברים לְ 5 Mos 22,14; 5 Mos 22,17.
\ \ h. decision, sentence, דְּבַר הַמִּשְׁפָּט the sentence of judgment 5 Mos 17,9 compare v5 Mos 17,10 v5 Mos 17,11.
\ \ i. theme, story, רָחַשׁ לִבִּי דָּבָר טוֺב my heart swells with a good theme Sl 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. אל ׳ויהי דבר י then the word of Yahweh came unto 1 Sam 15,10; 2 Sam 7,4 (compare אלהים 1 Kron 17,3), 1 Kong 6,11; 1 Kong 13,20; 1 Kong 16,1; 1 Kong 17,2; 1 Kong 17,8; 1 Kong 21,17; 1 Kong 21,28; 2 Kron 11,2 (compare האלהים 1 Kong 12,22): compare 1 Kron 22,8 (על by confusion), Es 38,4; Jer 1,4 + 20 t. Jeremiah, Ezk 3,16 + 41 t. Ezekiel; Jon 1,1; Jon 3,1; Hag 2,20; Zak 4,8; Zak 6,9; Zak 7,4; Zak 7,8; Zak 8,1 (without אל) vZak 8,18 אל ׳י ׳היה ד 1 Mos 15,1; 2 Kron 12,7; Jer 25,3 + 4 t. Jeremiah; Ezk 1,3 + 7 t. Ezekiel; Dan 9,2; Zak 1,1; Zak 1,7; Zak 7,1 אל ׳י ׳הנה ד 1 Mos 15,4; 1 Kong 19,9 היה אל ׳י ׳ד 2 Sam 24,11; 1 Kong 16,7; 1 Kong 18,1; 2 Kong 20,4; Ezk 24,20 ביד ׳י ׳היה ד Hag 1,1; Hag 2,1; Hag 2,10 ביד ׳י ׳ויהי ד Hag 1,3 אשׁר ׳י ׳היה אל ד Hos 1,1; Joel 1,1 Micah; Sef 1,1 ׳י ׳אליו אשׁר היה ד 1 Kong 18,31; Jer 1,2 ׳אל יר ׳י ׳אשׁר היה ד Jer 14,1; Jer 46,1; Jer 47,1; Jer 49,34 (see אשׁר 6 a); הדבר אשׁר היה אל Jer 7,1 + 11 t. Jeremiah; ׳י ׳את ד 2 Kong 3,12; Jer 23,28; Jer 27,18 compare אֵלַי דָּבָר יְגֻנָּב unto me a word was brought by stealth Job 4,12, compare ׳וְטֶרֶם יִגָּלֶה אֵלָיו דְּבַר י and the word of Yahweh was not yet revealed unto him 1 Sam 3,7. Yahweh also sends his word שׁלח Sl 107,20; Sl 147,18; Es 9,7; Jer 42,5 (compare plural Zak 7,12) and makes it an object of vision ראה Jer 2,31; Jer 38,21 (compare plural Ezk 11,25), חזה Es 2,1 it is also commanded צוה 2 Mos 16,16; 2 Mos 16,32; 2 Mos 35,4; 3 Mos 8,5; 3 Mos 9,6; 3 Mos 17,2; 4 Mos 30,2; 4 Mos 36,6 (P) 5 Mos 4,2; 5 Mos 13,1; 5 Mos 15,15; 5 Mos 4,10 (D) 1 Kron 16,15 (= Sl 105,8) Neh 1,8; Jer 7,23, compare הדברים אשׁר צוה 2 Mos 35,1; 3 Mos 8,36 (P) 2 Mos 19,7 (E) 5 Mos 6,6.
\ \ b. Yahweh confirms his word of promise 5 Mos 9,5; 1 Sam 1,23 (where read דְּבָרֵךְ thy word according to ᵐ5 ᵑ6 & Dr), 1 Kong 2,4; 1 Kong 6,12; 1 Kong 8,20; Jer 29,10; Jer 33,14, and his word of warning 1 Kong 12,15; Dan 9,12 his word stands for ever Es 40,8 it is settled for ever in heaven Sl 119,89 he remembers his holy word דבר קדשׁו Sl 105,42 (compare דִּבְרֵי קָדְשׁוֺ Jer 23,9); he himself Joel 2,11, the angels Sl 103,20, and forces of nature Sl 148,8 עשׂה דברו do his word of command; by his word the heavens were made Sl 33,6 it is near his people, in their mouth and heart 5 Mos 30,14 a lamp to their feet Sl 119,105. II. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse: —

1. of men,
\ \ a. דָּבָר בְּעִתּוֺ a word in due season Ord 15,23 compare Job 4,2; Ord 12,25 commonly in plural, דִּבְרֵי (הַ)שִּׁירָ(הׅ words of the song (i.e. its lines of poetry) 5 Mos 31,30; 5 Mos 32,44; Sl 18,1 (= 2 Sam 22,1) Sl 137,3 הלל בדברי דויד to sing praises with the words of David (his psalms) 2 Kron 29,30 דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים sentences of the wise Ord 1,6; Ord 22,17; Praed 9,17; Praed 12,11 these sayings are commonly written, compare דברי האגרת words of the letterEst 9,26 הדברים עתיקים the records are ancient 1 Kron 4,22 דִּבְרֵי (ה)סֵפֶר Es 29,11; Es 29,18; Jer 29,1.
\ \ b. title of writings: דִּבְרֵי קֹהֶלֶת Praed 1,1, אגור ׳ד Ord 30,1, למואל ׳ד Ord 31,1, ירמיהו ׳ד Jer 1,1, so Amos 1,1; Neh 1,1 compare in appended phrase or clause, Jer 51,64, איוב ׳ד Job 31,40.
\ \ c. in Chronicles name of a work: החזים ׳ד 2 Kron 33,18; 2 Kron 33,19, שׁמעיה ׳בד 2 Kron 12,15, יהוא ׳בד 2 Kron 20,34, ׳שׁמואל על ד 1 Kron 29,29 נתן ׳על ד 1 Kron 29,29; 2 Kron 9,29, גד על ׳ד 1 Kron 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: עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים the ten words (sentences in the tables) 2 Mos 34,28 (JE) 5 Mos 4,13; 5 Mos 10,4, referred to as הדברים 2 Mos 34,1 (JE) 5 Mos 4,10; 5 Mos 4,36; 5 Mos 5,19; 5 Mos 9,10; 5 Mos 10,2 of commands of covenant code 2 Mos 24,3; 2 Mos 24,4; 2 Mos 24,8 compare 2 Mos 34,27 (JE); of Deuteronomic code 5 Mos 17,19 (+ 16 t. D) 2 Kong 22,11; 2 Kong 23,3–24 (compare 2 Kron 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 1 Sam 15,11; Sl 50,17; Sl 119,57; Sl 119,130; Sl 119,139 promises 2 Sam 7,28; Neh 9,8, compare 1 Kron 25,5; 2 Kron 36,16. III. a word, words: —

1. of men: שָׂפָה אֶחָ֑ת וּדְבָרִים אֲחָדִים one lip, and one and the same words 1 Mos 11,1 (J); אֵין אֹמֶר וְאֵין דְּבָרִים no speech and no words Sl 19,4 אִישׁ דְּבָרִים man of words, ready in speech, 2 Mos 4,10 (J); רב דברים multitude of words Job 11,2; Ord 10,19; Praed 5,2 קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם דְּבָרִים take with you words Hos 14,3 דבר(י) (ה)שׁקר lying word(s) 2 Mos 5,9; 2 Mos 23,7 (E) Ord 13,5; Ord 29,12; Es 59,13; Jer 7,4; Jer 7,8 דִּבְרֵי רוּחַ words of wind, vain words Job 16,3 וּמַהשֶּֿׁמֶץ דָּבָר נִשְׁמַעבּֿוֺ 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: 1 Mos 20,8; 2 Mos 19,6; 4 Mos 12,6; Jos 3,9 (E) 2 Mos 4,28; 2 Mos 4,30; 4 Mos 11,24 (J) 5 Mos 18,19; Jos 23,14 (D) 1 Sam 3,18; 1 Sam 8,10; 1 Sam 15,1; 2 Kron 11,4; Job 42,7; Ord 30,6; Es 31,2; Dan 10,11; Amos 8,11; Mik 2,7 apart from Jer 3,12 + 30 t. Jeremiah; Ezk 2,7 + 4 t. Ezekiel; Zak 1,6 + 4 t. Zechariah. IV. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks: —

1. business, occupation: דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ king's business 1 Sam 21,9 לְכָלדְּֿבַר for every matter of 1 Kron 26,32; 1 Kron 27,1; 2 Kron 19,11 דְּבָרֶיךָ לְכָלֿ for all thine affairs 1 Kron 28,21 דבר המזבח 4 Mos 18,7 דָּבָר אֵיןלָֿהֶם עִם they had not dealings with Dom 18,7; Dom 18,28 דְּבַריֿוֺם בְּיוֺמוֺ the task or portion of a day in its day, daily duty or due 2 Mos 5,13; 2 Mos 5,19 (E) 2 Mos 16,4 (J) 3 Mos 23,37 (P) 1 Kong 8,59; 2 Kong 25,30; 1 Kron 16,37; 2 Kron 8,13 (ביום) v2 Kron 8,14; 2 Kron 31,16; Ezr 3,4; Neh 11,23; Neh 12,47; Jer 52,34; Dan 1,5 דבר שׁנה בשׁנה 1 Kong 10,25; 2 Kron 9,24.

2. plural acts construct דִּבְרֵי 1 Kong 11,41 (twice in verse); 1 Kron 29,29; 2 Kron 12,15; 2 Kron 16,11 דְּבָרָיו his acts 2 Kron 13,22; 2 Kron 35,27 especially in phrases, הַיָּמִים וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי ֗֗֗ עַלסֵֿפֶר דִּבְרֵי and the rest of the acts of . . . in the book of the chronicles (daily record of events) of 1 Kong 14,29 + 32 t. Kings; וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי 2 Kron 13,22 + 8 t. Chronicles, וְיֶתֶר דְּבָרָיו 2 Kron 28,26, שְׁאָר דִּבְרֵי 2 Kron 9,29 are referred to various sources; compare also במספר דברי הימים 1 Kron 27,24, בדברי דויד 1 Kron 23,27, עלדֿברי מלכי ישׂראל 2 Kron 33,18: דברים טובים good deeds 2 Kron 12,12; 2 Kron 19,13 דִּבְרֵי עֲוֺנֹת acts of iniquity Sl 65,4 (De, Fälle von Missethaten); דִּבְרֵירָֿע evil deeds Jer 5,28. It is used of God, only in כל דבריו לא יענה Job 33,13, אֹתוֺתָיו ׳ד Sl 105,27, נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ ׳ד Sl 145,5.

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

4. events, things: in the phrase, אחר הדברים האלה after these things (events in time) 1 Mos 15,1; 1 Mos 22,1; 1 Mos 40,1 (E) 1 Mos 39,7 (J) 1 Kong 17,17; 1 Kong 21,1; Ezr 7,1; Est 2,1; Est 3,1 האלה אחרי הדברים 1 Mos 48,1; Jos 24,29 (E) 1 Mos 22,20 (J) 2 Kron 32,1.

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

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

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

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