דָּבָר1439 H1697
Word, speech, matter, thing, event; the Hebrew noun bridging spoken utterance and objective reality
Few Hebrew words reveal as much about ancient Israelite thought as davar (דָּבָר). Appearing nearly 1,500 times, it seamlessly bridges what English splits into 'word' and 'thing' — because in Hebrew thought, a spoken word is not merely sound but a substantive reality with force and consequence. God's davar creates, commands, and judges; a prophet's davar is simultaneously a message and an event. The plural devarim can mean 'words,' 'deeds,' 'matters,' or 'chronicles,' depending on context, making this noun the backbone of biblical narrative and legal discourse alike.
1. word, speech, utterance — The primary sense: a spoken or written word, divine utterance, or prophetic message. Arabic كَلِمَة/كَلَام, Korean 말씀/말, Swahili neno all converge on verbal communication. Dominates at 1,235 occurrences, including the formulaic 'the word of the LORD came to' (Gen 15:1, 1 Sam 3:7, 1 Sam 15:10) that anchors prophetic revelation throughout the Hebrew Bible. 1235×
AR["كَلِمَةَ-","كَلِمَةُ","كَلِمَةُ-"]·ben["-বাক্য","বচন-","বাক্য","বাক্য-"]·DE["Wort-von","Wort-von-","das-Wort-","redete"]·EN["word-of","word-of-"]·FR["parole","parole-de","parole-de-"]·heb["דבר","דבר-"]·HI["और-का-क्रोध","दवर-","वचन","वचन-"]·ID["firman-"]·IT["parola","parola-di","parola-di-"]·jav["Pangandika-","pangandika-","pangandikan-","pangandikanipun-","sabda","sabda-"]·KO["말씀","말씀-","말씀-의","말씀-이","말씀을","말씀이","말씀이-","말씀이다"]·PT["palavra-de","palavra-de-"]·RU["слово-"]·ES["Palabra-de","palabra-de","palabra-de-"]·SW["dּbar","la-Yahwe-likaja","neno-la","neno-la-"]·TR["sozunu-","sözü","sözü-","sözünü-"]·urd["کلام","کلام-","کلام-کو-"]
Gen 15:1, Gen 15:4, 1 Sam 3:7, 1 Sam 4:1, 1 Sam 15:10, 1 Kgs 6:11, 1 Kgs 13:20, 1 Kgs 16:1, 1 Kgs 16:7, 1 Kgs 17:2, 1 Kgs 17:8, 1 Kgs 18:31 (+38 more)
▼ 6 more senses below
Senses
2. deeds, acts, chronicles — Deeds, acts, or chronicles — the plural devarim as a record of what someone did, not just said. Arabic أُمُور/أَخْبَار and Korean 행적/연대기 show the shift from speech to action. Found in the recurring formula 'the rest of the acts of [king]' (1 Kgs 11:41), and in legal contexts where 'matters' requiring judgment include concrete disputes (Deut 17:8). 92×
AR["أُمورِ","أُمُورِ"]·ben["কথা","কথাগুলি","কথার","বিষয়","বিষয়গুলি","বৃত্তান্ত"]·DE["Worte-von","matters-von"]·EN["matters-of","words-of"]·FR["affaires-de","paroles-de"]·heb["דברי"]·HI["इतिहास-की","दिवरे","दिव्रे","बातें","बातों","बातों-की"]·ID["hal-hal","perbuatan","perkataan","riwayat"]·IT["faccende-di","parole-di"]·jav["bab-bab","bab-babipun","cariyos","prakawis","prakawis-prakawis","prakawisipun","riwayat"]·KO["말들은","말들의","말씀들은","연대기-의","일들","일들-의","일들을","일들이","행적들"]·PT["as-palavras-de","atos-de","palavras-de"]·RU["дел","дела","слова"]·ES["asuntos-de","hechos-de","las-palabras-de","palabras-de"]·SW["habari-za","mambo-ya","matendo-ya"]·TR["günlük-olaylarının","işleri","işlerinin","sozleri","sözlerini"]·urd["باتیں","تواریخ","تواریخ-کی"]
Deut 17:8, 2 Sam 11:18, 2 Sam 11:19, 1 Kgs 11:41, 1 Kgs 11:41, 1 Kgs 14:19, 1 Kgs 14:19, 1 Kgs 14:29, 1 Kgs 14:29, 1 Kgs 15:7, 1 Kgs 15:7, 1 Kgs 15:23 (+38 more)
3. matter, affair, concern — A matter, affair, or concern demanding practical attention. Arabic أَمْر, Korean 일, Swahili jambo mark this as a distinct semantic cluster. Covers legal cases (Gen 12:17, 'the LORD plagued Pharaoh because of the matter of Sarai'), situational problems (Gen 20:11), and administrative business (Gen 24:9). Context shifts davar from utterance to the thing being discussed. 61×
AR["أَمْرٌ","أَمْرٍ","أَمْرَ","أَمْرِ","أَمْرِ-","الأَمْرِ","الْأَمْرَ","الْأَمْرُ","الْأَمْرِ"]·ben["বিষয়","বিষয়-","বিষয়টি","বিষয়ে-","বিষয়ের","সেই-বিষয়টি"]·DE["Sache","Sache-von","Sache-von-","das-Wort","der-matter","die-Sache","ein-Sache","matter","redete"]·EN["a-matter","matter","matter-of","matter-of-","the-matter"]·FR["affaire","affaire-de","affaire-de-","le-affaire","une-affaire"]·heb["דְּבַר","דבר","ה-דבר"]·HI["बात"]·ID["hal","hal-itu","perkara","perkara-itu"]·IT["cosa","cosa-di","cosa-di-","faccenda-di","il-matter","matter","un-cosa"]·jav["bab","kang-bab","prakawis","prakawis-"]·KO["것-의","것이","그-이것을","그-일을","말을","에-일","일-의","일-이","일을","일이","확실히"]·PT["a-coisa","a-questão","assunto,","assunto-de","assunto-de-","coisa","coisa-de","o-assunto"]·RU["дела","деле","дело","дело-","слово","слово-"]·ES["asunto","asunto-de","asunto-de-","el-asunto"]·SW["jambo","jambo-hili","jambo-la","jambo-lote"]·TR["-işi","-şeyin","dava","iş","işi","işine","konusunun","konusunun-","sözünü","şey"]·urd["-بات-اس","بات","بات-","معاملہ","معاملے"]
Gen 12:17, Gen 19:21, Gen 20:11, Gen 20:18, Gen 24:9, Gen 43:18, Exod 2:14, Exod 2:15, Exod 8:12, Exod 18:16, Exod 18:22, Exod 18:22 (+38 more)
4. thing, something, anything — An indefinite 'thing' or 'something,' especially in negated constructions meaning 'nothing at all.' Arabic شَيْء, Korean 것, Swahili kitu confirm the generalized referent. Lot says 'I cannot do a thing' (Gen 19:8), regulations specify 'every thing that may abide the fire' (Num 31:23), and accusations note 'not a thing was lacking' (Exod 9:4). 31×
AR["أَمْرًا","أَمْرٍ","شَيْءٌ","شَيْءٍ","شَيْئًا"]·ben["কিছু","কিছুই","কিছুর","জিনিস","জিনিসের","বিষয়","বিষয়ে"]·DE["Ding","Sache","Wort","ein-Sache","etwas","redete","thing"]·EN["a-thing","matter","thing"]·FR["affaire","chose","il-a-parlé","peste","thing","un-chose"]·heb["דבר"]·HI["कुच","कुछ","कुछ-भी","कोई-चीज़","कोई-बात","घटी","चीज़","बात","बात-की","वस्तु"]·ID["barang","benda","hal","perkara","sesuatu"]·IT["cosa","parola","un-cosa"]·jav["bab","barang","barang-satunggal","ingkang","kantun","mboten-","perkawis","prakawis","tanpa-guna"]·KO["것","것-이","것도","것에","것을","것을-위해","것의","것이","말로","물건을","일을"]·PT["(de)-palavra","coisa","objeto"]·RU["в-чём-либо","вещи","вещь","дела","деле","ничего","предмету","слова","словом"]·ES["cosa","de-cosa"]·SW["ambacho","cha-kitu","chochote","fanya","kitu","kitu-cha-bure","wa-kitu","ya-kitu"]·TR["bir-şey","sey","şey","şeyin"]·urd["بات","بات-کی","بات-کے-لیے","ناچیز-چیز","چیز","چیز-کا","چیز-کی","کوئی-چیز","کچھ"]
Gen 19:8, Exod 5:11, Exod 9:4, Lev 5:2, Num 31:23, Deut 2:7, Deut 22:26, Deut 23:9, Deut 23:14, Deut 23:19, Deut 24:1, Deut 24:5 (+19 more)
5. happenings, events, things that occurred — Events or happenings — 'the things that occurred.' In plural constructions like 'after these things' (Gen 15:1, 22:1, 22:20), davar functions as 'events' rather than 'words.' Arabic الأمور, Korean 그 일들, Swahili mambo haya support the narrative-temporal reading. This sense bridges word and event, characteristic of Hebrew's unity of speech and reality. 21×
AR["-الأُمُورِ","ال-أُمورِ","الأمورَ","الأُمورِ","الأُمُور-","الأُمُورُ","الـ-دِّبَارِيمَ","الْ-أُمُورِ","الْأمورِ","الْأُمُورَ","الْأُمُورِ","بِهٰذِهِ-الأُمُورِ"]·ben["-বিষয়গুলি","এই-বিষয়গুলির","কথাগুলির-অনুসারে","বাক্য","বিষয়গুলি","বিষয়গুলির","বিষয়গুলো","সেই-কথাগুলি","সেই-বিষয়","হা-বিষয়"]·DE["den-Dingen","der-Dinge","der-Sachen","die-Worte","nach-diesen-Worten"]·EN["according-to-the-words","the-things","the-words"]·FR["der-paroles","le-choses","le-paroles","le-things","les-choses","les-paroles","selon-à-le-paroles"]·heb["ה-דבר","ה-דברים","כ-ה-דבר"]·HI["-बातें","बअतोन","बातें","बातों","बातों-ה","बातों-के","बातों-के-अनुसार","बातों-को","सब-"]·ID["hal","hal-hal","peristiwa-peristiwa-itu","perkara","perkara-perkara"]·IT["il-cose","il-parole","le-parole","secondo-a-il-parole"]·jav["kang-prakawis","pangandika-pangandika-punika","perkawis-perkawis","prakawis","prakawis-prakawis","prekawis-prekawis","prekawis-punika","sang-prekawis"]·KO["그-것들이니라","그-말들-같이","그-말들을","그-말씀들을","그-일들","그-일들을","그-일들이","일들"]·PT["as-coisas","as-palavras","coisas","conforme-as-palavras"]·RU["-дела","-слов","-слова","слова","событий"]·ES["conforme-a-las-palabras","estas-cosas","las-cosas","las-palabras"]·SW["kama-maneno","mambo","mambo-haya","maneno","neno","ya-mambo"]·TR["-olayların","-şeyler","-şeylerden","-şeyleri","-şeylerin","göre-şeylere","işler","işleri","olayların","olayların-","seyler","sozler","şeyleri","şeylerin"]·urd["-باتوں","-باتوں-کے","-باتیں","ال-باتوں","باتوں","باتوں-کے-مطابق","باتیں","باتیں-ہیں","ہ-باتوں","ہ-کام"]
6. cause, reason, account — Cause, reason, or account — used in prepositional constructions meaning 'on account of' or 'because of.' Arabic سَبَب, Swahili sababu. Found in Deuteronomic legal formulations: 'because of this matter' (Deut 22:24, 23:4), and in the Rahab narrative 'if you report this matter of ours' (Josh 2:14, 20). The 'matter' becomes the motivating ground for action. 9×
AR["أَمرَ","أَمرَ-","أَمْرِ","بِكَلِمَةٍ","كَلامَنا"]·ben["আমাদের-বাক্য","বাক্যকে","বিষয়"]·DE["account-von","der-Wort-","ein-Wort-","redete","unser-Sache","zu-redete"]·EN["a-thing-of","account-of","our-matter","the-matter-of","the-sake-of","the-word"]·FR["account-de","notre-affaire","parole","à-parole"]·heb["דבר","דברנו","ל-דבר"]·HI["बात","बात-","वचन-को","हमारी-बात"]·ID["firman","hal","perkara","sebab","urusan-","urusan-kami"]·IT["account-di","nostro-matter","parola","per-parola"]·jav["kawula","pangandikan","perkawis","prakawis","saben-"]·KO["말","말씀","말씀-에","우리의-말씀","일-을"]·PT["a-palavra","causa","causa-de","coisa","nossa-palavra","palavra-de"]·RU["дело-","дело-наше","к-слову","слова","слово","слово-"]·ES["asunto-de","causa-de","cosa-de","la-palabra","nuestra-palabra"]·SW["jambo-","jambo-letu","kwa-jambo","neno","sababu","sababu-ya"]·TR["-sözümüzü","bir-şey-","konusunda","sözü","sözün","şey-"]·urd["بات","بات-","خاطر","کلام-کو","ہماری-بات"]
7. manner, way, likeness — Manner, way, or likeness — used comparatively meaning 'according to this manner' or 'such a thing.' Appears in 'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?' (Gen 18:25) and Deuteronomic warnings: 'such a thing shall not be done again' (Deut 13:11, 19:20). Spanish como la cosa confirms the comparative reading. 6×
AR["بِهٰذا-","كَ-الأَمْرِ","كَ-الْأَمْرِ","كَالْأَمْرِ","كَـ-الْأَمْرِ"]·ben["-বিষয়ের-মতো","এই-বিষয়ের-মতো","কথা-মতো","বিষয়-অনুসারে","মতো-বিষয়","মতো-সেই-বিষয়"]·DE["eine-solche-Sache","gemaess-zu-der-Ding","wie-der-Ding","wie-der-Sache"]·EN["according-to-the-thing","like-the-thing"]·FR["comme-le-chose","selon-à-le-chose"]·heb["כ-דבר","כ-ה-דבר"]·HI["-बड़ी","कद्दावार","जैस-बअत","जैसा-काम","जैसी-बात","जैसे-वचन"]·ID["seperti-hal","seperti-hal-itu","seperti-perbuatan","seperti-perkara","sesuai-perkataan"]·IT["come-il-cosa","secondo-a-il-cosa"]·jav["kados-pangandika","kados-perkawis","kados-prakawis","kados-sang-bab"]·KO["같은-그-일이","대로-것","말씀-같이","말처럼-","이-일대로","일같이"]·PT["como-a-coisa","como-a-palavra","conforme-a-coisa"]·RU["как-дело","как-слово"]·ES["como-la-cosa","conforme-al-asunto","según-la-cosa"]·SW["kama-jambo","kama-neno"]·TR["gibi-sey","gibi-şey","göre-şeye","iş-gibi","şey-gibi"]·urd["بات-کے-مطابق","بات-کے-موافق","جیسے-بات","مانند-بات","کی-طرح-کام"]
Related Senses
H5921a 1. upon, on, over (spatial) (5443×)H0413 1. directional: to, toward (5366×)H1121a 1. son, male offspring, descendant (4914×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)H4428 1. king, human ruler (2518×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)H6440 1. before, in front of (spatial) (1870×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H3027 1. physical hand (body part) (1596×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
דָּבָר1439 n.m. speech, word—Gn 18:14 + 446 times; cstr. דְּבַר Gn 12:17 + 361 times; sf. דְּבָרִי Nu 11:23 + (sfs. 66 times); sg. in all 875 times; pl. דְּבָרִים Ex 4:10 + 182 times; cstr. דִּבְרֵי Gn 24:30 + 253 times; sf. דְּבָרָיו Gn 37:8 (sfs. 127 times); pl. in all 564 times;— I. sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken: 1. of men, a. נְבוֹן דָּבָר discreet in…