דּוּר H1752
rather than dwell (qal infinitive in comparative construction, choosing temple service over wickedness)
An infinitive in Psalm 84:10, expressing the psalmist's preference: 'I would rather stand at the threshold of God's house than dwell in the tents of wickedness.' The verb is from the root for 'dwell, sojourn,' here in a comparative construction. The statement prioritizes even lowly temple service (doorkeeping) over comfortable residence among the wicked. The sentiment reflects the psalm's broader theme: longing for God's presence exceeds all other values.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Psalm 84:10 makes the famous declaration: 'I would rather be a doorkeeper... than dwell in the tents of wickedness.' Spanish 'que morar' (than to dwell) and French 'de séjourner' both preserve the dwelling/sojourning sense. The infinitival form in a comparison clause appears consistently across languages. The theological point—proximity to God trumps worldly comfort—resonates across the translations. 1×
AR["عَلَى-السُّكْنَى"]·ben["বাস-করার-চেয়ে"]·DE["rather-als-wohnen"]·EN["rather-than-dwell"]·FR["de-séjourner"]·heb["מ-דור"]·HI["रहने-से"]·ID["daripada-tinggal"]·IT["da-generazione"]·jav["tinimbang-manggen"]·KO["거하기-보다"]·PT["a-habitar"]·RU["чем-обитать"]·ES["que-morar"]·SW["kuliko-kukaa"]·TR["oturmaktan"]·urd["مِن-بسنے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)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×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
דּוּר vb. 1. heap up, pile. 2. dwell (orig. move in a circle, go about, surround, cf. Arabic دَارَ; دَارٌ house, especially as group of buildings about a court; Assyrian dûru, wall, fortress, COTGloss.; thence (denom. Fl NHWBi. 440) dwell Aramaic דּוּר, ܕܳܪ (pt. & Pa), hence in Heb. cf. Giesebr ZAW i. 304 Fl l.c. CheOP 479; Ethiopic ዳር generation (= דּוֹר: prob. loan-word); according to Hpt KAT2…