The Difference Between logos and dâbâr

Both logos (Greek: λόγος, G3056) and dâbâr (Hebrew: דָּבָר, H1697) address overlapping biblical themes — logos carrying the sense of "account" and dâbâr conveying "act". Each word is shaped by its own covenant and cultural context, yet together they illuminate how the Old and New Testaments speak with one voice on this theme.

All comparisons

Change Words

greekhebrew

λόγος vs דָּבָר

logos and dâbâr

λόγος

something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)

G3056

Exegetical Meaning

something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ) | Etymology: from G3004 (λέγω); | KJV: account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work

Origin

Root form

English Glosses

accountcausecommunicationconcerningdoctrinefamehave to dointent

Canon Usage

Gospels
Pauline Epistles
General Epistles
Revelation

Context Themes

  • The Incarnate Word
  • The Proclaimed Message

דָּבָר

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

H1697

Exegetical Meaning

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause | Etymology: from H1696 (דָבַר); | KJV: act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.

Origin

Root form

English Glosses

actadviceaffairanswerany suchbecause ofbookbusiness

Canon Usage

Torah
Wisdom
Prophets

Context Themes

  • The Creative Word
  • The Sustaining Word
  • The Unstoppable Word