Modern Summary of Strong’s Concordance (1890)
The word "דָּבָר" (dâbâr) primarily means "word" and can also refer to a matter, thing, or cause, often in the context of something spoken or communicated. It is used broadly to describe actions, advice, commands, messages, or purposes, and can apply to both tangible and abstract concepts. Depending on context, it may signify speech, events, decisions, or even responsibilities.
word; a spoken matter or thing
The Hebrew word dâbâr fundamentally means "word; a spoken matter or thing." It is translated in the KJV as "act", "advice", "affair", "answer", reflecting its range of use in Scripture.
Acts as a root form within the "from H1696 (דָבַר);" word family, giving rise to related terms across Scripture.
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
In the Old Testament, dâbâr appears in contexts ranging from Genesis 1:3 to Isaiah 55:11. The variety of contexts in which dâbâr appears reveals that its meaning is not confined to a single usage but expands across different literary and theological settings.
Its Greek parallels include λόγος (logos), ῥῆμα (hrēma), revealing shared conceptual ground across the biblical languages. Thematically connected words include רוּחַ (rûwach), חֵסֵד (chêçêd).
The semantic range of dâbâr — spanning meanings like act, advice, affair — suggests a word whose full significance cannot be captured by a single English term. As part of the "from H1696 (דָבַר);" word family, this term connects to a broader network of related concepts in biblical thought.
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Understanding Strong's numbers
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Word roots in the Bible
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Lexical data derived from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. See full disclaimer
Word DNA
Origin
This word acts as a root form.
Word Family
from H1696 (דָבַר);Morphology
Pronunciation: daw-baw'
Key Connections
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How This Word Behaves
Selected distinct patterns of usage found in Scripture.
Scripture Occurrences
Selected verses where this word appears in the KJV.
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."
"And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna... that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."
"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth."
"NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
Connection Map
Nearest neighbors in the lexical network.
Compare This Word
Explore how dâbâr relates to similar or contrasting biblical words.
λόγος
logos
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)
ῥῆμα
hrēma
an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative naught whatever
רוּחַ
rûwach
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
Word & Revelation Cluster
Words that share the same theological orbit.
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λόγος
logos
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)
ῥῆμα
hrēma
an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative naught whatever
חֵסֵד
chêçêd
kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
רוּחַ
rûwach
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
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