דְּבּוֹרָה
𐤃𐤁𐤅𐤓𐤄
Deborah
H1683 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name designating two women in the Hebrew Bible: (1) Deborah the prophetess and leader during the period of the Judges; (2) a woman identified as Rebekah's nurse. The name is derived from the Hebrew word for 'bee,' and thus may carry connotations of industriousness, order, or productivity. In biblical narrative contexts, it serves as a proper noun and does not denote the insect directly, but is most likely symbolic, reflecting desirable qualities associated with bees.
Semantic Range
(as a noun) bee; (as a proper noun) the personal name Deborah, referring to (1) an Israelite prophetess and leader, (2) Rebekah's nurse, with implicit symbolic meanings of industriousness or leadership
Root / Etymology
From the noun דְּבוֹרָה (dᵉvorah), meaning 'bee,' derived from the root דבר (DBR) whose primary verbal sense is 'to speak' or 'arrange,' but in this nominal form denotes the insect. The personal name arises from the noun rather than the verb root, serving as a symbolic or meaningful name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name דְּבּוֹרָה appears in two main biblical contexts: (1) Deborah, a significant figure in the book of Judges, is described as a prophetess and leader of Israelite tribes in pre-monarchic times (Judges 4–5); (2) Deborah appears as Rebekah's nurse in the patriarchal narratives (Genesis 35:8). The use of animal and plant names as personal names is found throughout ancient West Semitic cultures, and in the biblical context may imply symbolic qualities (diligence, leadership, wisdom). English translations often simply transliterate as 'Deborah,' but sometimes the later cultural resonance of the name conceals its original association with the word 'bee.' The designation 'Hebrew' as used in Strong's time refers to Israelite ethnic identity; this is best described as 'Israelite woman' in biblical context, not by later religious or ethnic titles. There is no direct evidence for the secondary theological readings assigned to the name in later tradition; its biblical use is as a personal name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (shortened) דְּבֹרָה; the same as דְּבוֹרָה; Deborah, the name of two Hebrewesses; Deborah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דבר (d-b-r) — to speak, arrange, lead; bee (noun form)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1682 | דְּבוֹרָה | bees |
| H1687 | דְּבִיר | in the innermost sanctuary |
| H1688 | דְּבִיר | Devir |
| H1696 | דָבַר | I will speak |
| H1697 | דָּבָר | in the matter |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1683-01 |
דְּבֹרָה֙ | devorah | HNp |
Deborah | Bee-woman | 9 |
H1683-02 |
וּ/דְבוֹרָה֙ | udevorah | HC/Np |
Now Deborah | and Deborah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1683-01 |
Genesis 35:8 | דְּבֹרָה֙ | devorah | HNp |
Deborah | Bee-woman |
H1683-02 |
Judges 4:4 | וּ/דְבוֹרָה֙ | udevorah | HC/Np |
Now Deborah | and Deborah |
H1683-01 |
Judges 4:5 | דְּבוֹרָ֗ה | devorah | HNp |
of Deborah | Bee-woman |
H1683-01 |
Judges 4:9 | דְּבוֹרָ֛ה | devorah | HNp |
Deborah | Bee-woman |
H1683-01 |
Judges 4:10 | דְּבוֹרָֽה | devorah | HNp |
Deborah | Bee-woman |
H1683-01 |
Judges 4:14 | דְּבֹרָ֨ה | devorah | HNp |
Deborah | Bee-woman |
H1683-01 |
Judges 5:1 | דְּבוֹרָ֔ה | devorah | HNp |
Deborah | Bee-woman |
H1683-01 |
Judges 5:7 | דְּבוֹרָ֔ה | devorah | HNp |
Deborah | Bee-woman |
H1683-01 |
Judges 5:12 | דְּבוֹרָ֔ה | devorah | HNp |
Deborah | Bee-woman |
H1683-01 |
Judges 5:15 | דְּבֹרָ֔ה | devorah | HNp |
Deborah | Bee-woman |