דְּבַח
𐤃𐤁𐤇
dᵉbach
H1684 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To slaughter an animal as an act of sacrifice; to offer (an animal) in ritual worship. The term specifically refers to the ritual process of animal sacrifice in a ceremonial context, distinguishing it from ordinary slaughter or killing. In Aramaic biblical literature, the verb connotes making an offering during religious rites, typically as an act of worship or atonement.
Semantic Range
to sacrifice (animal) in ritual context, to slaughter (for religious purposes), to offer an animal as a sacrificial ritual, to present an offering via animal slaughter
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root זבח (z-v-ch) in Hebrew, meaning 'to sacrifice, slaughter (for sacrifice),' with the Aramaic form דבח (d-b-ch) following regular sound changes between Hebrew and Aramaic. The fundamental meaning of the root is 'to slaughter for ritual sacrifice,' not merely any killing or butchery.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb דבח occurs in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, such as Daniel and Ezra, where it serves as the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew זבח. It is used primarily in the context of Israelite and surrounding peoples' sacrificial worship, denoting the ritual slaughtering and offering of animals to a deity. The term is not used for ordinary butchery or hunting but is reserved for religious sacrifice. In Second Temple literature, and later Jewish Aramaic, it retains its ritual sense. English translations such as 'offer sacrifice' convey the sense but may sometimes obscure the specific process of slaughtering as an act integral to the sacrificial rite, rather than simply presenting a gift. The closely related noun forms denote 'sacrifice' (the act or the animal itself). Distinguishing between דבח (Aramaic) and זבח (Hebrew) is important for understanding the language of biblical rituals in both linguistic and historical context. In non-Hebrew ancient Near Eastern texts, similar roots appear in cognate languages, reinforcing the technical, ritual nature of the act.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to זָבַח; to sacrifice (an animal); offer (sacrifice).
Bantu Hebrew
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דבח (d-b-ḥ) — to slaughter as sacrifice, to offer in ritual worship
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1684-01 |
דָבְחִ֣ין | davechin | AVqrmpa |
they offer | the ones sacrificing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1684-01 |
Ezra 6:3 | דָבְחִ֣ין | davechin | AVqrmpa |
they offer | the ones sacrificing |