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דְּבִיר

𐤃𐤁𐤉𐤓

dᵉbîyr

H1687 noun

SILEX Entry

Root דבר to speak, declare, arrange

Definition

The innermost sanctuary or most holy place within a temple, especially the Israelite temple in Jerusalem; also used more generally for an inner shrine. The term refers to the most sacred space where the divine presence was believed to dwell and where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. Contextually, it can also denote the chamber associated with the divine word or oracular communication, reflecting both architectural and functional meanings.

Semantic Range

innermost sanctuary, inner shrine, Most Holy Place; site of oracular communication; Holy of Holies

Root / Etymology

Root: דבר (d-b-r), meaning 'to speak, declare, arrange.' The noun דְּבִיר appears to be a denominative formation from this root, though with a specialized sense. The etymological connection may derive from the idea of the innermost sanctuary being the site from which the divine word (oracle) was communicated, though some scholars see the semantic development as secondary or metaphorical rather than primary. The precise path from 'speech' to 'sanctuary' is debated; thus, there may be an element of secondary association rather than direct derivation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, דְּבִיר primarily refers to the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) in the Israelite temple, the location of the Ark and the locus of the divine presence (cf. 1 Kings 6:5, 19–23; 2 Chronicles 3:8). As a designation for the inner sanctuary, דְּבִיר is largely confined to architectural descriptions of the temple, particularly in Kings and Chronicles, and stands in contrast to הֵיכָל (hekhal), the main hall or outer sanctuary. The term occurs almost exclusively in connection with the First Temple period and is rarely used outside temple architecture. While later English translations sometimes use terms like 'oracle' or 'inner sanctuary,' these do not always capture the full physical and cultic significance of the דְּבִיר in the biblical period. In post-biblical Hebrew, the term is not commonly used, having been supplanted by later architectural or liturgical terminology. Related Greek terms in the Septuagint include dēbērion and naos.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (shortened) דְּבִר; from דָבַר (apparently in the sense of oracle); the shrine or innermost part of the sanctuary; oracle.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

דבר (d-b-r) — to speak, declare, arrange

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1682 דְּבוֹרָה bees
H1683 דְּבּוֹרָה Bee-woman
H1688 דְּבִיר Devir
H1696 דָבַר I will speak
H1697 דָּבָר in the matter

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1687-03 הַ/דְּבִ֡יר hadevir HTd/Ncmsa the inner sanctuary the inner oracle-sanctuary the inner oracle-sanctuary 7
H1687-02 דְּבִ֥יר devir HNcmsc the inner sanctuary Devir Devir 3
H1687-01 בַּ/דְּבִ֔יר badevir HRd/Ncmsa in the inner sanctuary in the innermost sanctuary in the innermost sanctuary 2
H1687-07 וְ/לַ/דְּבִ֑יר veladevir HC/Rd/Ncmsa and the inner sanctuary and to the inner shrine and to the inner shrine 1
H1687-04 לַ/דְּבִ֖יר ladevir HRd/Ncmsa to the inner sanctuary to the inner shrine to the inner shrine 1
H1687-05 לִ/דְבִ֔יר lidevir HR/Ncmsa an inner sanctuary to the inner sanctuary to the inner sanctuary 1
H1687-06 וּ/דְבִ֧יר udevir HC/Ncmsa the inner sanctuary innermost oracle-shrine innermost oracle-shrine 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1687-07 1 Kings 6:5 וְ/לַ/דְּבִ֑יר veladevir HC/Rd/Ncmsa and the inner sanctuary and to the inner shrine and to the inner shrine
H1687-05 1 Kings 6:16 לִ/דְבִ֔יר lidevir HR/Ncmsa an inner sanctuary to the inner sanctuary to the inner sanctuary
H1687-06 1 Kings 6:19 וּ/דְבִ֧יר udevir HC/Ncmsa the inner sanctuary innermost oracle-shrine innermost oracle-shrine
H1687-03 1 Kings 6:20 הַ/דְּבִ֡יר hadevir HTd/Ncmsa the inner sanctuary the inner oracle-sanctuary the inner sanctuary
H1687-03 1 Kings 6:21 הַ/דְּבִ֔יר hadevir HTd/Ncmsa the inner sanctuary the inner oracle-sanctuary the inner sanctuary
H1687-04 1 Kings 6:22 לַ/דְּבִ֖יר ladevir HRd/Ncmsa to the inner sanctuary to the inner shrine to the inner shrine
H1687-01 1 Kings 6:23 בַּ/דְּבִ֔יר badevir HRd/Ncmsa in the inner sanctuary in the innermost sanctuary in the innermost sanctuary
H1687-03 1 Kings 6:31 הַ/דְּבִ֔יר hadevir HTd/Ncmsa of the inner sanctuary the inner oracle-sanctuary the inner oracle-sanctuary
H1687-03 1 Kings 7:49 הַ/דְּבִ֖יר hadevir HTd/Ncmsa the inner sanctuary the inner oracle-sanctuary the inner oracle-sanctuary
H1687-02 1 Kings 8:6 דְּבִ֥יר devir HNcmsc the inner sanctuary Devir Devir
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