דֲּבְרַת
𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤕
Daverat
H1705 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Dăbrath is a place name designating a town on the border of the tribal territory of Issachar and near that of Zebulun, identifiable in biblical texts as a Levitical city. The term refers specifically to this locality and does not bear a broader lexical meaning beyond its toponymic function. Its form imitates a feminine noun pattern, likely based on association with a perceived root, though the exact semantic connection is unclear.
Semantic Range
place-name: Dăbrath, a Levitical town in Issachar near Zebulun; does not occur as an appellative or in non-toponymic contexts
Root / Etymology
The name דֲּבְרַת (Dăbrath) is possibly derived from the root דבר (d-b-r), which can mean 'word, speak' or in other contexts 'pasture, arrange.' However, the precise etymology as applied to this place-name is uncertain and not explicitly clarified in biblical usage. The formation with the feminine ending -ת is typical for place names, but a direct semantic derivation from the root is not attested.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Dăbrath is listed in Joshua 19:12, 21:28, and 1 Chronicles 6:72 as a town given to the Levites within Issachar's portion. In these references, the term is strictly a toponym and does not denote a concept, office, or object. The site is probably to be sought near present-day Daburiyya at the foot of Mount Tabor. English versions often render it as 'Daberath' or 'Dabareh.' There is no evidence in the Hebrew Bible that the name carries any further symbolic or adjectival meaning. Unlike other cities whose names reflect characteristics or purposes (e.g., Bethlehem, 'house of bread'), Dăbrath's meaning is opaque. In translation traditions (e.g., KJV), the name is introduced in forms influenced by Septuagint or Vulgate orthographic conventions.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דָּבָר (perhaps in the sense of דֹּבֶר); Daberath, a place in Palestine; Dabareh, Daberath.
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, pasture
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1682 | דְּבוֹרָה | bees |
| H1683 | דְּבּוֹרָה | Bee-woman |
| H1687 | דְּבִיר | in the innermost sanctuary |
| H1688 | דְּבִיר | Devir |
| H1696 | דָבַר | I will speak |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1705-01 |
דָּֽבְרַ֖ת | daverat | HNp |
Daberath | Dabrath | Daverat | 2 |
H1705-02 |
הַ/דָּֽבְרַ֖ת | hadaverat | HTd/Np |
Daberath | the Dăbrath | the Daverat | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1705-02 |
Joshua 19:12 | הַ/דָּֽבְרַ֖ת | hadaverat | HTd/Np |
Daberath | the Dăbrath | the Daverat |
H1705-01 |
Joshua 21:28 | דָּֽבְרַ֖ת | daverat | HNp |
Daberath | Dabrath | Daverat |
H1705-01 |
1 Chronicles 6:57 | דָּבְרַ֖ת | daverat | HNp |
Dobrath | Dabrath | Daverat |