דְּרוֹר
𐤃𐤓𐤅𐤓
dᵉrôwr
H1866 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A small, agile bird, identified in biblical texts as a 'swift' or 'swallow'; also occurs in the sense of 'freedom' or 'liberty' in non-ornithological contexts. The term primarily refers to a type of freely moving bird characterized by quick and unrestrained flight, but in metaphorical and legal settings denotes the concept of release or emancipation.
Semantic Range
swallow, swift (bird), freedom, liberty, the act of release (especially in Jubilee or manumission contexts)
Root / Etymology
From the root דרר, which conveys the idea of moving freely, flowing, or unimpeded movement. The noun דְּרוֹר is understood to derive from this root, emphasizing aspects of freedom in both its ornithological and abstract senses. Thus, while the root relates to freedom of movement, the term applies both to certain birds known for swift, free flight, and by extension to the concept of liberty or release.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In its ornithological usage, דְּרוֹר appears in Psalm 84:4 [3] as a bird that makes its home near the altar, typically interpreted as the swallow or swift—birds emblematic of unimpeded movement and freedom. The non-avian, metaphorical sense occurs in Leviticus 25:10 and Jeremiah 34:8, 15, and 17, where it specifically denotes emancipation or the proclamation of liberty at the Jubilee, entailing the release of slaves and return of lands. In legal and prophetic literature, דְּרוֹר signifies social and ancestral restoration—a divinely instituted liberty, not generic legal release. English translations frequently limit דְּרוֹר to 'swallow' or 'swift' in avian contexts and 'liberty' or 'freedom' in legal texts, but the underlying concept is broader, implying spontaneous, unforced movement or status. The distinction from related terms like חֵרוּת (freedom, a later post-biblical word) is notable; דְּרוֹר emphasizes the act of release or proclamation of liberty, not merely the state of being free. Its range demonstrates both concrete zoological and abstract socio-legal usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as דְּרוֹר, applied to a bird; the swift, a kind of swallow; swallow.
Bantu Hebrew
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דרר (d-r-r) — to move freely, to flow, to release
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1866-02 |
וּ/דְר֤וֹר | uderor | HC/Ncfsa |
and-swallow | and a free-flying swift | 1 |
H1866-01 |
כַּ/דְּר֣וֹר | kaderor | HRd/Ncfsa |
like a swallow | like a free-flying swift | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1866-02 |
Psalms 84:4 | וּ/דְר֤וֹר | uderor | HC/Ncfsa |
and-swallow | and a free-flying swift |
H1866-01 |
Proverbs 26:2 | כַּ/דְּר֣וֹר | kaderor | HRd/Ncfsa |
like a swallow | like a free-flying swift |