דְּבוֹרָה
𐤃𐤁𐤅𐤓𐤄
dᵉbôwrâh
H1682 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A bee, particularly the honeybee, known for its organized communal structure and industrious behavior. In most biblical contexts, refers to the insect itself or is used eponymously as a personal name.
Semantic Range
bee (insect), personal name (Deborah), symbol of industriousness or communal order (by association)
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root דבר (d-b-r), which primarily means 'to speak' or 'to arrange/order.' The nominal form דְּבוֹרָה is traditionally derived from this root, possibly referring to the bee's organized behavior. However, the direct etymological link between the root meaning 'to speak/order' and the word for 'bee' is debated among scholars and may suggest a semantic development associated with orderliness or social structure.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The primary use of דְּבוֹרָה in the Hebrew Bible is as a feminine personal name—Deborah, a prominent leader and prophetess in Judges 4–5. The context of the name may reflect a metaphorical association with the bee's perceived diligence, leadership, and communal roles. As a common noun, the word refers to the literal bee in passages such as Deuteronomy 1:44 and Psalm 118:12. The Hebrew Bible distinguishes דְּבוֹרָה (bee) clearly from similar flying insects (such as זְבוּב, fly). While the word 'Deborah' is usually rendered as a name in English translations, the insect is translated as 'bee.' Later translation traditions (e.g., the Septuagint) use the Greek μελίσσα for this term. There is no evidence that the term carried secondary or symbolic religious meanings in the Hebrew Bible period beyond standard natural and metaphorical associations. Notably, the use of דְּבוֹרָה as a personal name indicates early Israelite onomastic practice favoring names derived from animals, possibly to evoke positive characteristics.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (shortened) דְּבֹרָה; from דָבַר (in the sense of orderly motion); the bee (from its systematic instincts); bee.
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, organize
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1683 | דְּבּוֹרָה | Bee-woman |
| H1687 | דְּבִיר | in the innermost sanctuary |
| H1688 | דְּבִיר | Devir |
| H1696 | דָבַר | I will speak |
| H1697 | דָּבָר | in the matter |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1682-04 |
וְ/לַ֨/דְּבוֹרָ֔ה | veladevorah | HC/Rd/Ncfsa |
and for the bee | and to the bee | 1 |
H1682-02 |
הַ/דְּבֹרִ֑ים | hadevorim | HTd/Ncfpa |
the bees | the bees | 1 |
H1682-01 |
דְּבוֹרִ֛ים | devorim | HNcfpa |
of bees | bees | 1 |
H1682-03 |
כִ/דְבוֹרִ֗ים | khidevorim | HR/Ncfpa |
like bees | bees | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1682-02 |
Deuteronomy 1:44 | הַ/דְּבֹרִ֑ים | hadevorim | HTd/Ncfpa |
the bees | the bees |
H1682-01 |
Judges 14:8 | דְּבוֹרִ֛ים | devorim | HNcfpa |
of bees | bees |
H1682-04 |
Isaiah 7:18 | וְ/לַ֨/דְּבוֹרָ֔ה | veladevorah | HC/Rd/Ncfsa |
and for the bee | and to the bee |
H1682-03 |
Psalms 118:12 | כִ/דְבוֹרִ֗ים | khidevorim | HR/Ncfpa |
like bees | bees |