דְּבַח
𐤃𐤁𐤇
dᵉbach
H1685 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A ritual offering, especially an animal victim, made as part of a religious ceremony; denotes the act or object of sacrifice presented, typically in the context of formal worship. In Aramaic biblical texts, the term refers specifically to the sacrificial animal or act of offering on the altar.
Semantic Range
sacrificial victim, ritual offering, act of sacrifice, animal offered in worship
Root / Etymology
From the root דבח, meaning 'to slaughter (especially for sacrifice)'. The noun דְּבַח is derived from this root, designating that which is slaughtered as a sacrificial offering. The formation is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew זֶבַח (zevaḥ).
Historical & Contextual Notes
דְּבַח appears primarily in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel and Ezra), reflecting the vocabulary of religious ritual under foreign imperial rule (Babylonian, Persian periods). The word aligns with the broader Semitic usage of cognate terms for ritual slaughter. While the later English term 'sacrifice' effectively conveys the meaning, דְּבַח specifically emphasizes the act of offering or the thing offered, rather than the entire sacrificial process or liturgy. In contrast to the Hebrew זֶבַח, which is found extensively in Torah and earlier narrative texts, דְּבַח is characteristic of the post-exilic Aramaic milieu. Related terms like עֲלוּר or קָרְבָּן may have a broader or overlapping semantic range, potentially including non-animal offerings; דְּבַח is more narrowly focused on the animal victim. In post-biblical Aramaic and Second Temple textual traditions, the usage persists with an emphasis on formal cultic ritual.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from דְּבַח; a sacrifice; sacrifice.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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דבח (d-b-ḥ) — to slaughter, to kill ritually, to sacrifice
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1685-01 |
דִּבְחִ֔ין | divechin | ANcmpa |
sacrifices | sacrificial victims | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1685-01 |
Ezra 6:3 | דִּבְחִ֔ין | divechin | ANcmpa |
sacrifices | sacrificial victims |