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דְּבַשׁ

𐤃𐤁𐤔

dᵉbash

H1706 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Natural or processed sweet substance, primarily honey produced by bees, but also used for plant-derived syrup (especially date syrup); refers both to literal edible 'honey' and, less commonly, to figurative abundance or goodness. In some contexts, indicates any sweet syrup obtained from fruit.

Semantic Range

bee honey, date syrup, fruit syrup, honeycomb, symbol of abundance or delight, metaphor for sweetness or good things

Root / Etymology

From the root דָּבַשׁ (uncertain etymology; possibly related to Arabic 'dibs', meaning 'syrup' or 'molasses'). The root itself is not attested in biblical usage except in this noun form. Some propose a connection with Semitic roots denoting 'sweetness' or 'sticky substance', but there is no direct verbal form in biblical Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

דְּבַשׁ occurs frequently in connection with the phrase 'a land flowing with milk and honey,' where it commonly refers to either bee honey or, perhaps more accurately for the Iron Age southern Levant, to date syrup— a common sweetener in ancient Israelite diet. The distinction in ancient sources between bee honey and fruit syrup is not always explicit, as 'honey' could refer to either. Ancient translations (e.g., LXX, Targumim) sometimes render the term simply as 'honey', but archaeological and botanical evidence suggests date syrup was likely more common as an export and symbol of agricultural plenty. In later periods, מֵד (med) became a more precise term for bee honey. Unlike the English tradition, which narrows the word primarily to bee honey, biblical 'דְּבַשׁ' had a broader semantic field. In figurative usage, דְּבַשׁ can represent sweetness, delight, or prosperity. There is little evidence of any ritual or cultic use for דְּבַשׁ, and it is specifically excluded from certain offerings (Lev. 2:11), possibly to prevent fermentation. The use and meaning are stable from the earliest sources through the post-exilic period.

Translation Consistency

primary "honey" 23 occurrences

Most natural and common English rendering for דְּבַשׁ; used in the majority of occurrences (41/54). It covers literal bee honey and is a natural, simple label for date- or fruit-based syrups and figurative ‘sweetness’ or abundance, enabling consistent, readable translation across contexts.

Alternatives (31 occurrences):
"honey-syrup" (31x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup; honey(-comb).

Bantu Hebrew

Language Bantu Word Transliteration Meaning
Bemba ubuchi honey
Kikuyu ũci honey
Lozi uchi honey
Luba-Katanga bushi honey
Shona uchi honey
Sotho uchi honey
Swahili asali honey
Tonga (Zambia) uchi honey
Tsonga vuchi honey
Venda uṋi honey

Root Family

דבש (d-b-sh) — sweetness, stickiness, sweet syrup

Root דבש to be sweet, to be sticky
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1707 דַּבֶּשֶׁת rounded fatty hump-of
H3031 יִדְבָּשׁ and Yidbash

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1706-07 וּ/דְבָ֑שׁ udevash HC/Ncmsa and honey and honey-syrup and honey-syrup 31
H1706-02 דְּבַ֔שׁ devash HNcmsa honey sweet syrup honey 15
H1706-06 מִ/דְּבַ֔שׁ midevash HR/Ncmsa than honey from honey than honey 3
H1706-04 הַ/דְּבָֽשׁ hadevash HTd/Ncmsa of the honey the honey the honey 2
H1706-05 כִּ/דְבַ֥שׁ kidevash HR/Ncmsa as honey like sweet syrup like honey 1
H1706-01 בִּ/דְבָֽשׁ bidevash HR/Ncmsa in honey in honey in honey 1
H1706-03 דִּבְשִׁ֔/י diveshi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my honey my sweet syrup my honey 1

Occurrences in Scripture

54 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1706-02 Genesis 43:11 דְּבַ֔שׁ devash HNcmsa honey sweet syrup honey
H1706-07 Exodus 3:8 וּ/דְבָ֑שׁ udevash HC/Ncmsa and honey, and honey-syrup and honey-syrup
H1706-07 Exodus 3:17 וּ/דְבָֽשׁ udevash HC/Ncmsa and honey and honey-syrup and honey-syrup
H1706-07 Exodus 13:5 וּ/דְבָ֑שׁ udevash HC/Ncmsa and honey and honey-syrup and honey-syrup
H1706-01 Exodus 16:31 בִּ/דְבָֽשׁ bidevash HR/Ncmsa in honey in honey in honey
H1706-07 Exodus 33:3 וּ/דְבָ֑שׁ udevash HC/Ncmsa and honey and honey-syrup and honey-syrup
H1706-02 Leviticus 2:11 דְּבַ֔שׁ devash HNcmsa honey sweet syrup honey
H1706-07 Leviticus 20:24 וּ/דְבָ֑שׁ udevash HC/Ncmsa and-honey and honey-syrup and honey-syrup
H1706-07 Numbers 13:27 וּ/דְבַ֛שׁ udevash HC/Ncmsa and honey and honey-syrup and honey-syrup
H1706-07 Numbers 14:8 וּ/דְבָֽשׁ udevash HC/Ncmsa and honey and honey-syrup and honey-syrup
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