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הַדָּבָר

𐤄𐤃𐤁𐤓

haddâbâr

H1907 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A high-ranking official serving as a chief advisor or vizier, particularly in the court of the Babylonian and Persian empires. In biblical Aramaic usage, the term denotes a person holding substantial authority, tasked with counseling, administering state affairs, and representing royal interests. The semantic range primarily centers on the function of a political counselor or executive minister within a royal bureaucracy.

Semantic Range

vizier, chief advisor, counsellor, executive minister, high-ranking political official

Root / Etymology

Etymology uncertain. The word is of Aramaic origin and is likely borrowed from a foreign (possibly Akkadian or Persian) administrative or political term, not derived from any known Semitic root. Its structure does not correspond to native Hebrew or common Aramaic roots.

Historical & Contextual Notes

הַדָּבָר occurs only in biblical Aramaic sections (notably Daniel) and reflects the terminology of foreign imperial administrations, particularly the Neo-Babylonian and Achaemenid Persian courts. The office referred to is not native to Israelite or Judahite governance, but instead part of the imported administrative lexicon describing high officials in the context of exile and diaspora. In Daniel 3:2–3, הַדָּבָר appears among a list of distinct ranks at the king’s court; English translations often render the term as 'counsellor,' 'vizier,' or 'adviser,' though each reflects an effort to map this unique office onto more familiar terms. Unlike the Hebrew word יועץ (counselor/advisor), הַדָּבָר refers specifically to a recognized courtly office rather than a generic advisor. Later translations and traditions sometimes use the term 'Jew' or Judean for figures holding this title, but the term itself is an administrative rather than ethnic or religious designation. Its use disappears after the biblical Aramaic period as political structures changed.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) probably of foreign origin; a vizier; counsellor.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain

Root uncertain uncertain (likely denotes high administrative office, to advise, to execute state policy)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1002 בִּירָה the citadel
H105 אֲגַרְטָל bowls of
H1081 בַּלְאֲדָן Baladan
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1907-01 הַדָּֽבְרַ֥/י hadaveray ANcmpc/Sp1cs my-counselors my chief advisors my chief advisors 1
H1907-02 הַדָּֽבְרַיָּ֣/א hadaveraya ANcmpd/Td counselors the viziers the viziers 1
H1907-03 לְ/הַדָּֽבְר֗וֹ/הִי lehadaverohi AR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms to his counselors his viziers to his counselors 1
H1907-04 וְ/הַדָּבְרֵ֣י vehadaverey AC/Ncmpc and the advisors and the viziers of and the viziers of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1907-03 Daniel 3:24 לְ/הַדָּֽבְר֗וֹ/הִי lehadaverohi AR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms to his counselors his viziers to his counselors
H1907-04 Daniel 3:27 וְ/הַדָּבְרֵ֣י vehadaverey AC/Ncmpc and the advisors and the viziers of and the viziers of
H1907-01 Daniel 4:33 הַדָּֽבְרַ֥/י hadaveray ANcmpc/Sp1cs my-counselors my chief advisors my chief advisors
H1907-02 Daniel 6:8 הַדָּֽבְרַיָּ֣/א hadaveraya ANcmpd/Td counselors the viziers the viziers
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