מְדוֹר
𐤌𐤃𐤅𐤓
mᵉdôwr
H4070 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A habitation or dwelling-place; a physical location where individuals or groups reside. The term refers to a fixed abode, often in contrast to temporary shelters. In Aramaic usage within biblical texts, it can denote household, habitation, or the abode of animals as well as humans.
Semantic Range
dwelling, habitation, abode, place of residence, household, animal lair
Root / Etymology
The noun מְדוֹר derives from the root דּוּר (to dwell, encircle, reside). This root communicates the concept of living in a fixed place, encamping, or encircling for settlement. The formation מְדוֹר as a noun denotes the result or place of dwelling, i.e., a residence or habitation. The spelling and forms in Aramaic (מְדֹר, מְדָר) are consistent with common Aramaic nominal patterns, reflecting a Semitic cognate development.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, the word מְדוֹר appears only in Aramaic sections, such as Daniel 4:12, where it refers to the dwelling-place of animals (literally, "the abode of the beasts of the field"). Its usage is distinct from more common Hebrew terms for dwelling (e.g., בַּיִת for house, מוֹשָׁב for settlement, יָשַׁב as a verb 'to dwell'). In biblical Aramaic, מְדוֹר is a general term for residence or abode, with a possible nuance of a fixed or stable habitat, as opposed to temporary encampments. English translations typically use 'dwelling,' 'abode,' or 'habitation,' which captures the basic sense, though the term may connote both natural and constructed abodes. The infrequency of its occurrence prevents detailed tracing of diachronic shifts in meaning, but its consistent usage in the relevant contexts is in keeping with related Semitic terms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) or מְדֹר; (Aramaic), or מְדָר; (Aramaic), from דּוּר; a dwelling; dwelling.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
דּוּר (dûwr) — to go around, encircle, revolve
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4070-02 |
מְדֹרָ֜/ךְ | medorakhe | ANcmsc/Sp2ms |
dwelling-your | your dwelling-place | your dwelling place | 2 |
H4070-01 |
מְדָ֣רְ/ה֔וֹן | medarehon | ANcmsc/Sp3mp |
dwelling-their | their dwelling-place | their dwelling-place | 1 |
H4070-03 |
מְדוֹרֵ֔/הּ | medoreh | ANcmsc/Sp3ms |
his dwelling | his dwelling-place | his dwelling-place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4070-01 |
Daniel 2:11 | מְדָ֣רְ/ה֔וֹן | medarehon | ANcmsc/Sp3mp |
dwelling-their | their dwelling-place | their dwelling-place |
H4070-02 |
Daniel 4:22 | מְדֹרָ֜/ךְ | medorakhe | ANcmsc/Sp2ms |
dwelling-your | your dwelling-place | your dwelling place |
H4070-02 |
Daniel 4:29 | מְדֹרָ֗/ךְ | medorakhe | ANcmsc/Sp2ms |
dwelling-your | your dwelling-place | your dwelling-place |
H4070-03 |
Daniel 5:21 | מְדוֹרֵ֔/הּ | medoreh | ANcmsc/Sp3ms |
his dwelling | his dwelling-place | his dwelling-place |