1679. dobe

Lexical Summary

dobe: Pine away, languish

Original Word: דֹּבֶא
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: dobe'
Pronunciation: doh'-beh
Phonetic Spelling: (do'-beh)
KJV: strength
NASB: leisurely walk
Word Origin: [from an unused root (probably meaning to be sluggish, i.e. restful)]

1. quiet

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

strength

From an unused root (compare dabab) (probably meaning to be sluggish, i.e. Restful); quiet -- strength.

see HEBREW dabab

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
perhaps rest
NASB Translation
leisurely walk (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[דֹּ֫בֶא] noun [masculine] perhaps rest, but sense very doubtful (? Arabic rest, †amus; ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ7^Onk strength, reading perhaps רבאך compare Samaritan רביך, see Di) וּכְיָמֶיךָ דָּבְֶ˜אךָ׃ Deuteronomy 33:25.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

דֹּבֶא (dōveʾ) appears only once in the Old Testament, in Moses’ prophetic blessing over Asher (Deuteronomy 33:25). Most English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, render it “strength,” capturing the sense of abounding vigor that corresponds to the number of one’s days. The word thus conveys an enduring, God-given vitality that equips the covenant people for a lifetime of service.

Scriptural Setting

Deuteronomy 33 records Moses’ final benedictions upon the tribes of Israel just before his death. Asher, whose territory would lie along the northern coastline, receives a promise of material security (“Your bars shall be iron and bronze”) and personal stamina:

“Your bars will be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be.” (Deuteronomy 33:25)

Placed at the close of the blessing, דֹּבֶא rounds out the picture: God not only fortifies the tribe’s borders but also sustains its people from youth to old age.

Historical and Cultural Background

1. Border Security: Iron and bronze bolts suggest fortified city gates—an important defense for a coastal region exposed to seaborne trade and possible invasion.
2. Lifelong Vigor: In the Ancient Near East, advanced age often brought social vulnerability. A divine pledge of continuing vitality set Israel apart from surrounding nations whose deities offered no such assurance.
3. Agricultural Prosperity: Asher’s fertile lands would require steady labor. The promise of strength ensured that the tribe could cultivate and guard its God-given inheritance.

Theological Significance

• Divine Sufficiency: The verse ties physical stamina directly to God’s faithfulness. Strength is not self-generated but a covenant blessing.
• Day-by-Day Provision: The phrase “as your days, so shall your strength be” implies fresh grace measured out for each day’s demands (cf. Lamentations 3:22-23; Matthew 6:34).
• Continuity of Service: By promising vigor throughout life, God enables His people to fulfill their roles in His redemptive plan without interruption.

Intertextual Resonance

While דֹּבֶא itself is unique to Deuteronomy 33:25, the concept of lifelong strengthening recurs:
• Psalm 92:14 – “In old age they will still bear fruit.”
• Isaiah 46:4 – “Even to your old age I will sustain you.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:16 – “Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

Ministry Implications

1. Encouragement for the Aging: Believers entering later seasons of life can claim God’s ongoing empowerment for kingdom work.
2. Daily Dependence: The verse models a theology of sufficient grace, inviting Christians to seek fresh strength for each day’s assignment.
3. Spiritual Warfare: Just as iron and bronze secure physical gates, spiritual strength fortifies the believer against assaults (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Practical Application

• Prayer: Congregations may pray Deuteronomy 33:25 over missionaries, leaders, and the elderly, asking God to match strength to calling.
• Discipleship: Mentor relationships can highlight the promise that usefulness in God’s service does not expire with age.
• Worship: Songs and liturgies celebrating God’s sustaining power draw directly from the imagery of this verse.

Christological Perspective

In Jesus Christ the promise of enduring strength finds its ultimate fulfillment. His resurrection power (Philippians 3:10-11) supplies believers with inner vitality that surpasses physical limitations, ensuring effectiveness until life’s final breath.

Concluding Reflection

דֹּבֶא reminds the church that the God who fortifies our walls also invigorates our souls. As He matched Asher’s strength to its days, so He continues to equip His people for every good work—until faith gives way to sight.

Forms and Transliterations

דָּבְאֶֽךָ׃ דבאך׃ dā·ḇə·’e·ḵā dāḇə’eḵā daveEcha

Englishman's Concordance

Deuteronomy 33:25
HEB: מִנְעָלֶ֑יךָ וּכְיָמֶ֖יךָ דָּבְאֶֽךָ׃
NAS: And according to your days, so will your leisurely walk be.
KJV: and as thy days, [so shall] thy strength [be].
INT: your locks to your days will your leisurely

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1679
1 Occurrence

dā·ḇə·’e·ḵā — 1 Occ.