Lexical Summary dober: Word, matter, thing Original Word: דֹּבֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fold, manner From dabar (in its original sense); a pasture (from its arrangement of the flock) -- fold, manner. see HEBREW dabar Brown-Driver-Briggs [דֹּ֫בֶר] noun [masculine] pasture (compare Aramaic דַּבְרָא, Syriac  ) — suffix כְּעֵדֶר בְּתוֺךְ הַדָּֽבְרוֺ as a flock in the midst of its pasture Micah 2:12 (article with suffix, compare Ges§ 127, 4 b, who attaches ו as conjunction to following word); וְרָעזּ כְבָשִׂים כְּדֳבְרָם and lambs shall feed as (in) their pasture Isaiah 5:17. דִּבֵּר noun [masculine] speaking (so Ew§ 156) Jeremiah 5:13 וְהַדִּבֵּר אֵין בָּהֶם; according to Hi Gf Ki (less probably) verb with article for relation (see [ דָּבַר] Pi`el): but read rather הַדָּבָר, and the word is not in them. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Imagery דֹּבֶר evokes the picture of a lush grazing ground where flocks feed undisturbed. In the agrarian world of ancient Israel, such pastureland symbolized safety, sustenance, and divine provision. The term therefore carries both literal and metaphorical weight, pointing to the covenant blessings of Yahweh, who pledges to shepherd His people and grant them rest. Occurrences in Scripture • Isaiah 5:17 – “Then lambs will graze as in their own pasture, and strangers will feed in the ruins of the wealthy.” Pastoral Context in the Prophets Isaiah and Micah use דֹּבֶר to depict opposite outcomes. For the faithful remnant, it is a place of abundance and reunion (Micah 2:12). For the complacent wealthy of Judah, their forfeited estates become grazing land for outsiders (Isaiah 5:17). Jeremiah’s usage highlights a spiritual counterpart: genuine prophetic ministry supplies nourishing pasture, whereas empty rhetoric leaves the people spiritually famished. Historical Background Shepherding dominated the Judean hill country. A secure pasture meant life; a ravaged pasture signified judgment. Prophets therefore employed this everyday image to deliver covenant warnings and promises that every listener could grasp immediately. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Provision: דֹּבֶר illustrates God’s readiness to sustain His flock when they heed His voice. Ministry Applications • Shepherd-Leadership: Pastors and elders are called to mirror the prophetic ideal—providing sound doctrine as nourishing pasture rather than the “wind” of Jeremiah 5:13. Conclusion Though appearing only three times, דֹּבֶר furnishes a vivid lens on divine care and covenant dynamics. It reminds the faithful that authentic spiritual pasture is found solely under the watchful eye of the Lord, who both disciplines and restores His flock for His glory. Forms and Transliterations הַדָּֽבְר֔וֹ הדברו וְהַדִּבֵּ֖ר והדבר כְּדָבְרָ֑ם כדברם had·dā·ḇə·rōw haddāḇərōw haddaveRo kə·ḏā·ḇə·rām kəḏāḇərām kedaveRam vehaddibBer wə·had·dib·bêr wəhaddibbêrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 5:17 HEB: וְרָע֥וּ כְבָשִׂ֖ים כְּדָבְרָ֑ם וְחָרְב֥וֹת מֵחִ֖ים NAS: will graze as in their pasture, And strangers KJV: feed after their manner, and the waste places INT: will graze the lambs their pasture the waste of the wealthy Jeremiah 5:13 Micah 2:12 3 Occurrences |
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