Lexical Summary dur: Circle, ball, dwelling Original Word: דּוּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance dwell A primitive root; properly, to gyrate (or move in a circle), i.e. To remain -- dwell. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to heap up, pile, dwell NASB Translation dwell (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs דּוּר verb 1. heap up, pile. 2 dwell (originally move in a circle, go about, surround, compare Arabic Qal in Infinitive מִדּוּר באהלירֿשׁע Psalm 84:11 than to dwell in tents of wickedness. Imperative (or Infinitive absolute irregular for דּוֺר, compare "" לָקוֺחַ) דּוּר העצמים Ezekiel 24:5 heap up. — In Genesis 6:3 some read Imperfect3masculine singular יָדוּר shall dwell, for ידון; see דין. [דּוּר] verb dwell (see Biblical Hebrew); — Pe`al Imperfect3feminine singular of beasts תְּדוּר Daniel 4:18; 3masculine plural birds יְדֻרוּן Daniel 4:9 (Qr feminine יְדוּרָן, f. subject, צִמֲּרֵי, follows, compare Daniel 4:18 and K§ 98, 2 c, Anm. 3); Participle plural of men, דָּאדִין Kt Daniel 2:38; Daniel 3:31; Daniel 6:26 (Qr דָּֽיְרִין); as substantive, construct דָּארֵי Kt Daniel 4:32 (twice in verse) (Qr דָּֽיְרֵי) as substantive, construct דָּארֵי Kt Daniel 4:32 (twice in verse) (Qr דָּֽיְרֵי dwellers. Topical Lexicon Meaning within Biblical Narrative דּוּר (duwr) evokes the idea of a settled habitation—a fixed place of staying or living—as opposed to a temporary shelter. In the single inspired instance where it appears (Psalm 84:10), it becomes a foil for the transitory “tents of wickedness.” The psalmist is not merely comparing two physical locations but contrasting two ways of life: enduring communion with God versus fleeting association with sin. Biblical Occurrence Psalm 84 is a pilgrim song celebrating the journey to the temple in Zion. Verse 10 sets up a deliberate polarity: “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell (מִדּוּר) in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10). Here duwr, under the preposition “from,” underscores that any settled life apart from the LORD’s presence is ultimately undesirable. The faithful would rather take the lowliest post at the sanctuary door than claim the most comfortable residence where God is not honored. Historical Setting When Psalm 84 was written, the temple in Jerusalem symbolized the dwelling of God among His people (1 Kings 8:10-13). Israelite worshippers traveled up to Zion three times a year (Deuteronomy 16:16), often camping in makeshift shelters along the way. To them, duwr suggested the permanence and security sought by every household. Yet the psalm shatters normal expectations: true permanence is not tied to real estate or social status but to proximity with the LORD. Theological Significance 1. God Himself is the believer’s dwelling (Psalm 90:1). Duwr reminds worshippers that authentic stability is found in Him. Temple Imagery and Worship By preferring a threshold position over duwr in wicked tents, the psalmist embraces humility. Ancient gates were the domain of Levites who guarded holiness (1 Chronicles 26:12-19). One day as a doorkeeper, even without entering the inner courts, surpasses millennia of sin-stained luxury. The juxtaposition elevates worship above comfort, holiness above habitation. Echoes in the New Testament John’s Gospel announces that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), using σκηνόω (“to pitch a tent”), purposely recalling tabernacle language. Whereas duwr highlights fixed residence, John stresses God pitching His tent with humanity, culminating in Revelation 21:3 where “the dwelling place of God is with man.” The psalm’s priority of divine presence reaches its climax in Christ, who makes believers “God’s temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Practical Ministry Application • Worship over comfort: Leaders and congregants must evaluate buildings, programs, and personal ambitions by a single criterion—do they bring us nearer to God? Devotional Insight Meditating on duwr challenges believers to ask, “Where is my true home?” The psalmist’s choice invites every generation to trade prestigious addresses for the threshold of grace, knowing that even a moment near God outweighs a lifetime elsewhere. Forms and Transliterations מִ֝דּ֗וּר מדור mid·dūr midDur middūrLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 84:10 HEB: בְּבֵ֣ית אֱלֹהַ֑י מִ֝דּ֗וּר בְּאָהֳלֵי־ רֶֽשַׁע׃ NAS: Than dwell in the tents KJV: of my God, than to dwell in the tents INT: of the house of my God dwell the tents of wickedness 1 Occurrence |
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house, especially as group of buildings about a court; Assyrian dûru, wall, fortress, COTGloss; thence (denominative Fl Late Hebrew WBi. 440) dwell Aramaic דּוּר, 
(participle & Pa`el), hence in Hebrew compare GiesZAW i. 304 Fll.c. CheOP 479; Ethiopic 
generation (= דּוֺר: probably loan-word); according to Hpt KAT2Glossary i. Assyrian [daru§, endure], dârû, everlasting (compare BezOrient. Diplom.) = Arabic 
long time, age) —