Word (Dabar)
דָּבָר (dabar)
A spoken reality — the dynamic, creative, effectual speech of God that accomplishes His purposes.
Dabar is the Hebrew word for word, meaning speech, matter, or thing. God's dabar is uniquely powerful — it creates, commands, promises, and accomplishes. What God speaks, happens.
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please." — Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
Key Verses
Isaiah 55:11
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please.”Read in context
Psalm 33:6
“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.”Read in context
Strong's Concordance
Strong's H1697 — Word (Dabar) (דָּבָר (dabar))
Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where דָּבָר (dabar) appears.
Open Strong's H1697Etymology and Original Meaning
Dabar means both 'word' and 'thing' — a remarkable double meaning. In Hebrew thought, a word is not merely sound but substance. When God speaks, reality is created. The word and the thing are inseparable: God's dabar is both His speech and the reality that speech produces. This is why 'And God said... and it was so' is the recurring refrain of creation.
The Creative Word
God spoke the universe into existence: 'By the word of the LORD were the heavens made' (Psalm 33:6). Each 'And God said' in Genesis 1 produces immediate reality — light, sky, land, life. God's word does not describe pre-existing reality; it generates reality. His speech is the most powerful force in existence — the origin of everything that exists.
The Prophetic Word
The prophets introduced their messages with 'The word (dabar) of the LORD came unto me' — this formula appears hundreds of times. The prophetic word is not human opinion but divine communication. It carries God's authority, reveals His purposes, and demands response. False prophets spoke their own dabar; true prophets spoke God's — and the difference was literally life and death.
The Effectual Word
Isaiah 55:11 declares that God's word 'shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please.' God's dabar is effectual — it achieves its purpose unfailingly. Unlike human words that often fail, God's word always succeeds. It creates what it declares, heals what it addresses, and accomplishes what it intends. God's word is never empty, never wasted, never frustrated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dabar mean in Hebrew?
Dabar means both 'word' and 'thing' — reflecting the Hebrew understanding that God's speech creates reality. When God speaks, what He says comes into existence. His word is not empty sound but creative, effectual power.
How is God's word different from human words?
Human words describe; God's words create. Human words often fail; God's word always accomplishes its purpose (Isaiah 55:11). God's dabar carries the full authority and power of the Creator — it generates reality.
Which Bible verse uses the word "Word (Dabar)"?
Isaiah 55:11 — "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please" (KJV). It also appears in Genesis 1:3, Psalm 33:6.
Why does the Hebrew word behind "Word (Dabar)" matter?
Dabar means both 'word' and 'thing' — a remarkable double meaning. English uses one word, "Word (Dabar)", where the Hebrew דָּבָר (dabar) carries the fuller sense: a spoken reality — the dynamic, creative, effectual speech of god that accomplishes his purposes.
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Word (Dabar) (דָּבָר (dabar))
Word, speech, or matter — God's creative, powerful, self-revealing communication.
Strong's H1697 — Word (Dabar)
דָּבָר (dabar) • Word, speech, or matter — God's creative, powerful, self-revealing communication.
Isaiah 55:10-11 — Meaning & Devotional
God's Word Accomplishes
Hebrews 4:12 — Meaning & Devotional
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Psalm 33:6 Commentary
In-depth study • Creative Power of God's Word
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God's messengers — protection, direction, or warning.
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