dabar

Dabar is a Hebrew noun meaning "word," "thing," or "matter." It comes from the Semitic root D-B-R, which is associated with speaking and communication. The term has a wide range of uses in both ancient and modern Hebrew.

In Biblical Hebrew, davar denotes a spoken utterance as well as a tangible thing or event. It can refer to a statement, a command, a piece of news, or a matter under consideration. The plural form devarim is commonly translated as "words" or "things." The phrase "davar Hashem" or "the word of the Lord" appears frequently in Scripture, highlighting the link between speech and revelation.

In Modern Hebrew, davar remains flexible: it often means "thing" or "matter" (for example, "ma davar?" meaning "what's the matter?" or "ein davar" meaning "there is nothing/there is no problem"). It can also retain the sense of a unit of speech as in "devarim" for "words." The word shows how the abstract notion of speaking connects with concrete objects and events in everyday use.

Culturally, the term appears in the Hebrew Bible as well as in contemporary language, illustrating the central role of speech and communication in Jewish thought. The Book of Devarim in the Hebrew Bible is titled from this word-root and is often read as "Words" or "Things," depending on interpretation.

See also: Hebrew language, Semitic roots, Deuteronomy.