divrei

Divrei is a Hebrew term meaning “words” or “things” and is used as a construct form of the noun devar (word, matter). In Hebrew, divrei typically introduces a source or attribution, signaling that what follows is the sayings, teachings, or writings of a person or text.

In religious and literary usage, divrei appears in many fixed phrases and book titles. Examples include Divrei Torah, referring to the words or teachings of the Torah; Divrei Chazal, meaning the sayings of the Sages; and Divrei HaYamim, the title of the biblical book commonly known in English as Chronicles. In each case, divrei functions to attribute the material to a source, rather than to denote the speaker or author directly.

Divrei is common in both rabbinic and modern Hebrew, especially in quotations, discussions of teachings, or when presenting compilations of a particular figure’s sayings. It is not a standalone subject; rather, it is a linguistic marker used to attribute content to its source.

Etymologically, divrei derives from the root davar, meaning word, matter, or thing, and its form in these expressions reflects its role as “words of …” or “things said by ….” Translations vary with context, but the core idea remains attribution of content to a specific source, whether a scriptural text, a rabbinic authority, or a named author.