דְּבַח
to sacrifice (an animal)
Definition
The Aramaic verb דְּבַח (dᵉbach) means 'to sacrifice,' specifically referring to the ritual slaughter of an animal as an offering to God. It corresponds directly to the Hebrew verb זָבַח (zābach, H2076), which carries the same core meaning. In its single biblical occurrence in Ezra 6:3, it is used in the context of a royal decree from King Cyrus, authorizing the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple so that sacrifices may be offered there. The term implies the formal, prescribed act of offering within the context of worship.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic portions of the book of Ezra. It appears in the official document from King Cyrus recorded in Ezra 6:3, which commands the rebuilding of the temple 'where sacrifices were offered.' Its usage is entirely within a royal, administrative context, authorizing the reinstitution of the sacrificial system after the Babylonian exile.
Etymology
דְּבַח is an Aramaic verb, not a Hebrew one. It is the direct linguistic counterpart to the common Hebrew verb for sacrifice, זָבַח (zābach, H2076). Both words share a common Semitic root (d-b-ḥ / z-b-ḥ) meaning 'to slaughter' or 'to sacrifice.' The use of this Aramaic term in Ezra reflects the imperial language of the Persian period when Aramaic was the lingua franca of administration.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word connects to the central theological concept of atonement and worship through sacrifice. Its appearance in Cyrus's decree (Ezra 6:3) highlights God's sovereignty in moving a pagan king to restore the proper worship of Yahweh, including the sacrificial system that prefigured the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Understanding this Aramaic term reinforces the continuity of God's redemptive plan across languages and empires.
In its original setting, דְּבַח referred to the culturally and religiously significant act of animal sacrifice, which was a near-universal practice in ancient Near Eastern religions. In Israel's context, it was not mere ritual slaughter but a God-ordained act of worship, atonement, and communion. The Persian king's authorization to resume these sacrifices acknowledged the local religious practices of a subjugated people, which was a common imperial policy for maintaining stability.
זָבַח (zābach, H2076) — The primary Hebrew verb for 'to sacrifice,' used hundreds of times in the Hebrew Bible. It is the direct semantic equivalent of the Aramaic דְּבַח.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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