דֹּבֶר
a pasture (from its arrangement of the flock)
Definition
The Hebrew noun דֹּבֶר (dôber) primarily refers to a 'pasture' or 'grazing ground' for flocks, as seen in Isaiah 5:17, where lambs graze in a restored landscape. It can also denote a 'fold' or 'enclosure' for sheep, a place of gathering and safety, as implied in Micah 2:12. The word originates from the idea of orderly arrangement or leading, connecting it to the management of a flock. In Jeremiah 5:13, it is used metaphorically in the phrase 'word of them,' where the KJV translates it as 'manner,' though this is a debated, rare usage possibly relating to speech or order.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only three times in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 5:17, it describes a literal pasture in a prophetic vision of desolation and restoration. In Micah 2:12, it likely refers to a protective sheepfold, symbolizing God gathering His people. In Jeremiah 5:13, it is part of the phrase 'dĕbar-šep̄,' often understood as 'their word' or 'their manner,' showing a more abstract, idiomatic use related to speech or prophecy, though this instance is linguistically challenging and unique.
Etymology
Derived from the root דָבַר (dāḇar, H1696), which fundamentally means 'to speak' but originally conveyed 'to arrange' or 'to lead,' as in organizing a flock. דֹּבֶר thus carries the sense of an arranged place—specifically, a pasture where sheep are led and ordered. Cognates in other Semitic languages support meanings related to 'pasture' or 'dwelling place,' highlighting its agricultural background.
Semantic Range
This word enriches understanding of God's care and provision. In Micah 2:12, the imagery of the fold (dôber) portrays God as a shepherd who gathers and protects His remnant, foreshadowing themes of salvation and restoration. In Isaiah 5:17, the pasture signifies both judgment and hope, as God transforms desolation into fruitful grazing. Grasping the Hebrew connects these passages to broader biblical metaphors of God leading His people like a flock (e.g., Psalm 23).
In ancient Israel, pastoral life was central, and a dôber was a vital, managed space for grazing sheep, often implying safety and sustenance. Unlike modern, fenced pastures, it might refer to open grazing lands or enclosures, reflecting nomadic and agricultural practices. The cultural importance of shepherding makes this word resonate with themes of guidance and community provision.
נָוֶה (nāweh, H5116) — a dwelling, pasture, or habitation, often with a sense of pleasantness and security; מִרְעֶה (mirʿeh, H4829) — a grazing place or pasture, focusing more on the act of feeding than arrangement.
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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