Profound insight from the Hebrew word “Dabar” from Psalm 145:5
Pastor Brad Abley: Biblical Educator / Pastor / Teacher / Expositor
Pastor’s Corner
A Teaching on the Hebrew word “Dabar”
A Word Study by Pst Brad
Profound Insight From the Hebrew Word Dabar
Pastor Brad Matthew Abley, M.Div.
“And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate” (Ps. 145:5)
Beloved….
How well do you understand “the word of God”?
Do you know how God views His own word?
Have you understood the importance of His word for your life and indeed for all of life?
The Hebrew word translated “works” in Ps. 145:5 is dabar (pronounced davar), which can be variously translated word; matter; thing; speech, command, or promise.
As the rest of this brief study will show, however, David understands the great distinction of dabar through its description, “wonderful” (to be extraordinary; surpassing; used to describe the Person and nature of Jesus the Messiah in Is. 9:6).
Hence, dabar is no ordinary thing, word or matter. It’s often used in the OT to express decisive moments in salvation history, beginning with Creation itself (Ps. 33:6; 147:15). In fact, Moses uses dabar to refer to the Ten Commandments (Ex. 34:28).
It’s His dabar which is sent to accomplish all He desires to accomplish (Is. 55:11). At other paramount times in the OT, we see the weight of dabar (cf. Gen. 15:1; Josh. 21:45; 1 Sam. 3:1, 19; Jer. 1:4, 12; 15:16; 1 Kings 8:56; Deut. 8:3; Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1; Zeph. 1:1-2; Ps. 119:105; Is. 66:2; Num. 15:31; Is. 40:8; Deut. 18:18).
Dabar paves the way for its NT equivalent with the Greek words, logos and rhema (e.g., Mt. 24:35; John 1:1-3, 14; 5:25; Rom. 10:17; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:24-25).
But in Ps. 145:5, David understands dabar so well and he reveres it so highly that he asserts that he meditates on it – which means to declare, pray; commune; to speak to oneself; to study; to ponder.
“The lesson here from just one verse is that if one values the Word (dabar) of God, one will take it in deeply, so that it permeates every part of one’s nature.”
For further study on the meaning of Hebrew and Greek words, Pastor Brad has authored a 2-part Devotional on Hebrew and Greek words in his “A Heart After God Devotional” series!
He has authored total of 10 books, they are available for sale on Amazon. Click this link to view the books
Below is Pst Brad’s 2-Part Devotionals: A study on Hebrew and Greek Words - Volume 1 and 2
Pastor’s Corner
Hebrew and Greek Devotionals: For those who hunger and thirst to know God's Word better!
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