What does דִּבָּה (dibāh) mean in the Bible?
דִּבָּה (dibāh): Malicious whispering or rumor designed to damage reputation; carries connotation of secretive, damaging speech
Hebrew · H1681
דִּבָּה
Slander
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
דִּבָּהH1681
Pronunciationdibāh
What does דִּבָּה (dibāh) mean in the Bible?
דִּבָּה (dibāh): Malicious whispering or rumor designed to damage reputation; carries connotation of secretive, damaging speech
Full entry for דִּבָּה (H1681) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1681?
The BSB source-word alignment has 9 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a bad report (2), report (2), and your infamy (1), in slander (1), slander (1).
Where does דִּבָּה (dibāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 37:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (3), Proverbs (2), Ezekiel (1), Genesis (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ita bad report2×Numbers 13:32, Numbers 14:36
report2×Genesis 37:2, Numbers 14:37
and your infamy1×Proverbs 25:10
in slander1×Ezekiel 36:3
slander1×Proverbs 10:18
the slander1×Psalms 31:13
the whispering1×Jeremiah 20:10
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 37:2דִּבָּתָ֥םtoreportNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralNumbers 13:32דִּבַּ֤תtoa bad reportNoun - feminine singular constructNumbers 14:36דִבָּ֖הtoa bad reportNoun - feminine singularNumbers 14:37דִבַּת־toreportNoun - feminine singular constructPsalms 31:13דִּבַּ֥תtothe slanderNoun - feminine singular constructProverbs 10:18דִ֝בָּ֗הtoslanderNoun - feminine singularProverbs 25:10וְ֝דִבָּתְךָ֗toand your infamyConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularJeremiah 20:10דִּבַּ֣תtothe whisperingNoun - feminine singular constructEzekiel 36:3וְדִבַּת־toin slanderConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 37:2
Aligned rows9
Books represented6
Genesis1Numbers3Psalms1Proverbs2Jeremiah1Ezekiel1
Source forms
דִבָּ֖ה1xḏib·bāhNumbers 14:36
דִ֝בָּ֗ה1xḏib·bāhProverbs 10:18
דִּבַּ֤ת1xdib·baṯNumbers 13:32
דִּבַּ֥ת1xdib·baṯPsalms 31:13
דִּבַּ֣ת1xdib·baṯJeremiah 20:10
דִבַּת־1xḏib·baṯ-Numbers 14:37
דִּבָּתָ֥ם1xdib·bā·ṯāmGenesis 37:2
וְדִבַּת־1xwə·ḏib·baṯ-Ezekiel 36:3
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular construct4xNumbers 13:32, Numbers 14:37, Psalms 31:13, Jeremiah 20:10
Noun - feminine singular2xNumbers 14:36, Proverbs 10:18
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct1xEzekiel 36:3
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular1xProverbs 25:10
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural1xGenesis 37:2
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Malicious whispering or rumor designed to damage reputation; carries connotation of secretive, damaging speech
Source Gloss
slander
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Malicious whispering or rumor designed to damage reputation; carries connotation of secretive, damaging speech
slander BDB: whispering Usage: defaming, evil report, infamy, slander.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Concealing hatred through false speech and spreading evil reports
Showing 1 selected witness from 9 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
דִּבָּה is built from this root:
דָּבַבH1680
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.