What does דָבַר · מִשְׁפָּט mean in the Bible?
דָבַר · מִשְׁפָּט is a Hebrew phrase meaning "speak judgments, pronounce sentence".
Hebrew · H1696, H4941
דִּבֶּר מִשְׁפָּטִים
Perhaps properly, to arrange ; but used figuratively (of words), to speak ; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue · properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law , individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice , including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
דָבַרH1696perhaps properly, to arrange ; but used figuratively (of words), to speak ; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
Pronunciationdābar
Speech arranges reality: God's word creates and commands; human speech binds covenantally through promise and declaration.
Open lexicon entry →מִשְׁפָּטH4941properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law , individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice , including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style
Pronunciationmišpāṭ
Judicial decision encompassing verdict, law, and justice; God's decisive rulings establish cosmic and moral order.
Open lexicon entry →What does דִּבֶּר מִשְׁפָּטִים (dibber mishpatim) mean in the Bible?
דָבַר · מִשְׁפָּט is a Hebrew phrase meaning "speak judgments, pronounce sentence".
Full entry for דִּבֶּר מִשְׁפָּטִים (H1696, H4941) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H1696, H4941?
H1696, H4941 is connected to 1,568 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. speak judgments, pronounce sentence
Source Gloss
speak judgments, pronounce sentence
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups6Aligned forms691
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action662×
Perfect1Chr 17:15 · 1Chr 21:19 · 1Chr 22:11 · 1Kgs 2:4 · 1Kgs 2:23 · 1Kgs 2:24 · 1Kgs 2:27 · 1Kgs 2:30 · 1Kgs 2:31 · 1Kgs 2:38 · 1Kgs 5:19 · 1Kgs 5:26 · 1Kgs 8:15 · 1Kgs 8:20 · 1Kgs 8:56 · 1Kgs 12:12388×
Imperfect1Sam 9:6 · Dan 11:36 · Deut 5:24 · Deut 5:27 · Deut 18:19 · Deut 18:20 · Deut 18:22 · Exod 4:14 · Exod 7:2 · Exod 7:9 · Exod 19:19 · Exod 33:11 · Gen 44:7 · Hab 2:1 · Hos 12:5 · Isa 28:11132×
Sequential imperfect1Kgs 2:14 · 1Kgs 2:16 · 1Sam 3:9 · 1Sam 3:10 · 1Sam 15:16 · 2Kgs 18:26 · 2Sam 13:13 · 2Sam 17:6 · Exod 6:11 · Exod 6:29 · Exod 11:2 · Exod 14:2 · Exod 14:15 · Exod 16:12 · Exod 20:19 · Exod 25:281×
Participle active1Kgs 1:14 · 1Kgs 1:22 · 1Kgs 1:42 · 1Sam 1:13 · 1Sam 17:23 · 2Kgs 6:33 · 2Kgs 8:4 · Dan 8:13 · Dan 9:20 · Dan 9:21 · Deut 4:33 · Deut 5:26 · Esth 6:14 · Ezek 1:28 · Ezek 2:8 · Ezek 44:532×
Jussive2Sam 14:18 · Dan 10:19 · Exod 20:19 · Gen 44:18 · Jer 23:28 · 2Kgs 18:26 · Isa 36:11 · Prov 23:9 · 1Sam 2:3 · 2Sam 14:1210×
Cohortative2Sam 14:15 · Jer 6:10 · Job 9:35 · Job 10:1 · Job 16:4 · Job 16:6 · Job 32:20 · Ps 122:88×
Infinitive constructDeut 3:26 · Gen 24:50 · Isa 7:10 · Isa 8:5 · Jer 1:6 · Jer 9:4 · Num 22:19 · Num 22:388×
Infinitive absolute2Sam 20:18 · Exod 4:14 · Isa 59:133×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense21×
Participle activeDan 10:11 · Deut 5:1 · Exod 6:29 · Isa 9:16 · Isa 45:19 · Jer 28:7 · Jer 32:42 · Jer 38:20 · Jer 40:16 · Job 2:13 · Jonah 3:2 · Mic 7:3 · Num 27:7 · Num 32:27 · Num 36:5 · Ps 5:720×
Participle passiveProv 25:111×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others3×
Participle activeEzek 2:2 · Ezek 43:6 · Num 7:893×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action3×
PerfectMal 3:16 · Ps 119:23 · Mal 3:133×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
ImperfectPs 47:41×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject1×
Participle passivePs 87:31×
Word Origins
דִּבֶּר מִשְׁפָּטִים is a primitive root - no further derivation.