What does דָּת (dāt) mean in the Bible?
".
Hebrew · H1882
דָּת
Decree, law.
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 the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
דָּת H1882
Pronunciation dāt
What does דָּת (dāt) mean in the Bible?
דָּת (dāt) is a Hebrew word meaning "decree, law.".
Full entry for דָּת (H1882) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1882?
The BSB source-word alignment has 14 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include according to the Law (2), of the Law (2), and laws (1), and the law (1), by the law (1).
Where does דָּת (dāt) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Ezra 7:12. Its strongest book concentrations include Daniel (8), Ezra (6).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It according to the Law 2× Ezra 7:14, Daniel 6:12
of the Law 2× Ezra 7:12, Ezra 7:21
and laws 1× Daniel 7:25
and the law 1× Ezra 7:26
by the law 1× Daniel 6:15
concerning the law 1× Daniel 6:5
decree for you 1× Daniel 2:9
in accordance with the law 1× Daniel 6:8
is the decree 1× Daniel 2:15
So the decree 1× Daniel 2:13
the law 1× Ezra 7:26
the laws 1× Ezra 7:25
Show sample aligned rows
Ezra 7:12 דָּתָ֜א to of the Law Noun - feminine singular determinate Ezra 7:14 בְּדָ֥ת to according to the Law Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Ezra 7:21 דָּתָא֙ to of the Law Noun - feminine singular determinate Ezra 7:25 דָּתֵ֣י to the laws Noun - feminine plural construct Ezra 7:26 דָּתָ֣א to the law Noun - feminine singular determinate Ezra 7:26 וְדָתָא֙ to and the law Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular determinate Daniel 2:9 דָֽתְכ֗וֹן to decree for you Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural Daniel 2:13 וְדָתָ֣א to So the decree Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular determinate Daniel 2:15 דָתָ֛א to is the decree Noun - feminine singular determinate Daniel 6:5 בְּדָ֥ת to concerning the law Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Ezra 7:12
Aligned rows 14
Books represented 2
Ezra 6 Daniel 8
Source forms
בְּדָ֥ת 2x bə·ḏāṯ Ezra 7:14, Daniel 6:5
כְּדָת־ 2x kə·ḏāṯ- Daniel 6:8, Daniel 6:12
דָת֙ 1x ḏāṯ Daniel 6:15
דָתָ֛א 1x ḏā·ṯā Daniel 2:15
דָּתָ֜א 1x dā·ṯā Ezra 7:12
דָּתָא֙ 1x dā·ṯā Ezra 7:21
דָּתָ֣א 1x dā·ṯā Ezra 7:26
דָּתֵ֣י 1x dā·ṯê Ezra 7:25
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular determinate 4x Ezra 7:12, Ezra 7:21, Ezra 7:26, Daniel 2:15
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular determinate 2x Ezra 7:26, Daniel 2:13
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct 2x Ezra 7:14, Daniel 6:5
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct 2x Daniel 6:8, Daniel 6:12
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular 1x Daniel 7:25
Noun - feminine plural construct 1x Ezra 7:25
Noun - feminine singular 1x Daniel 6:15
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural 1x Daniel 2:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. decree, law.
Source Gloss
decree, law.
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
BDB: decree Usage: decree, law.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Royal decree or pronouncement of a king's wrath
Showing 1 selected witness from 14 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
דָּת is built from this root:
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain