דְּבַח (de.vach)
de.vach
to sacrifice
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb de.vach means simply to offer a sacrifice. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Ezra 6:3, where it describes the animals provided for the temple offerings. This single usage places the word firmly within the context of restoring proper worship after the exile.
It is the Aramaic equivalent of the more common Hebrew verb za.vach. While Hebrew texts use za.vach frequently to describe ritual slaughter and offering, de.vach serves the same function in the official documents recorded in Ezra and Daniel. The switch between languages reflects the political reality of the Persian Empire, where administrative records were kept in Aramaic.
Its rarity makes this occurrence notable. By using the standard term for sacrifice in the decree of King Darius, the text emphasizes the legitimacy and continuity of the temple service. The word carries no hidden nuance; it is a straightforward legal and religious term confirming that the prescribed sacrifices were to resume.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for sacrifice appears in a moment of restoration, reminding us that worship is central to God’s plan even when circumstances seem broken. In Ezra 6:3, King Darius issues a decree ensuring that the temple offerings would resume, showing that proper worship was not optional but foundational to the community’s identity.
This single usage highlights how God cares about the details of our devotion. It is not just about rituals but about maintaining a connection with Him through prescribed acts of reverence. When we engage in worship, whether individually or corporately, we participate in something larger than ourselves—a continuity of faith that spans generations.
For your Christian life, this word invites reflection on how you prioritize time and effort for spiritual practices. Are there areas where distractions might dilute your focus? Let this passage encourage you to value the rhythms of prayer, gratitude, and service as ways to honor God daily.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [they were] sacrificing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דָבְחִ֣ין1×
Key Verses
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Ezra 6:3
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning God’s house at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid, with its height sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits;
This verse uses the term to confirm that sacrifices were to resume under Persian authority, emphasizing their legitimacy.