דְּבִיר (de.vir)
de.vir
sanctuary
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 16 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word debir refers to the innermost chamber of the tabernacle or temple, known as the Holy of Holies. In the Old Testament, it is the most sacred space, reserved for the presence of God and accessible only to the high priest once a year. The term appears sixteen times in Scripture, with significant occurrences in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, where it describes the specific location of the Ark of the Covenant.
Etymologically, debir is linked to the root for "speech" or "oracle," suggesting that this hidden room was not just a physical storage space but the place where God’s word and will were revealed. While the outer courts allowed broader access, debir represented the ultimate boundary between the divine and the human, emphasizing both God's transcendence and His desire to dwell among His people.
Translators often render debir as "sanctuary" or "most holy place," capturing its dual role as a physical structure and a theological symbol. The word underscores the seriousness of approaching God, reminding readers that holiness requires reverence and mediation. This concept later influenced Jewish and Christian understandings of spiritual access to God through Christ.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word debir points to the innermost chamber of the temple, the Holy of Holies. This was the most sacred space on earth, where God’s presence dwelt in a unique way. Only the high priest could enter, and only once a year, after careful preparation. The physical walls and gold overlays marked a serious boundary between the holy God and fallen humanity.
Yet this separation was not meant to keep people away forever. It highlighted the need for mediation and reverence. When the temple stood, it reminded Israel that God is pure and must be approached with awe. The structure itself testified to His desire to dwell among His people, even while maintaining His transcendence.
In the New Testament, the veil tearing at Christ’s death signals a new reality. Through Jesus, believers now have confidence to enter the true sanctuary in heaven. We do not need earthly priests or annual rituals. Instead, we come directly to God through the Son who opened the way for us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ innermost room7×
- [the] innermost room of3×
- in the/ innermost room2×
- to/ an innermost room1×
- and/ an innermost room1×
- and/ <to> the/ innermost room1×
- [belonged] to the/ innermost room1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/דְּבִ֔יר4×
- דְּבִ֥יר3×
- הַ/דְּבִ֖יר2×
- בַּ/דְּבִ֔יר2×
- לַ/דְּבִ֖יר1×
- לִ/דְבִ֔יר1×
- וּ/דְבִ֧יר1×
- וְ/לַ/דְּבִ֑יר1×
- הַ/דְּבִ֡יר1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 6:19
He prepared an inner sanctuary in the middle of the house within, to set the ark of Yahweh’s covenant there.
This verse specifies that the inner sanctuary was prepared specifically to hold the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, identifying it as the dwelling place of God's presence.
-
I Kings 8:6
The priests brought in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most holy place, even under the cherubim’s wings.
Here the priests bring the ark into this most holy place under the wings of the cherubim, showing the culmination of Solomon's dedication ceremony.
-
Psalms 28:2
Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
The psalmist lifts his hands toward this Most Holy Place in prayer, demonstrating how the physical sanctuary became a focal point for personal petition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does debir mean in the Bible?
Why is debir linked to the word for 'speech'?
How does debir relate to Christian worship today?
Every Occurrence (16 verses across 3 books)
I Kings 11 verses
Against the wall of the house, he built floors all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the…
I Kings 6:16He built twenty cubits of the back part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling. He built this…
I Kings 6:19He prepared an inner sanctuary in the middle of the house within, to set the ark of Yahweh’s covenant there.
I Kings 6:20Within the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in its height. He…
I Kings 6:21So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold. He drew chains of gold across before the inner sanctuary, and he…
I Kings 6:22He overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished. He also overlaid the whole altar that belonged…
I Kings 6:23In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
I Kings 6:31For the entrance of the inner sanctuary, he made doors of olive wood. The lintel and door posts were a fifth part of…
I Kings 7:49and the lamp stands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary, of pure gold; and…
I Kings 8:6The priests brought in the ark of Yahweh’s covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the most…
I Kings 8:8The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary, but they…