דּוּר (dur)
dur
to dwell
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb dur means simply to dwell or reside. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Daniel 4:30, where King Nebuchadnezzar boasts about his capital city. The word carries the same basic sense as its Hebrew counterpart dur (H1752), reflecting the linguistic continuity between the two languages during the period when Aramaic served as a common tongue.
Its single occurrence highlights a moment of human pride rather than divine instruction. Nebuchadnezzar uses it to describe his own establishment of Babylon, framing his reign as a stable, enduring presence. This usage underscores how the term functions in narrative contexts to denote physical habitation or political stability, without additional theological nuance.
Because it is rare and confined to this specific historical declaration, dur does not develop a broad semantic range in Scripture. Translators consistently render it as "dwell" or "made," preserving its straightforward meaning. The word serves as a linguistic marker of the Aramaic sections of Daniel, reminding readers of the bilingual nature of the text and the everyday language used to describe imperial power.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dur describes the simple act of dwelling or residing in a place. In Scripture, it appears only once, in Daniel 4:30, where King Nebuchadnezzar boasts about his own power and stability. He uses this term to highlight how firmly he has established his reign over Babylon. This moment serves as a reminder that human strength and political control are temporary.
While we may find comfort in our own homes or careers, true security does not come from what we build. The Bible points us toward a different kind of dwelling—one rooted in God’s presence rather than our own achievements. When life feels unstable, we can look to the Lord as our ultimate refuge.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [are] dwelling1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דָֽיְרִ֣ין1×