דְּתָבָר (de.ta.var)
de.ta.var
judge
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun datavar refers to a judge or an official who interprets laws and decrees. It appears only twice in the Bible, both times in the Book of Daniel (Daniel 7:10 and 7:26). In these verses, it describes figures in the heavenly court who preside over judgment alongside the Ancient of Days.
This word is a loan from Persian, derived from dâtabara, meaning "law-bearer" or one who carries out legal authority. Its limited use highlights a specific administrative role within the narrative’s apocalyptic vision, emphasizing the formal and authoritative nature of divine justice rather than general human judging.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word datavar appears in Daniel to describe officials who uphold legal authority. In the ancient world, judges were not merely arbiters of disputes but guardians of order and truth. This role reminds us that justice is a sacred responsibility, reflecting God’s own character as the ultimate Judge.
When we face unfairness or confusion, this word offers comfort. It assures us that human systems may falter, but divine justice remains steadfast. The heavenly court described in Daniel shows that God sees all things and will ultimately set every wrong right. We can trust in His perfect judgment even when earthly outcomes seem unclear.
This understanding invites us to live with integrity. Just as judges are called to uphold the law, we are invited to reflect God’s fairness in our daily interactions. It is a gentle call to align our lives with truth, knowing that our efforts are seen and valued by the One who judges with righteousness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- judges/ the2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דְּתָבְרַיָּ/א֙1×
- דְּתָ֨בְרַיָּ֜/א1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 3:2
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
This verse lists datavar among Nebuchadnezzar’s officials, showing how the term was used for high-ranking administrators in the Persian-influenced court.
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Daniel 3:3
Then the local governors, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces were gathered together to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Here the judges gather to witness the king’s idol, highlighting their role as key figures in maintaining the political and religious order of the empire.