English · KJV
H1682

דְּבוֹרָה

dᵉbôwrâh /deb-o-raw'/ Ask about this word
Rootor (shortened) דְּבֹרָה · from דָבַר (in the sense of orderly motion)
Meaningthe bee (from its systematic instincts)
KJV usagebee.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of dᵉbôwrâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word dᵉbôwrâh, represented by H1682, is the word for bee. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. The term is derived from a root word suggesting "orderly motion," reflecting the bee's systematic instincts.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H1682 is most often employed as a powerful simile for aggressive adversaries. The Amorites are described as having chased the Israelites as bees do Deuteronomy 1:44, and the psalmist laments being surrounded by enemies "like bees" Psalms 118:12. In a prophetic context, the bee from the land of Assyria serves as a metaphor for an invading army summoned by the Lord Isaiah 7:18. A literal use of the word appears in the account of Samson, who finds a swarm of bees and honey inside a lion's carcass Judges 14:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide further context for the meaning of dᵉbôwrâh:

  • H1706 dᵉbash (honey): This word for honey, meaning "gummy" or "sticky," is found alongside a swarm of bees in Samson's story Judges 14:8 and is famously used to describe the promised land as one "flowing with milk and honey" Exodus 3:8.
  • H5712 ʻêdâh (swarm): Defined as a stated assemblage, company, or swarm, this term is used to describe the collective group of bees discovered by Samson Judges 14:8.
  • H2070 zᵉbûwb (fly): This word for a fly, especially one of a stinging nature, is paired with the bee in Isaiah's prophecy, where the Lord will hiss for the fly of Egypt and the bee of Assyria Isaiah 7:18.

Theological Significance

The use of H1682 in scripture highlights several key themes:

  • Symbol of Overwhelming Attack: The bee is used to illustrate a relentless and numerous enemy. In their pursuit of Israel, the Amorites are compared to bees Deuteronomy 1:44, and the psalmist feels beset on all sides by his foes in the same way Psalms 118:12.
  • Agent of Divine Judgment: The bee is elevated to a symbol of God's sovereign power over nations. The Lord "hissing" for the bee of Assyria indicates that this enemy army is an instrument wielded by God to enact his purposes Isaiah 7:18.
  • A Natural Paradox: The account in Judges presents a dual image. The dangerous swarm of bees H1682 is also the source of something good: honey H1706 Judges 14:8. This highlights the unexpected ways blessing can emerge from a potentially threatening situation.

Summary

In summary, H1682 is more than just an insect. It serves primarily as a vivid biblical metaphor for a swarming, aggressive force, whether an enemy army or personal foes. Its use extends to representing nations deployed by God for judgment. Yet, through its connection to honey, it also points to the theme of finding sweetness and sustenance in unexpected and even dangerous places, as seen in the narrative of Samson.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • דְּבֹרִים
  • דְּבוֹרָה

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1706 דְּבַשׁ from an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup; honey(-comb). H5712 עֵדָה feminine of עֵד in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family H2070 זְבוּב from an unused root (meaning to flit); a fly (especially one of a stinging nature); fly.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 4 of the 39 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 35.

1
Deuteronomy
1
Judges
1
Psalms
1
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.