Lexical Summary
Debir: Debir
Original Word:דְּבִיר
Part of Speech:proper name, masculine; proper name, of a location a.
Transliteration:Dbiyr
Pronunciation:deh-BEER
Phonetic Spelling:(deb-eer')
KJV: Debir
NASB:Debir
Word Origin:[the same asH1687 (דְּבִיר דֶּבִר - inner sanctuary)]
1. Debir, the name of an Amoritish king and of two places in Israel
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Debir
Or (shortened) Dbir (Josh. 13:26 (but seeLo' Dbar)) {deb-eer'}; the same asdbiyr; Debir, the name of an Amoritish king and of two places in Palestine -- Debir.
see HEBREWLo' Dbar
see HEBREWdbiyr
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
debirDefinitionan Amorite king, also the name of several places in Pal.
NASB TranslationDebir (14).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II.
Joshua 10:3.
with locative, northern border JudahJoshua 15:7 (westward HupPsalm 28:2).
town of the GaditesJoshua 13:26, perhapsLôdebâr2 Samuel 9:4 see Di MV.
Judges 1:11 (twice in verse);1 Chronicles 6:43,Joshua 10:38,39, elsewhereJoshua 15:15 +, a royal city of Canaanites anciently calledJoshua 15:15;Judges 1:11,Joshua 15:49; on the mountains of Judah, in region of HebronJoshua 11:21;Joshua 15:49, assigned to the Aaronite priestsJoshua 21:15 as a city of refuge1 Chronicles 6:43; modernDhoherîye, 5 hours southwest from Hebron, according to Kn, so Surveyiii. 402; other conjectures in DiJoshua 10:39 RiHWB 265.
Topical Lexicon
Occurrences in ScriptureDebir appears fourteen times in the Hebrew Scriptures (Joshua 10:3; 10:38; 10:39; 11:21; 12:13; 13:26; 15:7; 15:15; 15:15; 15:49; 21:15;Judges 1:11;Judges 1:11;1 Chronicles 6:58). The term designates both a Canaanite king and several locations principally connected with the tribe of Judah and, secondarily, with Gad.
Debir, King of Eglon
Joshua 10:3 lists “Debir king of Eglon” among the five Amorite rulers who formed a coalition against Gibeon after its treaty with Israel. His defeat under Joshua’s leadership (Joshua 10:23–26) underscores the Lord’s faithfulness in delivering the land to Israel exactly as promised (Joshua 1:3–5). The record of Debir’s demise serves as a reminder that earthly power cannot withstand God’s resolve to establish His covenant people.
Debir, the Judean Stronghold (Formerly Kiriath-Sepher / Kiriath-Sannah)
1. Conquest under Joshua
Joshua turned “back to Debir and fought against it” (Joshua 10:38). Verse 39 testifies, “He captured it and its king and all its villages. He left no survivor”. The victory forms part of a sweeping southern campaign that neutralized key fortified centers south of Hebron.
2. Re-capture by Caleb and Othniel
Joshua 15:15–17 andJudges 1:11–13 relate how Caleb challenged, “Whoever attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him my daughter Achsah in marriage.” Othniel answered the call and secured Debir. Their account highlights:
• Courage rooted in faith—Caleb’s confidence that the LORD would grant victory even to an aging warrior (Joshua 14:10–12).
• The reward of faithfulness—Achsah received “the upper and lower springs” (Joshua 15:19), illustrating how God supplies both “water from above” and “water from below” to His heirs.
• Preparation for leadership—Othniel later became Israel’s first recorded judge (Judges 3:9–11), delivering the nation from Mesopotamian oppression.
3. Levitical City
Joshua 21:15 and1 Chronicles 6:58 place Debir among the towns given to the sons of Aaron within Judah. That allocation situated priestly ministry at a former Canaanite stronghold, turning conquered territory into a center for teaching God’s law—an earthly picture of redemption that converts former enemy ground into sacred service.
4. Geographic Identification
Archaeological consensus frequently situates Debir at Khirbet Rabud, roughly fifteen kilometers southwest of Hebron. The site’s elevated terrain and substantial fortification lines align with the biblical portrayal of a defensible city yet vulnerable before the LORD’s mandate.
The Border of Debir in Gad
Joshua 13:26 references “the border of Debir” while defining the inheritance east of the Jordan. Whether this Debir marks a different settlement or a fort outpost remains debated, but its inclusion indicates the name’s broader regional usage and the reach of Israel’s occupation.
Debir on Judah’s Northern Boundary
Joshua 15:7 situates Debir near the Valley of Achor when delineating Judah’s northern line. Some scholars equate this with the “Stone of Bohan” locale; others view it as a marker rather than a settled town. Either way, it functioned as a legal point in the tribal allotment, affirming God’s orderly distribution of the land.
Theological Reflections
1. Divine Ownership and Human Agency
Debir’s repeated conquests demonstrate the interplay between God’s sovereign promise and human obedience. Joshua executed overarching strategy; Caleb and Othniel pursued localized objectives. Each victory magnified “the LORD God of Israel [who] fought for Israel” (Joshua 10:42).
2. Transformation of Places and People
The city once known as “Kiriath-Sepher” (“City of the Book”) became a Levitical center where God’s word would be taught. Likewise, Othniel advanced from conqueror to judge, and Achsah’s dowry of springs turned arid land into fruitful inheritance, foreshadowing spiritual springs offered through Christ (John 4:14).
3. Christological Anticipation
Debir’s storyline of promised land obtained through faith-driven conflict prefigures the believer’s spiritual rest secured in Jesus (Hebrews 4:8–10). The city’s transformation from pagan stronghold to priestly dwelling anticipates the redeemed creation wherein “the dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3).
Summary
From a defiant Canaanite monarch to fortified cities along crucial territorial lines, Debir stands as a testament to the reliability of God’s word, the necessity of courageous obedience, and the gracious conversion of enemy ground into holy service. The biblical record invites followers of Christ to persevere in faith, assured that, like Caleb and Othniel, they labor under the banner of an unfailing covenant-keeping Lord.
Forms and Transliterations
דְּבִ֑יר דְּבִ֑ר דְּבִ֑רָה דְּבִ֖יר דְּבִ֖ר דְּבִ֣ר דְּבִ֥יר דְּבִ֥ר דְּבִר֙ דְּבִרָה֮ דְבִֽר׃ דביר דבר דבר׃ דברה לִדְבִ֙רָה֙ לִדְבִֽר׃ לדבר׃ לדברה də·ḇi·rāh də·ḇir də·ḇîr ḏə·ḇir dəḇir dəḇîr ḏəḇir dəḇirāh deVir deVirah liḏ·ḇi·rāh liḏ·ḇir liḏḇir liḏḇirāh lidVir lidVirah
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