Original Word: דֹּבְרָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: dobrah
Pronunciation: doh-beh-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (do-ber-aw')
KJV: float
NASB: rafts
Word Origin: [feminine active participle of H1696 (דָּבַר - spoke) in the sense of driving]

1. a raft

float

Feminine active participle of dabar in the sense of driving (compare dober); a raft -- float.

see HEBREW dabar

see HEBREW dober

Word Origin
from dabar
Definition
floats, rafts
NASB Translation
rafts (1).

דֹּבְרוֺת noun feminine plural floats, rafts 1 Kings 5:23.

Biblical Occurrence

דֹּבְרָה (dovrah) appears only once, in 1 Kings 5:9, where Hiram of Tyre promises Solomon, “I will make them into rafts and float them by sea to the place you designate” (Berean Standard Bible). The word designates the temporary log‐rafts that ferried cedar and cypress timber from Lebanon’s coast southward toward Israelite ports.

Historical Context

In the tenth century B.C., Solomon’s construction of the temple and royal palace demanded vast quantities of high‐quality lumber unavailable in Judah’s hill country. Hiram’s Phoenician craftsmen were renowned mariners. By binding felled trunks into dovrot (rafts) they created seaworthy platforms capable of bearing massive loads along the Mediterranean shoreline. The Phoenicians then broke the rafts apart at the destination so the logs could be transported overland to Jerusalem.

Engineering and Trade Significance

1. Innovation in Maritime Transport: The dovrah exemplifies ancient Near Eastern ingenuity—using buoyancy to solve overland hauling limitations.
2. International Cooperation: The venture joined Israelite laborers with Tyrian sailors, illustrating early globalization of resources and skills.
3. Economic Exchange: Timber was bartered for agricultural produce (1 Kings 5:11), showing a balanced import–export relationship that strengthened political alliances.

Spiritual and Theological Insights

1. Provision for Worship: Every dovrah carried timber destined for the house of the LORD (1 Kings 6:14). Even the logistical details underscore God’s provision for sacred worship.
2. Unity of Peoples: The cedars floated on dovrot symbolize Gentile partnership in preparing a dwelling place for God, foreshadowing the inclusion of the nations in redemptive history (Isaiah 60:10–13; Ephesians 2:14–22).
3. Ordered Service: The careful construction, navigation, and disassembly of each raft mirrors the orderly service God requires of His people (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Practical Application for Ministry

• Strategic Planning: Like Hiram’s rafts, effective ministry identifies obstacles and devises creative solutions that steward resources for the kingdom.
• Collaborative Leadership: Solomon and Hiram model cooperative leadership that honors covenantal commitments, encouraging modern believers to pursue partnerships that advance gospel purposes.
• Faithful Support Roles: Most workers who bound logs into dovrot never saw the finished temple, yet their unseen labor was essential. Likewise, behind-the-scenes service in the church contributes to God’s visible glory (Colossians 3:23–24).

Summary

Though דֹּבְרָה surfaces only once, its single appearance opens a window on ancient maritime engineering, international diplomacy, and the sovereign orchestration of resources for God’s house. The humble raft teaches timeless lessons on ingenuity, cooperation, and faithful service in accomplishing the purposes of the Lord.

דֹּבְר֤וֹת דברות dō·ḇə·rō·wṯ dōḇərōwṯ doeRotInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts