Deborah

Revision History

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10/6/2024, 9:08 PM Mike C update #116
5/29/2020, 9:30 PM Mike C update #108
2/28/2019, 2:08 PM Mike C update #102
1/22/2019, 10:01 AM Mike C update #101
12/8/2017, 12:41 PM Mike C update #97
10/20/2016, 1:17 AM Mike C update #93
12/3/2014, 12:28 AM Mike C update #89
3/21/2014, 10:33 PM Mike C update #88
2/12/2007, 1:03 AM Mike C earliest recorded revision

Gender Feminine
Usage English, Biblical
Scripts דְּבוֹרָה(Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced Pron. /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/(English) /ˈdɛb.ɹə/(English)

Meaning & History

From the Hebrew name דְּבוֹרָה (Devora) meaning "bee". In the Old Testament Book of Judges, Deborah is a heroine and prophetess who leads the Israelites when they are threatened by the Canaanites. She forms an army under the command of Barak, and together they destroy the army of the Canaanite commander Sisera. Also in the Old Testament, this is the name of the nurse of Rebecca.

Long a common Jewish name, Deborah was first used by English Christians after the Protestant Reformation, and it was popular among the Puritans.