sql - Replace multiple instances of exact word in a string -

i have address column in table want replace word. query replaces partial matches:

select replace('the bthe them', 'the', 'abc')

for above example, desired output should be:

abc bthe abc them

but output is:

abc babc abc abcm

how solve this?

select replace(' ' + column + ' ', ' ', ' abc ') table

output:

abc bthe abc them

i assuming selecting table when replacing values in strings. 'column' column in table selecting contains value wanting use replace function on.

JVParth