Ἐβέρ

Ebér

G1443 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Eber; a personal name referring to a distant ancestor of the Israelites, specifically an early postdiluvian patriarch. In the New Testament, Ἐβέρ always designates the genealogical figure 'Eber' from Israelite tradition, never functioning as a common noun or title. The term is used exclusively as a proper noun and does not carry additional narrative or administrative significance beyond its identification as an individual in a genealogy.

Semantic Range

personal name of a genealogical ancestor (Eber), specific figure in ancestral lists, never used as a title or common noun

Root / Etymology

From Hebrew עֵבֵר (ʿ Ēḇer), traditionally understood as deriving from the root ע-ב-ר, meaning 'to cross' or 'to pass over,' possibly indicating 'the one who crosses over' or 'region beyond.' The Greek form Ἐβέρ is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew name rather than a native Greek word.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the New Testament (Luke 3:35), Ἐβέρ appears within the genealogy of Yeshua, preserving the figure known from Genesis 10–11 (LXX: Εβερ). In Israelite tradition, Eber is presented as an ancestor of Abraham and thus a forebear of the Israelites ('Hebrews'), though the term does not automatically imply ethnic or geographic identity in Greek usage; it is strictly nominative. The Greek spelling maintains phonetic closeness to the Hebrew, indicating deliberate retention of Israelite genealogical designations by Greek translators. No evidence exists for autonomous use of the term Ἐβέρ in Greek outside scriptural genealogies. English Bible traditions transliterate the name as 'Eber.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (עֵבֵר); Eber, a patriarch:--Eber.

Root Family

Ἐβέρ (Ebér) — proper name, personal name, ancestor

Root Ἐβερ- proper name, personal name, ancestor

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1443-01 Ἔβερ eber N GEN M SG Eber of Eber Eber 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1443-01 Luke 3:35 Ἔβερ eber N GEN M SG Eber of Eber Eber