גְּבַר
𐤂𐤁𐤓
gᵉbar
H1399 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A human individual, typically an adult male; term generally designating a person, with some emphasis on the aspect of being a male human, but primarily denotes 'man' or 'person' in a broad sense. It lacks the poetic or valorous nuance sometimes present in other Hebrew terms for 'man.'
Semantic Range
man, person, adult male, individual (in Aramaic sections, especially Daniel and Ezra)
Root / Etymology
From the root גבר (g-b-r), meaning 'to be strong', 'to prevail', or 'to be mighty'. גְּבַר is an Aramaic loanword in Biblical Hebrew, directly related to the Hebrew גֶּבֶר (gever), itself a derivative of the same root. While the root gives the sense of strength or might, in practical usage the word functions simply to refer to a man or person without necessarily implying those qualities.
Historical & Contextual Notes
גְּבַר occurs only in the later biblical books written in Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (notably in Daniel, Ezra), where it is the standard word for 'man' or 'person', replacing the more common Hebrew terms אִישׁ (ish) or גֶּבֶר (gever). Its usage reflects the linguistic shift toward Aramaic during the exilic and post-exilic periods. In these contexts, it lacks the poetic, valorous, or specific connotations gaver/gibbor may have in earlier phases of biblical literature. English translations frequently render it as 'man' or 'person', sometimes without recognizing distinctions in register or nuance between Hebrew and Aramaic portions. The English term 'Jew' is not related to this word and does not appear in these passages, but later translations and tradition sometimes conflate diverse terms for people in the context of the exilic community.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גָּבַר; the same as גֶּבֶר; a person; man.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גבר (g-b-r) — to be strong, to prevail, to be mighty
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1368 | גִּבּוֹר | the mighty ones |
| H1369 | גְּבוּרָה | in mighty strength |
| H1370 | גְּבוּרָה | and the might |
| H1376 | גְּבִיר | mighty master |
| H1377 | גְּבִירָה | the ruling lady |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1399-01 |
גְּבַ֥ר | gevar | HNcmsa |
the upright man | man | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1399-01 |
Psalms 18:26 | גְּבַ֥ר | gevar | HNcmsa |
the upright man | man |