← H2266 H2268 →

חֶבֶר

𐤇𐤁𐤓

cheber

H2267 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חבר to join, bind, associate, be in company with

Definition

Association, alliance, or company formed by individuals; also, a binding agreement or compact between people. In certain contexts, 'cheber' can denote the idea of joining together for good or ill, including forming alliances, gatherings, or societies. Additionally, it may refer to an incantation or spell, suggesting a joining or binding together of words for magical purposes. The word emphasizes the act or state of being joined, whether socially, relationally, or ritually.

Semantic Range

association, alliance, company, group, band, society, spell, incantation, enchantment; binding agreement or compact; the act or state of being joined; magical binding or sorcery

Root / Etymology

From the root חָבַר (ḥ-b-r), meaning 'to join, bind, associate.' The noun חֶבֶר derives from this root, referring to the product or state of joining—i.e., a company, association, or spell. The connection to incantation or spell arises from the idea of words being woven or bound together.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, 'cheber' primarily denotes a group, band, or association—often in the context of a group bound together by common purpose, which can be legitimate (e.g., social or military alliance) or illicit (e.g., conspiratorial or occultic association). In some prophetic and legal contexts, 'cheber' is specifically used to describe associations considered negative (as in Deut 18:11, where it refers to magical or occult practice). Its sense of 'spell' or 'enchantment' appears where verbal binding is in view. English translations often render 'cheber' as 'company' or 'association,' but sometimes as 'spell' or 'enchantment' based on context; these varied translations reflect the breadth of the term's usage. In later Hebrew, derivatives of the root remain in use for associations or societies. Contrast with related terms like עֵדָה ('assembly, congregation'), which generally denotes larger, organized gatherings of Israelites, whereas 'cheber' focuses on the act or quality of joining or alignment, whether formalized or informal.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָבַר; a society; also a spell; [phrase] charmer(-ing), company, enchantment, [idiom] wide.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

חבר (ḥ-b-r) — to join, bind, associate, be in company with

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2249 חָבוֹר and in Chabor
H2250 חַבּוּרָה welt-mark
H2266 חָבַר let me bind together
H2268 חֶבֶר Association
H2269 חֲבַר his companions

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2267-03 חָ֑בֶר chaver HNcmsa a spell association 3
H2267-01 חֲבָרַ֖יִ/ךְ chavarayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs of your enchantments your alliances 1
H2267-02 חֲבָרִ֣ים chavarim HNcmpa charms associations 1
H2267-05 בַ/חֲבָרַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ vachavarayikhe HR/Ncmpc/Sp2fs in your spells your binding-companies 1
H2267-04 חֶ֚בֶר chever HNcmsc company Association 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2267-03 Deuteronomy 18:11 חָ֑בֶר chaver HNcmsa a spell association
H2267-01 Isaiah 47:9 חֲבָרַ֖יִ/ךְ chavarayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs of your enchantments your alliances
H2267-05 Isaiah 47:12 בַ/חֲבָרַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ vachavarayikhe HR/Ncmpc/Sp2fs in your spells your binding-companies
H2267-04 Hosea 6:9 חֶ֚בֶר chever HNcmsc company Association
H2267-02 Psalms 58:6 חֲבָרִ֣ים chavarim HNcmpa charms associations
H2267-03 Proverbs 21:9 חָֽבֶר chaver HNcmsa shared association
H2267-03 Proverbs 25:24 חָֽבֶר chaver HNcmsa of fellowship association
← H2266 Hebrew Lexicon H2268 →