חֶבֶר
𐤇𐤁𐤓
cheber
H2267 noun
SILEX Entry
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.
Translation Consistency
The primary and most common sense of חֶבֶר is a social grouping—an association, band, or alliance. "Company" is natural English, captures companionship and collective association, and is the traditional rendering in many translations; the rare sense of "incantation" is secondary and will be handled separately.
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 recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
חבר (Chever) — to bind, join, associate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2250 | חַבּוּרָה | welt-mark |
| H2266 | חָבַר | let me bind together |
| H2268 | חֶבֶר | Association |
| H2269 | חֲבַר | his companions |
| H2270 | חָבֵר | joined companion |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2267-03 |
חָ֑בֶר | chaver | HNcmsa |
a spell | association | company | 3 |
H2267-01 |
חֲבָרַ֖יִ/ךְ | chavarayikhe | HNcmpc/Sp2fs |
of your enchantments | your alliances | your enchantments | 1 |
H2267-02 |
חֲבָרִ֣ים | chavarim | HNcmpa |
charms | associations | incantations | 1 |
H2267-04 |
חֶ֚בֶר | chever | HNcmsc |
company | Association | company | 1 |
H2267-05 |
בַ/חֲבָרַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ | vachavarayikhe | HR/Ncmpc/Sp2fs |
in your spells | your binding-companies | your binding-companies | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2267-03 |
Deuteronomy 18:11 | חָ֑בֶר | chaver | HNcmsa |
a spell | association | spell |
H2267-01 |
Isaiah 47:9 | חֲבָרַ֖יִ/ךְ | chavarayikhe | HNcmpc/Sp2fs |
of your enchantments | your alliances | your enchantments |
H2267-05 |
Isaiah 47:12 | בַ/חֲבָרַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ | vachavarayikhe | HR/Ncmpc/Sp2fs |
in your spells | your binding-companies | your binding-companies |
H2267-04 |
Hosea 6:9 | חֶ֚בֶר | chever | HNcmsc |
company | Association | company |
H2267-02 |
Psalms 58:6 | חֲבָרִ֣ים | chavarim | HNcmpa |
charms | associations | incantations |
H2267-03 |
Proverbs 21:9 | חָֽבֶר | chaver | HNcmsa |
shared | association | company |
H2267-03 |
Proverbs 25:24 | חָֽבֶר | chaver | HNcmsa |
of fellowship | association | company |