עָבַר
𐤏𐤁𐤓
ʻâbar
H5674 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To pass over, cross, or traverse a physical or conceptual boundary; to proceed beyond or through, whether literally (crossing a river, territory, or threshold) or figuratively (overcoming, transgressing, or passing a point of time or action). Used in a wide variety of contexts, including: moving from one side to another, the passing of years or time, the act of transgressing a command or limit, removal or taking away, experiencing or enduring an event, causing something or someone to cross or move, and in specific idioms such as proclaiming (as in 'to make something pass over the lips') and in euphemisms for sexual intercourse (to cover or enter).
Semantic Range
to cross (a river, road, boundary), to traverse a distance, to go through, to pass by, to pass away (cease to exist), to make something or someone cross, to transfer, to remove, to escape, to transgress a law or command, to proclaim (cause to be proclaimed), to cover sexually, to incite anger, to alter, to travel, to change condition, to be delivered or handed over
Root / Etymology
Root ע-ב-ר (עָבַר); core meaning: to cross, pass over. The verb derives directly from the root, with the base idea of movement from one side to another, whether physical, temporal, or metaphorical. Its various stems (Qal, Piel, Hiphil, etc.) express simple, intensive, and causative nuances of 'passing over' or 'causing to pass over.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
עָבַר is one of the most widely used and polyvalent verbs in Biblical Hebrew, covering literal, spatial movement (crossing a river, entering a land), temporal transitions (passing days or years), as well as metaphorical senses (transgression of laws, removal, transferal, changing status). In legal and prophetic contexts, it often refers to transgressing commandments or authority, hence developments such as 'transgressor.' The act of proclaiming (e.g., Jubilees, announcements) involves the idiomatic use 'to make pass over' the land or people. In some texts, the root also forms the basis for terms for 'traveller' or 'wayfarer' (עֹבֵר דֶּרֶךְ). The term also appears in sexual euphemism and in idioms for causing things to cease or be removed. In later Hebrew/Judean usage, related nouns came to denote 'Hebrew' (עִבְרִי), likely referring to one 'from beyond' (the river). English translations vary widely; no single rendering captures all uses. Differentiated from other motion verbs (e.g., בּוֹא 'to come', יָצָא 'to go out', חלף 'to pass by'). Frequency and breadth of use remain constant from early biblical to late Second Temple periods, while post-biblical usage increasingly narrows towards the idea of 'transgress.'
Translation Consistency
The primary and most natural sense across contexts is to go or carry something/someone over a boundary or from one side to another. Corpus frequency favors "cross/crossed," and this verb covers literal crossings (rivers, roads, thresholds) and the common figurative senses (passing beyond limits, traversing time or states). Less common senses (transgress, pass away, proclaim, sexual euphemism) will be handled by context-specific wording, but a single consistent base verb of "cross" best matches the typical usage and yields natural English inflections.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
עבר (Avar) — to pass over, to cross, to traverse
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5668 | עָבוּר | for the sake of |
| H5675 | עֲבַר | he crossed over |
| H5678 | עֶבְרָה | overflowing rages |
| H5679 | עֲבָרָה | the crossing-place |
| H5680 | עִבְרִי | the crosser-over |
Word Forms
130 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5674-61 |
עֹבֵ֥ר | over | HVqrmsa |
passing by | one crossing over | one crossing over | 49 |
H5674-88 |
וַ/יַּעֲבֹ֣ר | vayaavor | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he passed through | and he crossed over | and he crossed over | 38 |
H5674-02 |
עָבַ֧ר | avar | HVqp3ms |
crossed | he crossed over | he crossed over | 30 |
H5674-63 |
עֹבְרִ֗ים | overim | HVqrmpa |
passing over | the crossing-ones | the crossing-ones | 29 |
H5674-126 |
יַעֲבֹ֧ר | yaavor | HVqi3ms |
pass | he will cross over | he will cross over | 27 |
H5674-15 |
עָבְר֤וּ | averu | HVqp3cp |
passed over | they crossed over | they crossed over | 26 |
H5674-94 |
וְ/עָבָ֑ר | veavar | HC/Vqp3ms |
and passed | and he crossed over | and it crossed over | 24 |
H5674-81 |
וַ/יַּעַבְר֤וּ | vayaaveru | HC/Vqw3mp |
and they crossed | and they crossed over | and they crossed over | 21 |
H5674-45 |
לַֽ/עֲבֹר֙ | laavor | HR/Vqc |
to cross over | to cross over | to cross over | 14 |
H5674-40 |
עִבְר֣וּ | iveru | HVqv2mp |
pass over | Cross over! | Cross over | 13 |
Occurrences in Scripture
562 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5674-03 |
Numbers 14:7 | עָבַ֤רְנוּ | avarenu | HVqp1cp |
we passed through | we crossed over | we crossed over |
H5674-63 |
Numbers 14:41 | עֹבְרִ֖ים | overim | HVqrmpa |
transgress | the crossing-ones | the crossing-ones |
H5674-60 |
Numbers 20:17 | נַעְבְּרָה | naeberah | HVqh1cp |
let us pass | let us cross over | let us cross over |
H5674-59 |
Numbers 20:17 | נַעֲבֹר֙ | naavor | HVqi1cp |
we will pass | we will cross over | we will cross over |
H5674-59 |
Numbers 20:17 | נַעֲבֹ֖ר | naavor-2 | HVqi1cp |
we pass | we will cross over | we will cross over |
H5674-69 |
Numbers 20:18 | תַעֲבֹ֖ר | taavor | HVqi2ms |
you shall pass | may you cross over | shall you cross over |
H5674-25 |
Numbers 20:19 | אֶֽעֱבֹֽרָה | eevorah | HVqh1cs |
I will pass through | let me cross over | let me cross |
H5674-69 |
Numbers 20:20 | תַעֲבֹ֑ר | taavor | HVqi2ms |
you shall pass | may you cross over | may you cross over |
H5674-16 |
Numbers 20:21 | עֲבֹ֖ר | avor | HVqc |
passage | Cross over | Cross over |
H5674-23 |
Numbers 21:22 | אֶעְבְּרָ֣ה | eeberah | HVqh1cs |
Let me pass through | Let me cross over | Let me cross over |
H5674-59 |
Numbers 21:22 | נַעֲבֹ֖ר | naavor | HVqi1cp |
we have passed | we will cross over | we will cross over |
H5674-16 |
Numbers 21:23 | עֲבֹ֣ר | avor | HVqc |
to pass | Cross over | to cross over |
H5674-45 |
Numbers 22:18 | לַ/עֲבֹר֙ | laavor | HR/Vqc |
to go beyond | to cross over | to go beyond |
H5674-16 |
Numbers 22:26 | עֲב֑וֹר | avor | HVqc |
to pass | Cross over | Cross over |
H5674-45 |
Numbers 24:13 | לַ/עֲבֹר֙ | laavor | HR/Vqc |
to transgress | to cross over | to cross over |
H5674-100 |
Numbers 27:7 | וְ/הַֽעֲבַרְתָּ֛ | vehaavareta | HC/Vhq2ms |
and you shall cause to pass | and you caused to cross over | and you shall cause to pass |
H5674-101 |
Numbers 27:8 | וְ/הַֽעֲבַרְתֶּ֥ם | vehaavaretem | HC/Vhq2mp |
then you shall transfer | and you shall cause to cross over | and you shall cause to cross over |
H5674-68 |
Numbers 31:23 | תַּעֲבִ֤ירוּ | taaviru | HVhi2mp |
you shall make pass | you will cause to cross over | you will cause to cross |
H5674-68 |
Numbers 31:23 | תַּעֲבִ֥ירוּ | taaviru-2 | HVhi2mp |
you shall make pass | you will cause to cross over | you will cause to cross |
H5674-67 |
Numbers 32:5 | תַּעֲבִרֵ֖/נוּ | taavirenu | HVhj2ms/Sp1cp |
make us cross | make us cross over | make us cross over |
H5674-54 |
Numbers 32:7 | מֵֽ/עֲבֹר֙ | meavor | HR/Vqc |
from crossing over | from crossing over | from crossing over |
H5674-94 |
Numbers 32:21 | וְ/עָבַ֨ר | veavar | HC/Vqq3ms |
and cross over | and he crossed over | and cross over |
H5674-121 |
Numbers 32:27 | יַֽעַבְר֜וּ | yaaveru | HVqi3mp |
will pass over | they will cross over | they will cross |
H5674-121 |
Numbers 32:29 | יַעַבְר֣וּ | yaaveru | HVqi3mp |
they cross over | they will cross over | they will cross |
H5674-121 |
Numbers 32:30 | יַֽעַבְר֛וּ | yaaveru | HVqi3mp |
they cross over | they will cross over | they will cross |
H5674-59 |
Numbers 32:32 | נַעֲבֹ֧ר | naavor | HVqi1cp |
will pass over | we will cross over | we will cross over |
H5674-81 |
Numbers 33:8 | וַ/יַּֽעַבְר֥וּ | vayaaveru | HC/Vqw3mp |
and passed through | and they crossed over | and they crossed over |
H5674-63 |
Numbers 33:51 | עֹבְרִ֥ים | overim | HVqrmpa |
cross over | the crossing-ones | the crossing-ones |
H5674-94 |
Numbers 34:4 | וְ/עָ֣בַר | veavar | HC/Vqq3ms |
and pass on | and he crossed over | and it will cross over |
H5674-94 |
Numbers 34:4 | וְ/עָבַ֥ר | veavar-2 | HC/Vqq3ms |
and pass on | and he crossed over | and it will cross over |
H5674-63 |
Numbers 35:10 | עֹבְרִ֥ים | overim | HVqrmpa |
crossing | the crossing-ones | the crossing-ones |
H5674-63 |
Deuteronomy 2:4 | עֹֽבְרִ֗ים | overim | HVqrmpa |
passing through | the crossing-ones | the crossing-ones |
H5674-77 |
Deuteronomy 2:8 | וַֽ/נַּעֲבֹ֞ר | vanaavor | HC/Vqw1cp |
and we passed over | and we crossed over | and we crossed over |
H5674-77 |
Deuteronomy 2:8 | וַֽ/נַּעֲבֹ֔ר | vanaavor-2 | HC/Vqw1cp |
and we passed over | and we crossed over | and we crossed over |
H5674-107 |
Deuteronomy 2:13 | וְ/עִבְר֥וּ | veiveru | HC/Vqv2mp |
and cross over | And cross over | and cross over |
H5674-77 |
Deuteronomy 2:13 | וַֽ/נַּעֲבֹ֖ר | vanaavor | HC/Vqw1cp |
and we crossed over | and we crossed over | and we crossed over |
H5674-03 |
Deuteronomy 2:14 | עָבַ֨רְנוּ֙ | avarenu | HVqp1cp |
we crossed | we crossed over | we crossed over |
H5674-61 |
Deuteronomy 2:18 | עֹבֵ֥ר | over | HVqrmsa |
are crossing | one crossing over | one crossing over |
H5674-107 |
Deuteronomy 2:24 | וְ/עִבְרוּ֮ | veiveru | HC/Vqv2mp |
and cross | And cross over | and cross over |
H5674-23 |
Deuteronomy 2:27 | אֶעְבְּרָ֣ה | eeberah | HVqh1cs |
Let me pass through | Let me cross over | Let me cross over |
H5674-23 |
Deuteronomy 2:28 | אֶעְבְּרָ֥ה | eeberah | HVqh1cs |
let me pass through | Let me cross over | Let me cross over |
H5674-24 |
Deuteronomy 2:29 | אֶֽעֱבֹר֙ | eevor | HVqi1cs |
I cross over | I will cross over | I will cross |
H5674-28 |
Deuteronomy 2:30 | הַעֲבִרֵ֖/נוּ | haavirenu | HVhc/Sp1cp |
to let us pass | to cause us to cross over | to allow us to cross over |
H5674-66 |
Deuteronomy 3:18 | תַּֽעַבְר֗וּ | taaveru | HVqi2mp |
you shall cross over | you will cross over | you (pl.) will cross over |
H5674-61 |
Deuteronomy 3:21 | עֹבֵ֥ר | over | HVqrmsa |
[are]-crossing | one crossing over | one crossing over |
H5674-23 |
Deuteronomy 3:25 | אֶעְבְּרָה | eeberah | HVqh1cs |
let me cross over | Let me cross over | Let me cross over |
H5674-93 |
Deuteronomy 3:26 | וַ/יִּתְעַבֵּ֨ר | vayiteaber | HC/Vtw3ms |
and-was-angry | and he went beyond himself | and was angry |
H5674-69 |
Deuteronomy 3:27 | תַעֲבֹ֖ר | taavor | HVqi2ms |
you shall cross | may you cross over | shall you cross over |
H5674-126 |
Deuteronomy 3:28 | יַעֲבֹ֗ר | yaavor | HVqi3ms |
shall cross over | he will cross over | he will cross over |
H5674-63 |
Deuteronomy 4:14 | עֹבְרִ֥ים | overim | HVqrmpa |
crossing | the crossing-ones | the crossing-ones |