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עִבְרִי

𐤏𐤁𐤓𐤉

Iveri

H5681 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ע-ב-ר to cross over, to pass through, to traverse

Definition

Ethnic or genealogical designation referring to a person descended from 'Eber (עבר), often rendered 'Hebrew' in English. In biblical contexts, it primarily marks individuals or groups as distinct from surrounding peoples or as members of the pre-Israelite or Israelite lineage.

Semantic Range

a person descended from Eber, one of an origin marked by crossing over, a member of the ancestral line later called Israelites; an outsider or foreigner in relation to local populations

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עבר (ʿ-b-r), meaning 'to cross over, to pass through.' The term עִבְרִי (ʻIbrîy) is formed as a gentilic, signifying 'one from Eber' or 'one from the other side,' likely referencing a migratory or origin-based distinction. The personal ancestor name 'Eber' (עבר) is attested in genealogies (Gen 10:21, 11:14–17), serving as an eponymous figure.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The designation עִבְרִי occurs primarily in narratives involving Abraham and his immediate descendants, emphasizing their origin or distinction from local populations (e.g., Gen 14:13; 39:14,17; 40:15; Exod 1:15,16,19; 2:6,11,13; 21:2; Deut 15:12; 1 Sam 4:6,9). In early texts (patriarchal period and exodus narratives), 'Ivri' functions as an external or self-referential ethnonym, distinguishing Abraham and his kin from Canaanites and Egyptians. In later usage, it is largely supplanted by terms like 'Israelite' (יִשְׂרָאֵלִי, yisre'eli) or 'Judahite' (יְהוּדִי, yehudi), with 'Ivri' persisting mainly in archaizing or formulaic contexts. English translations commonly render עִבְרִי as 'Hebrew,' a term that later came to denote ethnic and eventually religious identity, but in biblical usage its nuance often indicates outsider status or origin. Its use is distinct from later terms ('Israelite,' 'Judahite,' 'Judean') that mark different stages or aspects of identity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as עִבְרִי; Ibri, an Israelite; Ibri.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עבר (ʿ-b-r) — to cross over, to pass through, to traverse

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4569 מַעֲבָר the crossing-places
H5668 עָבוּר for the sake of
H5669 עָבוּר from carried-over grain of
H5674 עָבַר I will cause to pass over
H5675 עֲבַר he crossed over

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5681-01 וְ/עִבְרִֽי veiveri HC/Np and Ibri and an Eber-descendant 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5681-01 1 Chronicles 24:27 וְ/עִבְרִֽי veiveri HC/Np and Ibri and an Eber-descendant
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