The meaning of “מַעֲבָר”
Understanding maʻăbâr reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
or feminine מַעֲבָרָה maʻăbârâh (mah-ab-aw-raw'); from עָבַר ford, place where...pass, passage. - a crossing-place (of a...
מַעֲבָר
or feminine מַעֲבָרָה maʻăbârâh (mah-ab-aw-raw'); from עָבַר ford, place where...pass, passage. - a crossing-place (of a river, a ford - of a mountain, a pass) - abstractly, a transit, i.e. (figuratively) overwhelming 1) ford, pass, passing 1a) ford 1b) pass 1c) passing, sweep
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 32:22 | “And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.” Word: מַעֲבָר (maʻăbâr) | |
| Joshua 2:7 | “And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.” Word: מַעֲבָר (maʻăbâr) | |
| Judges 12:5 | “And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;” Word: מַעֲבָר (maʻăbâr) | |
| 1 Samuel 14:4 | “And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.” Word: מַעֲבָר (maʻăbâr) | |
| Isaiah 16:2 | “For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.” Word: מַעֲבָר (maʻăbâr) |