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Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Eber


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Eber Eber

There are three Ebers mentioned in the Bible. The most famous Eber is the father of Peleg and the son of Shelah, son of Arpachshad, third son of Shem, son of Noah.
Other Ebers are a Gadite chief (1 Chr 5:13), and a Benjaminite chief (1 Chr 8:22). In the Lukan genealogy of Christ he is called Heber in Greek (3:35), which has nothing to do with the name Heber in Hebrew.

Eber marks an important breach as of Shem it was said that he was the father of 'all the children of Eber'. And in the days of Peleg, the son of Eber, 'the earth was divided' (Gen 10:25). The sons of Joktan, Peleg's brother, are the last mentioned Shemite generation before the tower of Babel is built. Peleg becomes the ancestor of Abraham, the first to be called Hebrew, a word that is highly similar to the name Eber.

The name Eber comes from the verb abar abar (1556) meaning to pass over, through, take away. The first application of this word is in the name Eber. The second application is in the first occurrence of the word ibri, Hebrew in Gen 14:13, where Abram is called Hebrew. The first case of narrative use of this verb is in the enigmatic cadaver vision of Gen 15:17, "...there appeared a smoking furnace and a flaming torch that passed between these parts."

Other derivations of the verb abar:
The noun abar (eber 1556a) is a very common word that means beyond or across, and is used for all kinds of directions and locations usually in contrast to some other location (1 Sam 26:13, Neh 2:1);
The verb ebra (ebra 1556d) uses the root figuratively and means an overflowing of temper: wrath and rage. Sometimes this ebra stems in man (Amos 1:11 - he maintained his fury forever) and sometimes in God (Ps 78:49 - He sent on them the heat of his anger, fury and indignation and trouble);
The verb abar (abar 1556e) means to be arrogant or infuriate oneself (Prov 14:16, 20:2).
abur (abur 1556f) means produce. It is used in Josh 5:11-12 where the Israelites abandon their diet of manna and begin to eat the yield of Canaan.
Identical to the previous word is the preposition abur (abur 1556g), meaning because of, for. This word is always preceded by the particle be (be 193), meaning in or by. TWOTOT explains the relationship with the root as a movement 'from purpose (or cause) to accomplishment (or result).'
maabar (ma'abar 1556h) passage, such as the passage through the river Jabbok (Gen 32:23) or the passing of a striking staff (Isa 30:32). Similar is the feminine mabara (ma'bara 1556i), passage, wady.

Another name from this same root is Abarim, from which this publication derives its name. The first novel produced by Abarim Publications is called Cross On Me.




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