What does גָּבַר (gābar) mean in the Bible?
גָּבַר (gābar): Strength that actively prevails or dominates; carries implicit sense of forceful action or presumption.
Hebrew · H1396
גָּבַר
To be strong ; by implication, to prevail , act insolently
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גָּבַרH1396
Pronunciationgābar
What does גָּבַר (gābar) mean in the Bible?
גָּבַר (gābar): Strength that actively prevails or dominates; carries implicit sense of forceful action or presumption.
Full entry for גָּבַר (H1396) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1396?
The BSB source-word alignment has 25 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include prevailed (5), prevail (3), and has vaunted himself (1), And he will confirm (1), arrogantly (1).
Where does גָּבַר (gābar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 7:18. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (5), Psalms (4), Job (3), 2 Samuel (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itprevailed5×Genesis 7:19, Genesis 7:24, Exodus 17:11, 1 Chronicles 5:2
prevail3×1 Samuel 2:9, Psalms 65:3, Jeremiah 9:3
and has vaunted himself1×Job 15:25
And he will confirm1×Daniel 9:27
arrogantly1×Job 36:9
continued to surge1×Genesis 7:18
great is1×Psalms 117:2
has prevailed1×Lamentations 1:16
have surpassed1×Genesis 49:26
I will strengthen1×Zechariah 10:6
I will strengthen them1×Zechariah 10:12
in triumph1×Isaiah 42:13
increasing1×Job 21:7
must be exerted1×Ecclesiastes 10:10
overpowered us1×2 Samuel 11:23
rose1×Genesis 7:20
so great1×Psalms 103:11
they were stronger1×2 Samuel 1:23
we will prevail1×Psalms 12:4
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 7:18וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּtocontinued to surgeConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralGenesis 7:19גָּֽבְר֛וּtoprevailedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralGenesis 7:20גָּבְר֖וּtoroseVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralGenesis 7:24וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּtoprevailedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralGenesis 49:26גָּֽבְרוּ֙tohave surpassedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralExodus 17:11וְגָבַ֣רtoprevailedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 17:11וְגָבַ֥רtoprevailedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 2:9יִגְבַּר־toprevailVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 1:23גָּבֵֽרוּ׃tothey were strongerVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2 Samuel 11:23גָבְר֤וּtooverpowered usVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 7:18
Aligned rows25
Books represented13
Genesis5Exodus21 Samuel12 Samuel21 Chronicles1Job3Psalms4Ecclesiastes1Isaiah1Jeremiah1Lamentations1Daniel1Zechariah2
Source forms
וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ2xway·yiḡ·bə·rūGenesis 7:18, Genesis 7:24
גָ֘בַ֤ר1xḡā·ḇarPsalms 117:2
גָבַ֖ר1xḡā·ḇarLamentations 1:16
גָּבַ֣ר1xgā·ḇar1 Chronicles 5:2
גָּבַ֥ר1xgā·ḇarPsalms 103:11
גָבְר֤וּ1xḡā·ḇə·rū2 Samuel 11:23
גָּֽבְר֛וּ1xgā·ḇə·rūGenesis 7:19
גָּבְר֖וּ1xgā·ḇə·rūGenesis 7:20
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural8xGenesis 7:19, Genesis 7:20, Genesis 49:26, 2 Samuel 1:23
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular4x1 Chronicles 5:2, Psalms 103:11, Psalms 117:2, Lamentations 1:16
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2xExodus 17:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural2xGenesis 7:18, Genesis 7:24
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xJob 15:25, Isaiah 42:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xDaniel 9:27
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xZechariah 10:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural1xZechariah 10:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Strength that actively prevails or dominates; carries implicit sense of forceful action or presumption.
Strong'sH1396
Lexical occurrences25 versesWord forms4 forms18 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkGenesis 7:17-24Source Gloss
to be strong ; by implication, to prevail , act insolently
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strength that actively prevails or dominates; carries implicit sense of forceful action or presumption.
to be strong; by implication, to prevail, act insolently BDB: be strong Usage: exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more (strength), strengthen, be stronger, be valiant.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms18
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense13×
Perfect2Sam 1:23 · 2Sam 11:23 · Gen 7:19 · Gen 7:20 · Gen 49:26 · Jer 9:2 · Job 21:7 · Ps 65:4 · 1Chr 5:2 · Lam 1:16 · Ps 103:11 · Ps 117:212×
Imperfect1Sam 2:91×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others3×
ImperfectIsa 42:13 · Job 15:25 · Job 36:93×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
ImperfectEccl 10:101×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
ImperfectPs 12:51×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Waters of the flood grew mighty and overwhelmed the earth with increasing force
Showing 1 selected witness from 25 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
גָּבַר is a primitive root - no further derivation.