What does עָבַר · בֵּן · בַּת · אֵשׁ mean in the Bible?
עָבַר · בֵּן · בַּת · אֵשׁ is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to make one's child pass through fire; child-sacrifice or fire-rite associated with pagan worship".
Hebrew · H5674, H1121, H1323, H784
מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ
To cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation) · a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.) · a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively) · fire (literally or figuratively)
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What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
עָבַרH5674to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
Pronunciationavar
Core sense of crossing/passing extends metaphorically to transgression, death, and divine judgment crossing boundaries.
Open lexicon entry →בֵּןH1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
Pronunciationben
Son extends metaphorically to designate relationship, condition, quality, and national identity across kinship and covenantal contexts.
Open lexicon entry →בַּתH1323a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
Pronunciationbat
Daughter with expansive relational range: kinship, possession, vulnerability, and collective identity (cities, nations as daughters).
Open lexicon entry →אֵשׁH784fire (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciationʾēš
Fire as divine judgment and purification; literal burning extends to metaphorical consuming of wrath and covenant violation
Open lexicon entry →What does מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ (ma'avir beno uvitto ba'esh) mean in the Bible?
עָבַר · בֵּן · בַּת · אֵשׁ is a Hebrew phrase meaning "to make one's child pass through fire; child-sacrifice or fire-rite associated with pagan worship".
Full entry for מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ (H5674, H1121, H1323, H784) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H5674, H1121, H1323, H784?
H5674, H1121, H1323, H784 is connected to 6,472 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. to make one's child pass through fire; child-sacrifice or fire-rite associated with pagan worship
Source Gloss
to make one's child pass through fire; child-sacrifice or fire-rite associated with pagan worship
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 groups5Aligned forms316
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense285×
Participle active1Kgs 9:8 · 1Kgs 13:25 · 1Kgs 19:11 · 1Kgs 20:39 · 1Sam 14:8 · 1Sam 29:2 · 2Chr 7:21 · 2Chr 24:20 · 2Chr 30:10 · 2Kgs 4:9 · 2Kgs 6:26 · 2Kgs 6:30 · 2Kgs 12:5 · 2Sam 15:18 · 2Sam 15:23 · 2Sam 24:2084×
Imperfect2Sam 19:37 · 2Sam 19:39 · Amos 8:5 · Deut 3:28 · Deut 24:5 · Deut 30:13 · Esth 1:19 · Esth 9:27 · Exod 15:16 · Ezek 5:17 · Ezek 48:14 · Isa 26:20 · Isa 28:15 · Isa 28:18 · Isa 28:19 · Isa 31:980×
Perfect1Kgs 22:24 · 2Chr 18:23 · 2Kgs 4:31 · 2Sam 16:1 · 2Sam 17:22 · 2Sam 17:24 · 2Sam 18:9 · 2Sam 19:40 · 2Sam 19:41 · 2Sam 20:13 · Gen 15:17 · Gen 32:32 · Gen 33:3 · Hab 3:10 · Isa 10:28 · Isa 28:1579×
Sequential imperfect1Sam 25:19 · Amos 6:2 · Exod 32:27 · Ezek 9:5 · Gen 32:17 · Isa 23:6 · Isa 62:10 · Jer 2:10 · Josh 1:11 · Josh 4:5 · Josh 6:7 · Josh 22:19 · 2Sam 19:34 · Exod 17:5 · Ezek 9:4 · Josh 1:221×
Cohortative2Sam 16:9 · Deut 2:27 · Deut 2:28 · Deut 3:25 · Judg 11:17 · Num 20:19 · Num 21:22 · Judg 11:19 · Num 20:179×
Infinitive constructAmos 7:8 · Amos 8:2 · Judg 11:20 · Num 20:21 · Num 21:23 · Num 22:26 · Prov 19:117×
Jussive2Sam 19:38 · Gen 33:14 · Gen 18:3 · Prov 4:154×
Infinitive absolute2Sam 17:161×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action25×
Perfect2Chr 33:6 · 2Kgs 16:3 · 2Sam 12:13 · Esth 8:2 · Gen 47:21 · Jer 46:17 · 2Sam 19:41 · Ezek 23:37 · Josh 7:7 · Zech 3:410×
ImperfectExod 33:19 · Ezek 14:15 · Zech 13:2 · Lev 25:9 · Num 31:23 · Ezek 48:147×
Sequential imperfect1Chr 21:8 · 2Sam 24:10 · Ps 119:37 · Ps 119:394×
Participle active1Sam 2:24 · Dan 11:20 · Deut 18:103×
Infinitive absoluteJosh 7:71×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others4×
Participle activeProv 14:16 · Prov 26:172×
PerfectPs 78:62 · Ps 89:392×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
ImperfectEzek 47:51×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
PerfectJob 21:101×
Word Origins
מַעֲבִיר בְּנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ בָּאֵשׁ is a primitive root - no further derivation.