עָבַר
To cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)
Reading a lexicon entry
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.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does עָבַר (avar) mean in the Bible?
עָבַר (avar) is a Hebrew word meaning "to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation)". The verb emphasizes the swift and decisive nature of the storm. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant.
Meaning
Core sense of crossing/passing extends metaphorically to transgression, death, and divine judgment crossing boundaries.
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation) BDB: pass over Usage: alienate, alter, × at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, shave, cause to (make) sound, × speedily, × sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
Why This Word Matters
The verb emphasizes the swift and decisive nature of the storm. Hosea 6:7-11
Defines covenant violation. Hosea 8:1-7
Defines covenant breach. Proverbs 10:25
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 285×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 25×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 4×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 1×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 1×
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Showing 8 of 562 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.