ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA HEBREA
Abar (עָבַר) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
The Hebrew verb ʿābar (עָבַר) means to cross over or pass through, expressing any kind of transition whether literal movement, passage of time, or figurative crossing of a moral boundary.
Significado de la palabra
The core sense of ʿābar is transition: moving from one side to another, going across, or passing through. The lexicon defines it as 'to cross over' and notes that it is used very widely of any kind of transition, whether the movement is physical (crossing a river), temporal (time passing), or figurative (overstepping a boundary).
The verb functions transitively, intransitively, and in causative and intensive stems, which is why a single English word cannot capture all of its uses. Depending on context it may be rendered 'pass,' 'cross,' 'go over,' 'go through,' 'carry over,' 'bring over,' or 'deliver,' among many other expressions listed in the KJV usage range.
A specific nuance noted in the lexicon is the sense of covering in copulation, reflecting the same root idea of passing over or going across. This specialized usage is comparatively rare and does not dominate the verb's occurrences.
Uso en las Escrituras
The example verses cluster around physical crossing and journey. Abraham 'passed through the land' to Shechem (Gen 12:6), Jacob 'passed over the River' with his possessions (Gen 31:21), and a covenant ceremony features a flaming torch that 'passed between these pieces' (Gen 15:17). In Genesis 8:1 God makes a wind 'pass over' the earth to recede the flood waters, and in Genesis 23:16 the phrase describes silver accepted at the 'current' rate among merchants.
Beyond literal travel, ʿābar shades into interpersonal and social action. Abraham asks visitors not to 'pass away' from his tent (Gen 18:3, 18:5), and Jacob promises to 'pass through' the flock to sort out the speckled animals (Gen 30:32). The verb's breadth of usage in the Hebrew Bible—recorded here across hundreds of occurrences—explains why it surfaces in covenant scenes, everyday transactions, and theological descriptions alike.
La palabra en detalle
- H5674 A high-frequency verb with a remarkably broad semantic range. Because ʿābar covers physical crossing, temporal passage, carrying over, and figurative overstepping, a translator must decide which English word best fits each context rather than assuming a single one-to-one equivalent.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Genesis 12:6 Abram 'passes through' the land to Shechem, illustrating ʿābar as straightforward traversal of a region.
- Genesis 15:17 A flaming torch 'passes between' the covenant pieces, using ʿābar to depict ritual movement between split animals.
- Genesis 31:21 Jacob 'crosses over the River,' showing ʿābar in its concrete sense of fording a body of water.
- Genesis 18:3 Abraham urges his guests not to 'pass away' from his tent, using ʿābar for the departure of a visitor.
Preguntas frecuentes
What is the basic meaning of ʿābar (H5674)?
The basic meaning is 'to cross over' or 'to pass through,' covering any transition from one side, state, or boundary to another.
Is ʿābar used only for physical movement?
No. Although many occurrences describe literal travel, the verb is also used of time passing, transactions, and figurative crossings such as a moral boundary.
How should ʿābar be translated when one English word does not fit?
Translators choose the English verb that best matches the context—'pass,' 'cross,' 'go over,' 'carry over,' 'deliver,' and so on—drawing on the wide KJV usage range rather than forcing a single equivalent.