גֶּבֶר
𐤂𐤁𐤓
Gever
H1398 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun designating the personal name 'Geber,' used for two Israelite men in the Hebrew Bible. The name derives from the root meaning 'man,' or more specifically, 'strong man,' and reflects a sense of strength or masculinity. The primary lexical meaning is the personal name 'Geber.'
Semantic Range
proper noun (personal name Geber), derived from 'strong man,' no common noun uses in these contexts
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root גבר (g-b-r), meaning 'to be strong' or 'to prevail.' The noun גֶּבֶר (gever) means 'man' (especially in the sense of a strong or valiant man). The personal name 'Geber' is therefore based on the root meaning of strength or manliness, but functions solely as a proper name in biblical usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name 'Geber' appears as the designation of two Israelite individuals: (1) an official in Solomon’s administration, appointed over a district in Gilead (1 Kings 4:13), and (2) the father of one of Solomon’s district officials (1 Kings 4:19). The meaning inherent in the root, namely 'strong man,' suggests a positive connotation in naming, common in the biblical period. 'Geber' does not function as a common noun in these instances, and its use is restricted to the personal name context; it is not interchangeable with other words for 'man' like אִישׁ (ish) or אָדָם (adam). Standard English translations preserve the Hebrew form as 'Geber'; it is not rendered with an English equivalent due to its proper noun status. The name's usage is limited and fixed to the monarchic period without attested presence in post-exilic or extrabiblical sources. There is no evidence that the name carried additional theological or symbolic significance beyond its literal meaning in the original context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as גֶּבֶר; Geber, the name of two Israelites; Geber.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גבר (g-b-r) — to be strong, to prevail, to be mighty
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1368 | גִּבּוֹר | the mighty ones |
| H1369 | גְּבוּרָה | in mighty strength |
| H1370 | גְּבוּרָה | and the might |
| H1376 | גְּבִיר | mighty master |
| H1377 | גְּבִירָה | the ruling lady |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1398-01 |
גֶּ֥בֶר | gever | HNp |
Geber | Geber | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1398-01 |
1 Kings 4:19 | גֶּ֥בֶר | gever | HNp |
Geber | Geber |