חַבָּר
𐤇𐤁𐤓
chabbâr
H2271 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A companion, associate, or partner; typically refers to one with whom there is a close relationship, alliance, or association, whether in friendship, work, or covenant. In biblical usage, it designates a person bound by social, professional, or cultic ties, encompassing both formal and informal associations.
Semantic Range
companion, associate, partner, fellow, cohort (in alliance), participant (in magical practices)
Root / Etymology
From the root חבר (ḥ-b-r), meaning 'to join, bind together, associate'. The noun is a substantival form indicating a person who is joined with another—hence, 'companion, partner, associate'. The lexical development is from verbal sense of joining together to a personal designation for one thus joined.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical texts, חַבָּר often denotes someone joined closely to another, whether in personal, social, or ritual contexts. For example, in Deuteronomy 18:11 it refers to someone who is a partner in occult or magical practices. In other contexts, it signifies a general companion or associate. The word is not ethnically or geographically defined, and its nuance comes from the context—ranging from genuine companionship to negative associations (as with magical practitioners). Later Hebrew maintained the sense of associate or fellow, but rabbinic and post-biblical uses sometimes take on more formal meanings. English renderings such as 'companion,' 'associate,' and 'partner' all approximate the sense, but none fully capture the underlying idea of binding or joining inherent in the Hebrew term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָבַר; a partner; companion.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חבר (ḥ-b-r) — to join, bind together, associate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2249 | חָבוֹר | and in Chabor |
| H2250 | חַבּוּרָה | welt-mark |
| H2266 | חָבַר | let me bind together |
| H2267 | חֶבֶר | your alliances |
| H2268 | חֶבֶר | Association |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2271-01 |
חַבָּרִ֑ים | chabarim | HNcmpa |
charmers | companions | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2271-01 |
Job 40:30 | חַבָּרִ֑ים | chabarim | HNcmpa |
charmers | companions |