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חֲבֶרֶת

𐤇𐤁𐤓𐤕

chăbereth

H2278 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חבר to join, to associate, to be linked

Definition

A female companion, associate, or consort; generally referring to a woman who is joined to another by association, friendship, or partnership. In rare instances, may indicate an intimate or conjugal partner, but primarily denotes social connection or solidarity.

Semantic Range

female companion, associate, consort, partner, woman in association (social, spiritual, or conjugal contexts)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חָבַר (ḥ-v-r), meaning 'to join, associate, be connected.' The form חֲבֶרֶת is a feminine noun indicating a female linked through relationship or association; it is the feminine counterpart to חָבֵר (ḥāvēr), 'companion' or 'associate.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֲבֶרֶת occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, with its primary attestation in poetic or metaphorical contexts. Its use indicates a female who stands in solidarity or association with another, not strictly limited to marital or romantic partnership. During the monarchic period, the concept of companionship extended beyond familial ties to include alliances or associative relationships among women (e.g., Song of Songs 7:1[7:2]). Later, during the post-exilic and rabbinic periods, related noun forms acquired more technical meanings, such as membership within a religious or social group, but such nuances are less evident in the biblical usage of חֲבֶרֶת. English translations often render the term as 'companion' or 'consort,' but these can obscure the broader scope of general association or solidarity denoted in Hebrew. The term is distinguished from words for 'friend' or 'neighbor' (e.g., רֵעַ re'a, שָׁכֵן shakhen) in that it implies a formal or close bond rather than mere proximity or friendliness.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of חָבֵר; a consort; companion.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חבר (ḥ-b-r) — to join, to associate, to be linked

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
H2278-01 חֲבֶרְתְּ/ךָ֖ chaveretekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms is your companion your female companion 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2278-01 Malachi 2:14 חֲבֶרְתְּ/ךָ֖ chaveretekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms is your companion your female companion
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