כְּבָר
ke.var
Chebar
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Kebar: A Geographic Term in Biblical Hebrew Kebar (כְּבָר) is a proper noun appearing eight times in the Hebrew Bible, identifying a specific geographic location rather than a common word with varied meanings. The term functions exclusively as a place name, designating what the lexicon identifies simply as "Chebar"—a named site of biblical importance. The limited occurrence of this term (only eight attestations) suggests it refers to a particular, geographically bounded location rather than a broad category or common concept. Its appearance is concentrated enough to indicate a specific reference point within biblical geography, likely significant to the communities and texts that mention it. Without additional contextual data provided in the lexicon entry itself, the term's precise modern identification or exact significance remains tied to its appearances within the biblical text itself. For readers approaching the Bible, Kebar represents the kind of proper geographic nomenclature that anchors biblical narratives to particular places. Its relatively low frequency in the biblical corpus suggests it held localized or specialized importance—perhaps to a particular community, time period, or narrative context—rather than serving as a universally referenced location throughout Hebrew scripture.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences across the text
Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
Ezekiel 1:3Yahweh’s word came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and Yahweh’s hand was there on him.
Ezekiel 3:15Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel Aviv, that lived by the river Chebar, and to where they lived; and I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.
Ezekiel 3:23Then I arose, and went out into the plain, and behold, Yahweh’s glory stood there, like the glory which I saw by the river Chebar. Then I fell on my face.
Ezekiel 10:15The cherubim mounted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.
Ezekiel 10:20This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.
Ezekiel 10:22As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves. They each went straight forward.
Ezekiel 43:3It was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city; and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face.