מַעֲבָר
ma.a.var
ford
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word וֹ, ma.a.var (H4569B), means "ford". This term is often used to describe a shallow part of a river or stream where one can cross. It is found a total of 8 times in the Hebrew Bible. This word's range of usage implies a connection to geographical locations, highlighting key areas along rivers or streams. In these contexts, the term seems to emphasize a point where water levels are low enough for safe passage. The significance of this word lies in its practical application. It speaks to the real-life experiences of people living near or traveling through rivers and streams, conveying the importance of identifying accessible crossing points for navigation and transportation.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences across the text
They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.
Isaiah 16:2For it will be that as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so will the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.
Jeremiah 51:32So the passages are seized. They have burned the reeds with fire. The men of war are frightened.”
Joshua 2:7The men pursued them along the way to the fords of the Jordan River. As soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.
Judges 3:28He said to them, “Follow me; for Yahweh has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” They followed him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and didn’t allow any man to pass over.
Judges 12:5The Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. Whenever a fugitive of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No;”
Judges 12:6then they said to him, “Now say ‘Shibboleth;’ ” and he said “Sibboleth”; for he couldn’t manage to pronounce it correctly, then they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, forty-two thousand of Ephraim fell.
1 Samuel 14:4Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.