English · KJV
H2270

חָבֵר

châbêr /khaw-bare'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom חָבַר
Meaningan associate
KJV usagecompanion, fellow, knit together.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of châbêr — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word châbêr, represented by H2270, defines an associate or companion. It appears 12 times across 11 unique verses in the Bible. The root of the word conveys the idea of being joined or knit together, moving beyond simple friendship to a deeper sense of association, whether for good or for ill.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H2270 is used to illustrate the nature and consequences of one's associations. It describes a righteous bond, as the psalmist declares himself a companion of all who fear God and keep His precepts Psalms 119:63. Conversely, it depicts unholy alliances, such as rebellious princes being companions of thieves Isaiah 1:23 or one who robs his parents being the companion of a destroyer Proverbs 28:24. The word also signifies powerful unity, as when the men of Israel gathered against a city, knit together as one man Judges 20:11. In a prophetic context, it is used to describe the future unification of the tribes of Israel, referred to as companions of Judah and Joseph Ezekiel 37:16.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of association and moral character:

  • H259 ʼechâd (one): This numeral expresses unity and is used with H2270 to describe the men of Israel being knit together as one man, highlighting the strength of their association Judges 20:11.
  • H3372 yârêʼ (to fear; morally, to revere): This word is key to understanding righteous fellowship. The psalmist chooses to be a companion specifically of those who fear God, linking companionship to reverence Psalms 119:63.
  • H7843 shâchath (to decay... ruin... destroy): This term clarifies the danger of negative associations. A person who robs his parents is identified as the companion of a destroyer, showing that fellowship with evil leads to ruin Proverbs 28:24.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H2270 is significant, emphasizing moral accountability in relationships.

  • The Character of Fellowship: The word establishes that companionship is not neutral. A person's identity is shaped by their associates, leading either toward those who fear God Psalms 119:63 or toward those who are ashamed with their idols Isaiah 44:11.
  • Strength in Unity: The concept of being "knit together" demonstrates the power of solidarity. This is seen in the practical help one fellow gives another Ecclesiastes 4:10 and in God's promise to make the tribes of Israel one stick in His hand Ezekiel 37:19.
  • A Standard for Righteousness: The word is used to set a divine standard in Psalms 45:7, where the king is anointed above his fellows precisely because he loves righteousness and hates wickedness. This frames fellowship in light of God's own moral character.

Summary

In summary, H2270 is more than a term for a friend; it describes a deep, formative association. It serves as a cornerstone for the biblical principle that one's chosen companions have profound spiritual consequences. The word illustrates how relationships can define a person's moral path, create powerful unity, and ultimately reflect one's alignment with or opposition to God's righteousness.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun and an adjective across 9 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • חֲבֵרֶי
  • חָבֵר
  • חֲבֵרִים
  • חֲבֵרִים
  • חֲבֵר

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H259 אֶחָד a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing H3372 יָרֵא a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten; affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear H7843 שָׁחַת a primitive root; to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively); batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing),

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 11 verses across 7 of the 39 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (2 verses each); never once in the other 32.

1
Judges
2
Psalms
1
Proverbs
1
Ecclesiastes
2
Song of Solomon
2
Isaiah
2
Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.