or feminine מַעֲבָרָה; from עָבַר; a crossing-place (of a river, a ford; of a mountain, a pass); abstractly, a transit, i.e. (figuratively) overwhelming; ford, place where...pass, passage.
Transliteration:maʻăbâr
Pronunciation:mah-ab-awr'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun מַעֲבָר (maʻăbâr, `{{H4569}}`), sometimes appearing in its feminine form מַעֲבָרָה (maʻăbārāh), is derived from the verbal root עָבַר (ʿābar, `{{H5674}}`), meaning "to pass over, through, or by." At its core, מַעֲבָר denotes a "crossing-place" or "passage." This primary semantic range encompasses physical locations that facilitate movement across natural barriers:
* **Ford:** A shallow place in a river or stream where it can be crossed by wading or driving a vehicle. This is its most frequent usage in the biblical text.
* **Pass:** A narrow way through mountains or hills, allowing passage from one side to another.
The term can also abstractly refer to a "transit" or "passage" in a more general sense. The definition also suggests a figurative extension to "overwhelming," implying a state of being passed over or through by a powerful force, though this is less explicitly attested in the biblical occurrences than the literal senses.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term מַעֲבָר occurs predominantly in historical narratives, highlighting the strategic importance of these geographical features:
* **Fords of Rivers:**
* The most famous instance is Jacob's crossing of the ford of Jabbok ([[Genesis 32:22-23]]), a pivotal moment of wrestling with God and receiving a new name. This ford served as a critical boundary and a place of profound spiritual encounter.
* The fords of the Jordan River are frequently mentioned, serving as crucial crossing points and often as strategic choke points in military engagements. For instance, the spies sent by Joshua fled towards the fords of the Jordan ([[Joshua 2:7]]), and Ehud seized the fords to cut off the Moabites' retreat ([[Judges 3:28]]).
* Perhaps most memorably, the Gileadites under Jephthah used the fords of the Jordan to identify and defeat the Ephraimites by their inability to pronounce "Shibboleth" ([[Judges 12:5-6]]). These passages underscore the tactical significance of fords for control, escape, and inter-tribal conflict.
* The fords are also mentioned in the context of Babylon's fall, indicating the seizure of vital crossing points ([[Jeremiah 51:32]]).
* **Mountain Passes:**
* The pass of Michmash is a notable example, where a Philistine garrison was stationed ([[1 Samuel 13:23]]) and where Jonathan and his armor-bearer launched a daring attack ([[1 Samuel 14:4]]). This illustrates מַעֲבָר as a strategic military bottleneck in mountainous terrain.
* Isaiah 10:29 describes an Assyrian army's progress through a pass, emphasizing the arduous but necessary movement through constricted terrain.
* **General Passage:**
* In Deuteronomy 2:28, the Israelites request "passage" (maʻăbâr) through Edomite territory, signifying a right of transit. This highlights the term's use for a general right-of-way.
Throughout its occurrences, מַעֲבָר consistently points to a geographical feature that dictates movement, often serving as a natural boundary or a critical point of vulnerability and control.
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of מַעֲבָר is deeply enriched by its connection to its root verb עָבַר (ʿābar, `{{H5674}}`). This root carries a broad semantic range including:
* **To pass over/through:** This is the direct link to מַעֲבָר as a place of passage.
* **To cross a boundary:** Implies transition from one state or territory to another.
* **To transgress:** To pass beyond a moral or legal boundary.
* **To pass away/perish:** The idea of movement *out of* existence.
Other related concepts and words include:
* דֶּרֶךְ (derekh, `{{H1870}}`), "way" or "road," a more general term for a path.
* נָתִיב (nathiḇ, `{{H5410}}`), "path" or "track."
* The concept of **transition** is central to מַעֲבָר, whether it's the transition between territories, from danger to safety, or from one phase of life to another.
* **Strategic points:** מַעֲבָר often denotes locations of military or political significance, where control of passage is paramount.
* **Boundaries:** These crossing-places frequently mark the edges of territories or spheres of influence.
### Theological Significance
While מַעֲבָר primarily describes physical locations, its repeated appearance in narratives of critical importance lends it significant theological weight:
* **Divine Providence and Guidance:** The act of "passing over" or "through" is often facilitated by divine intervention or permission. Though מַעֲבָר is not used for the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea or the Jordan under Joshua, these events embody the ultimate divine control over "passages." The very existence of such crossing-places, and the ability to navigate them, can be seen as part of God's ordering of creation and His providential care for His people.
* **Places of Encounter and Transformation:** Jacob's wrestling at the ford of Jabbok ([[Genesis 32:22]]) elevates מַעֲבָר from a mere geographical point to a site of profound spiritual encounter, where identity is reshaped and destiny confirmed. It is a place where the mundane meets the divine, leading to a new "passage" in life.
* **Testing and Judgment:** The fords of the Jordan served as a place of testing for the Ephraimites ([[Judges 12:5-6]]), leading to judgment based on their speech. This illustrates how strategic "passages" can become sites where fidelity and identity are revealed, leading to consequences.
* **Vulnerability and Trust:** Crossing a ford or a pass often implies a moment of vulnerability, where one is exposed. This can be a metaphor for moments in life where one must trust in God's protection to navigate difficult transitions. The figurative sense of "overwhelming" hinted at in the definition could evoke the experience of being "passed over" by overwhelming circumstances, emphasizing the need for divine strength to endure such transits.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מַעֲבָר (maʻăbâr, `{{H4569}}`) fundamentally denotes a "crossing-place," most often a "ford" in a river or a "pass" through mountains. Derived from the verb עָבַר (ʿābar, `{{H5674}}`), "to pass over," it highlights locations that enable movement across natural barriers. Biblically, these מַעֲבָר points are consistently portrayed as highly strategic, serving as crucial routes for travel, military maneuvers, and territorial control. Beyond their geographical significance, these "passages" often become settings for pivotal human and divine encounters, as seen in Jacob's wrestling at the Jabbok, or as sites of testing and judgment, such as the fords of the Jordan. Thus, מַעֲבָר not only describes a physical feature but also encapsulates themes of transition, vulnerability, divine guidance, and the unfolding of God's purposes in the lives of individuals and nations.
TRV