עֶבְרָה
an outburst of passion
Definition
The Hebrew noun עֶבְרָה (ʻebrâh) refers to a powerful, often sudden, outburst of anger or wrath. It describes intense, overflowing emotion, typically of divine or human anger, that is fierce and destructive in nature. In many contexts, it specifically denotes God's righteous wrath against sin, as seen in Psalms 78:49 and 90:9, where it is part of His judgment. The word can also describe human rage, such as the violent anger condemned in Genesis 49:7 against Jacob's sons Simeon and Levi.
Biblical Usage
This word appears 34 times, predominantly in poetic and prophetic books like Psalms, Job, and the Prophets. It is frequently used to describe the overwhelming, destructive force of God's wrath in judgment (e.g., Job 21:30, Psalm 85:3). In a few instances, it refers to intense human anger, often with negative moral connotations, as in Genesis 49:7 and Proverbs 11:4. The usage consistently conveys a sense of an unstoppable, passionate outburst.
Etymology
Derived from the root עָבַר (ʻāvar, H5676), meaning 'to cross over' or 'to pass through.' עֶבְרָה is the feminine noun form, carrying the sense of something that 'overflows' or 'bursts forth,' like a flood crossing its banks. This etymology vividly pictures wrath as an overwhelming, transgressive force that cannot be contained.
Semantic Range
This word is crucial for understanding the biblical concept of divine wrath. It portrays God's anger not as a petty emotion but as a righteous, judicial response to evil and covenant-breaking (Psalm 78:49). It highlights the seriousness of sin and the reality of God's judgment, while also providing a backdrop for His mercy, as seen in prayers for Him to turn His עֶבְרָה away (Psalm 85:3). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by emphasizing the weight and dangerous power of wrath in the biblical worldview.
In the ancient Near East, wrath, especially from a deity, was understood as a destructive natural force, akin to a storm or flood. עֶבְרָה captures this concept of an uncontrollable, overwhelming power. This differs from some modern, psychological views of anger as merely a personal emotional state; in its biblical usage, it often has cosmic, moral, and relational consequences.
אַף (ʼaph, H639) — often 'nose/face,' but frequently used for 'anger' as a burning, flaring emotion. חֵמָה (ḥēmâ, H2534) — 'heat' or 'rage,' emphasizing the burning, feverish aspect of wrath. קֶצֶף (qeṣeph, H7110) — 'wrath' or 'indignation,' often with a sense of vexation or provocation.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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