שֶׁבֶר

Sheber, an Israelite

Definition

Sheber is a proper noun referring to an individual mentioned in the genealogical records of Judah. He is identified as a son of Caleb by his concubine Maacah in 1 Chronicles 2:48. The name itself is identical to the common Hebrew noun meaning 'breaking,' 'fracture,' or 'calamity' (H7667). In this context, it functions solely as a personal name, with no narrative or theological significance attached to the character beyond his place in the lineage.

Biblical Usage

The word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 2:48, within a genealogical list. Its usage is purely onomastic (as a name) and contributes to the chronicler's detailed record of the tribe of Judah's descendants. There are no other contexts or patterns of usage for this proper noun.

Etymology

The name Sheber is derived directly from the Hebrew root שָׁבַר (shavar, H7666), meaning 'to break, to smash.' It is the identical form of the masculine noun שֶׁבֶר (sheber, H7667), which means 'a breaking, fracture, crushing, or calamity.' As a personal name, it utilizes the noun form without necessarily carrying its literal meaning, a common practice in Hebrew onomastics.

Semantic Range

In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and could reflect circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or characteristics of God. While the noun 'sheber' typically denotes negative concepts like fracture or disaster, its use as a personal name (Sheber) follows the common practice of using ordinary words as names, without necessarily implying the bearer embodied that meaning. It is simply an identifier within a family line.

As a proper name, Sheber has no direct synonyms. The noun from which it is derived, שֶׁבֶר (sheber, H7667) — meaning calamity or fracture, is related but not synonymous in this onomastic context.

Word Details

Scripture References