Bible Word Study
גְּבַר
gᵉbar · a person
גְּבַר
a person
Definition
The Hebrew noun גְּבַר (gᵉbar) refers to a person, specifically a man or an individual, often emphasizing the person as a distinct entity. In its sole biblical occurrence in Psalm 18:25 (parallel to 2 Samuel 22:25), it is used in a general sense for 'a person' or 'a man,' as in 'with the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man (גְּבַר) you show yourself blameless.' It does not carry the specific connotations of strength or warrior often associated with its root and related nouns, but rather denotes a human individual in a straightforward manner.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 18:25. In this context, it is used in a poetic, parallel structure to describe God's reciprocal dealings with people based on their character. The usage is general and non-specific, simply referring to a human individual without further qualification.
Etymology
Derived from the root גָּבַר (gābar, H1396), meaning 'to be strong' or 'to prevail.' It is a byform or variant of the more common noun גֶּבֶר (geber, H1397), which typically means 'man' often with an emphasis on strength or maturity. גְּבַר shares this root but in its single usage appears in a more neutral, general sense.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a common noun, its single use in Psalm 18:25 contributes to the theological theme of God's responsive character. It underscores that God interacts with individuals according to their moral and spiritual qualities. Understanding this Hebrew term highlights the personal and relational nature of God's justice and faithfulness as described in this psalm of David. In its ancient context, a term for 'man' or 'person' derived from a root meaning 'to be strong' might subtly reflect cultural values associating personhood, particularly male identity, with strength or capability. However, in its specific biblical usage, this connotation is not explicitly activated, presenting a more neutral term for an individual. אִישׁ (ʼîš, H376) — The most common general term for 'man' or 'husband,' often used for a person in a social or relational role. גֶּבֶר (geber, H1397) — A close synonym meaning 'man,' often with a connotation of strength or maturity. אָדָם (ʼādām, H120) — 'Man,' 'mankind,' or 'human,' emphasizing humanity as a species or an individual from the ground.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]