גִּבּוֹר

From the study of Isaiah 5:22

Range of meaning

From gābar, 'to be strong, prevail'. A warrior or hero (2 Sam 23:8 'David's mighty men'). A champion (Goliath is called 'the gibbôr' in 1 Sam 17:51). A man of power or standing. It is also used of God as warrior (Isa 9:6 [Heb 9:5] ʾēl gibbôr, 'Mighty God'; Isa 42:13).

Against the English

BSB, ESV, NIV and NASB 'heroes' bring out the irony. KJV/WEB/YLT 'mighty' is literal but can read as a plain description of strength, which hides the sarcasm.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isa 3:2 lists the gibbôr and the 'man of war' among the pillars YHWH will remove from Jerusalem. The fixed phrase gibbôr ḥayil, 'mighty man of valor', is used for military heroes (Judg 6:12; 1 Sam 16:18) and also for men of property (Ruth 2:1, Boaz; 2 Kgs 15:20, where Menahem taxes 'all the gibbôrê ha-ḥayil', meaning the wealthy).

From the study of Jeremiah 9:23

Range of meaning

A gibbôr is a warrior, champion or hero, a man of proven fighting ability (Nimrod, Gen 10:8–9; David's 'mighty men'). Gəbûrâ is valour, military power and strength in battle. The word is also used of God as the divine warrior (Isa 9:6 'mighty God'; Jer 32:18).

Against the English

BSB and NIV have 'strong man … strength', which today can suggest physical fitness or personal strength. KJV, WEB, ESV and NASB keep 'mighty man … might', which is closer to the battlefield sense and keeps the sound-play of the shared root.

How it drifted

'Strong man' has lost its military edge in modern English.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 33:16–17: 'A king is not saved by a great army; a warrior (gibbôr) is not delivered by great strength.' Jer 46:5–6, 12: Egypt's warriors stumble and fall. Jer 51:30: Babylon's warriors stop fighting. Isa 36:5: 'counsel and might (gəbûrâ) for war'.

From the study of Proverbs 16:32

Range of meaning

Strong man, mighty one, warrior, hero, champion. Used of Nimrod the 'mighty hunter' (Genesis 10:8–9), of David's elite fighters (2 Samuel 23:8), of Goliath-type champions, and of God as 'warrior' (Exodus 15:3; Isaiah 9:6 'mighty God', ʾel gibbor). The root g-b-r means strength and prevailing.

Against the English

'The mighty' (KJV, WEB, YLT) is vague to modern ears and can sound like 'powerful people' in general. 'Warrior' (BSB, NIV, ESV) catches the military sense, which matches the city-capturing in the second half. NLT's 'powerful' widens it to any kind of power.

How it drifted

'Mighty' has faded into a general word for 'strong/important'. The Hebrew term pictures a specific, admired social figure: the battlefield hero.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common across the historical books for elite soldiers. Mishnah Avot 4:1 takes up this very verse: 'Who is mighty (gibbor)? One who subdues his impulse, as it is said: Better is one slow to anger than a gibbor…'