Hebrew word · H2266

חָבַר

chibar

to unite

To join or couple things together; to ally, to enter partnership; as a noun (chaver), a companion or associate. A separate use of the same consonants refers to binding by spells, as in 'one who casts spells' (Deuteronomy 18:11; Psalm 58:5; Isaiah 47:9).

Appears 29 times in 25 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to unite, join, bind together, be joined, be coupled, be in league, heap up, have fellowship with, be compact, be a charmer

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to unite, be joined

1a2) to tie magic charms, charm

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to unite with, make an ally of

1b2) to unite, join, ally

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be allied with, be united

1c2) to be joined together

1d) (Hiphil) to join together, pile up (words)

1e) (Hithpael) to join oneself to, make an alliance, league together

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Hosea 4:17

Range of meaning

To join or couple things together; to ally, to enter partnership; as a noun (chaver), a companion or associate. A separate use of the same consonants refers to binding by spells, as in 'one who casts spells' (Deuteronomy 18:11; Psalm 58:5; Isaiah 47:9).

Against the English

'Joined to' is accurate but thin. English 'joined' can sound like signing up or being casually connected. The Hebrew describes a bond of alliance, and the phrase has no 'to': it reads 'partner of idols,' built like 'companions of thieves' in Isaiah 1:23. Some versions use 'attached to,' and the NLT uses marriage language.

Used elsewhere in the period

Physical joining: curtains coupled together (Exodus 26:3). Military and political alliance: kings 'joined forces' (Genesis 14:3); Jehoshaphat's alliance with Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 20:35-37); 'can a corrupt throne be allied with you?' (Psalm 94:20). Companionship: Psalm 119:63. Idol-makers' 'companions' are shamed in Isaiah 44:11. Hosea 6:9 uses the related noun for a 'band' of priests. Words for 'associate' from this root also appear in neighbouring Semitic languages such as Phoenician. The Septuagint here has metochos, 'sharer, partner,' the same word it uses in Psalm 119:63 (118:63 in the Greek).

From the study of Psalm 94:20

Range of meaning

To join, unite, be coupled; to be allied or in league with; to be a companion. Related nouns: ḥābēr 'companion, associate', ḥeber 'association, company' and also 'spell, charm' (a 'binding'; compare ḥōbēr ḥeber, 'one who casts spells', Deut 18:11).

Against the English

KJV and WEB say 'have fellowship with'. BSB says 'be Your ally', and NASB/ESV/NIV say 'be allied with'. 'Ally' is closest. Modern church English hears 'fellowship' as warm spiritual closeness or a church gathering, but the Hebrew picture is a partnership or coalition.

How it drifted

In Tudor English 'fellowship' meant partnership or association, including business or political partnership. Since then the word has narrowed into religious and social talk.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Chr 20:35–37 uses the same root three times: King Jehoshaphat 'allied himself' with the wicked Ahaziah of Israel, and a prophet announces that because he 'joined himself' to him, the LORD has broken his works. Hos 4:17: 'Ephraim is joined to idols.' Ps 119:63: 'I am a companion (ḥābēr) of all who fear you.' In later Hebrew a ḥaver is a member of an association.

From the study of Ezekiel 1:11

Range of meaning

To join, couple or unite, and to be allied. Related words include ḥaver 'companion, associate' and ḥever 'association' or 'spell', a spell being something that binds. The verb is used of tabernacle curtains and loops being coupled together (Exod 26:3, 6, 9; 36:10), of kings allying (Gen 14:3; 2 Chr 20:35), and of someone being 'joined' to the living (Eccl 9:4).

Against the English

KJV has 'joined one to another', and BSB and WEB have 'touching'. 'Joined' can suggest wings physically grown together. 'Touching' is safer but loses the sense of deliberate coupling that the tabernacle passages give the word.

How it drifted

In modern English 'joined' easily suggests fused or permanently attached. The Hebrew means coupled or meeting edge to edge.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezekiel 1:9 repeats, almost word for word, the tabernacle phrase in Exodus 26:3: ḥovrot ʾishshah ʾel-ʾaḥotah, 'coupled each to her sister'. Ezekiel was a priest (1:3), and in this vision he describes God's travelling throne in sanctuary vocabulary. Compare also Solomon's temple cherubim, whose wings 'touched one another' in the middle of the house (1 Kgs 6:27, with a different verb).

Where it appears

Genesis · 1

  1. Genesis 14:3 חָֽבְר֔וּ they joined together

    The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).

Exodus · 14

  1. Exodus 26:3 חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת joined, [will be] joined

    Five of the curtains are to be joined together, and the other five joined as well.

  2. Exodus 26:6 וְחִבַּרְתָּ֨ and you will join

    Make fifty gold clasps as well, and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle will be a unit.

  3. Exodus 26:9 וְחִבַּרְתָּ֞ and you will join

    Join five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another. Then fold the sixth curtain over double at the front of the tent.

  4. Exodus 26:11 וְחִבַּרְתָּ֥ and you will join

    Make fifty bronze clasps and put them through the loops to join the tent together as a unit.

  5. Exodus 28:7 חֹֽבְרֹ֗ת וְחֻבָּֽר׃ joined, and it will be joined together

    It shall have two shoulder pieces attached at two of its corners, so it can be fastened.

  6. Exodus 36:10 וַיְחַבֵּר֙ חִבַּ֔ר and he joined, he joined

    And he joined five of the curtains together, and the other five he joined as well.

  7. Exodus 36:13 וַיְחַבֵּ֨ר and he joined

    He also made fifty gold clasps to join the curtains together, so that the tabernacle was a unit.

  8. Exodus 36:16 וַיְחַבֵּ֛ר and he joined

    He joined five of the curtains into one set and the other six into another.

  9. Exodus 36:18 לְחַבֵּ֥ר to join together

    He also made fifty bronze clasps to join the tent together as a unit.

  10. Exodus 39:4 חֹבְרֹ֑ת חֻבָּֽר׃ joined, it was joined

    They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached at two of its corners, so it could be fastened.

Deuteronomy · 1

  1. Deuteronomy 18:11 וְחֹבֵ֖ר and [one who] casts

    casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead.

2 Chronicles · 3

  1. 2 Chronicles 20:35 אֶתְחַבַּר֙ he made an alliance

    Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly.

  2. 2 Chronicles 20:36 וַיְחַבְּרֵ֣הוּ and he allied himself

    They agreed to make ships to go to Tarshish, and these were built in Ezion-geber.

  3. 2 Chronicles 20:37 כְּהִֽתְחַבֶּרְךָ֣ as making alliance you

    Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were wrecked and were unable to sail to Tarshish.

Job · 1

  1. Job 16:4 אַחְבִּ֣ירָה I will make join

    I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

    Here: 'I could bind/string together (words).' The picture is speech assembled and crafted, pieces fitted together. It may also carry the idea of polished or showy speech (see studies). 'Heap up' captures the volume but loses the sense of construction.

Psalms · 3

  1. Psalm 58:5 חוֹבֵ֖ר [one who] casts

    refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell.

  2. Psalm 94:20 הַֽ֭יְחָבְרְךָ ¿ will it be joined to you

    Can a corrupt throne be Your ally—one devising mischief by decree?

    Here: The opening ha- turns the line into a question that expects 'No!'. The verb is the word for joining up as partners or allies, so: 'Can it be your partner?' The 'you' is God.

  3. Psalm 122:3 שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־ that <it> was joined together

    Jerusalem is built up as a city united together,

Ecclesiastes · 1

  1. Ecclesiastes 9:4 יְחֻבַּ֔ר he is united

    There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

Ezekiel · 2

  1. Ezekiel 1:9 חֹֽבְרֹ֛ת [were] touching

    and their wings were touching one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.

  2. Ezekiel 1:11 חֹבְר֣וֹת [were] touching

    Such were their faces. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching the wings of the creature on either side, and two wings covering its body.

    Here: An active participle: the wings were continually 'joining', meeting the neighbouring creature's wing. Exodus 26:3 uses the same verb for the tabernacle curtains 'coupled one to another'. The point is a fitted, continuous connection, not wings fused into one piece.

Daniel · 2

  1. Daniel 11:6 יִתְחַבָּ֔רוּ they will make an alliance

    After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to seal the agreement. But his daughter will not retain her position of power, nor will his strength endure. At that time she will be given up, along with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her.

  2. Daniel 11:23 הִֽתְחַבְּר֥וּת made an alliance

    After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; for he will rise to power with only a few people.

Hosea · 1

  1. Hosea 4:17 חֲב֧וּר [is] joined of

    Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!

    Here: A passive form: Ephraim is described as one who has been bound into partnership. It comes first in the Hebrew, so the description lands before the name does, and it is tied directly to the next word: 'idol-partnered.'

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.