3528. kebar

Lexicon

kebar: Already, long ago

Original Word: כְּבָר
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: kbar
Pronunciation: keh-bar
Phonetic Spelling: (keb-awr')
Definition: Already, long ago
Meaning: extent of time, a great while, long ago, formerly, hitherto

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

already, seeing that which, now

From kabar; properly, extent of time, i.e. A great while; hence, long ago, formerly, hitherto -- already, (seeing that which), now.

see HEBREW kabar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from kabar
Definition
already
NASB Translation
already (8).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. כְּבָר adverb (late) already (frequently in Mishna and Late Hebrew; ᵑ7 כבר (rare); Syriac usually perhaps, occas. already (Matthew 11:21; Hebrews 10:2); Mandean כבאר already, Nö^{M. p. 202. Der. uncertain, connection} with √ כבר being dubious) — already, Ecclesiastes 1:10 כְּבָר הָיָה it hath already been, Ecclesiastes 2:12,16; Ecclesiastes 3:15 (twice in verse); Ecclesiastes 4:2; Ecclesiastes 6:10; Ecclesiastes 9:6,7.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to braid or to fold together.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct one-to-one correspondence between Hebrew and Greek terms, the concept of time and duration expressed by כְּבָר can be related to Greek terms such as πάλαι (palai • Strong's Greek 3819), which means "long ago" or "formerly," and ἤδη (ēdē • Strong's Greek 2235), meaning "already" or "now," both of which convey a sense of time that has passed or conditions that have been established.

Usage: The word כְּבָר appears in the Hebrew Bible to express the concept of time that has passed or events that have occurred in the past. It is used to convey the idea of something that has been established or has existed for a considerable period.

Context: The Hebrew term כְּבָר (kevar) is utilized in the Old Testament to articulate the passage of time, often in the context of reflecting on past events or conditions. It is a term that emphasizes the continuity or duration of time, suggesting that something has been in existence or has been occurring for a long period. This word is found in various contexts, often in poetic or reflective passages, where the speaker is considering the past or the enduring nature of certain truths or conditions.

For example, in Ecclesiastes 1:10 (BSB), the term is used to highlight the repetitive nature of history: "Is there anything of which one can say, 'Look, this is new'? It has already existed in the ages before us." Here, כְּבָר underscores the idea that what seems new has, in fact, been present long before, emphasizing the cyclical nature of time and human experience.

The use of כְּבָר in the Hebrew Bible often serves to remind the reader of the enduring nature of God's creation and the constancy of His purposes throughout history. It reflects a worldview that acknowledges the continuity of time and the unfolding of divine plans across generations.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞ר בשכבר כְּבָ֖ר כְּבָ֣ר כְּבָר֙ כְבָ֔ר כבר שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר שכבר bə·šek·kə·ḇār bəšekkəḇār beshekkeVar cheVar kə·ḇār ḵə·ḇār kəḇār ḵəḇār keVar šek·kə·ḇār šekkəḇār shekkeVar

Englishman's Concordance

Ecclesiastes 1:10
HEB: חָדָ֣שׁ ה֑וּא כְּבָר֙ הָיָ֣ה לְעֹֽלָמִ֔ים
NAS: it is new ? Already it has existed
KJV: this [is] new? it hath been already of old time,
INT: fresh he already has existed ages

Ecclesiastes 2:12
HEB: אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־ כְּבָ֖ר עָשֽׂוּהוּ׃
NAS: [except] what has already been done?
KJV: the king? [even] that which hath been already done.
INT: the king what has already done

Ecclesiastes 2:16
HEB: הַכְּסִ֖יל לְעוֹלָ֑ם בְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞ר הַיָּמִ֤ים הַבָּאִים֙
KJV: for ever; seeing that which now [is] in the days
INT: the fool lasting now days as the coming

Ecclesiastes 3:15
HEB: מַה־ שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙ כְּבָ֣ר ה֔וּא וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: is has been already and that which
KJV: That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already
INT: is has been already and that which

Ecclesiastes 3:15
HEB: וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר לִהְי֖וֹת כְּבָ֣ר הָיָ֑ה וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים
NAS: and that which will be has already been,
KJV: That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God
INT: which been will be has already been God

Ecclesiastes 4:2
HEB: אֶת־ הַמֵּתִ֖ים שֶׁכְּבָ֣ר מֵ֑תוּ מִן־
NAS: who are already dead
KJV: the dead which are already dead
INT: I the dead are already dead more

Ecclesiastes 6:10
HEB: מַה־ שֶּֽׁהָיָ֗ה כְּבָר֙ נִקְרָ֣א שְׁמ֔וֹ
NAS: exists has already been named,
KJV: That which hath been is named already, and it is known
INT: how long exists has already bewray and it

Ecclesiastes 9:6
HEB: גַּם־ קִנְאָתָ֖ם כְּבָ֣ר אָבָ֑דָה וְחֵ֨לֶק
NAS: and their zeal have already perished,
KJV: and their envy, is now perished;
INT: Indeed and their zeal have already perished A share

Ecclesiastes 9:7
HEB: יֵינֶ֑ךָ כִּ֣י כְבָ֔ר רָצָ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים
NAS: for God has already approved
KJV: for God now accepteth
INT: your wine for has already approved God

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3528
9 Occurrences

bə·šek·kə·ḇār — 1 Occ.
ḵə·ḇār — 1 Occ.
kə·ḇār — 6 Occ.
šek·kə·ḇār — 1 Occ.