Lexical Summary Kebar: Kebar Original Word: כְּבָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Kebar, a river of MesopotamiaThe same as kbar; length; Kebar, a river of Mesopotamia -- Chebar. Compare Chabowr. see HEBREW kbar see HEBREW Chabowr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kabar Definition a river of Bab. NASB Translation Chebar (8). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. כְּבָר proper name, of a river Kebar, a river (or perhaps a canal) of Babylonia, not at present identified, by which the exiles, among whom Ezekiel ministered, were settled; always in the phrase נְהַר כְּבָר Ezekiel 1:1,3; Ezekiel 3:15,23; Ezekiel 10:15,20,22; Ezekiel 43:3 (compare SmEzekiel 1:1 DelPar. 47 f., 184). II. כבר (√ of following; ? to intertwine, net; Late Hebrew כָּבַר sift is denominative from כְּבָרָה). Topical Lexicon Name and Setting Chebar (also rendered Kebar) designates a major irrigation canal of ancient Babylonia that drew from the Euphrates near modern-day Nippur and coursed northeast toward the Tigris. Archaeological finds place the canal amid a lattice of waterways that supplied the royal city of Nippur and the surrounding agricultural settlements. Tel-abib, the colony where Ezekiel and many deported Judeans lived, lay on its banks. Biblical Occurrences The name appears eight times, all in Ezekiel: • Ezekiel 1:1, 1:3 – Ezekiel receives his inaugural vision “while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River… the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest”. Historical Context Nebuchadnezzar’s second deportation (597 BC) relocated King Jehoiachin, craftsmen, and priests—including Ezekiel—to Babylonia. Rather than scattering the exiles broadly, Babylonian policy settled them in agricultural colonies to exploit their skills. The canal system around Nippur provided fertile soil; the community retained corporate identity yet felt the dislocation of living far from the Jerusalem temple. Prophetic Revelations at the River 1. The Majestic Chariot-Throne (Ezekiel 1) – God reveals Himself on a wheeled, four-faced cherubic chariot, announcing His sovereignty over nations and mobility beyond Zion’s precincts. Theological Significance Presence in Exile Chebar underscores that divine presence is not confined to geographic Israel. The visions prove the Lord’s ability to meet His people in foreign lands, fulfilling covenant promises even under judgment. Continuity of Revelation Each later appearance of the cherubim or the glory is explicitly linked back to Kebar, forming a narrative thread that binds Ezekiel’s entire book. The canal thus becomes the prophetic “control point” validating every subsequent message. Judgment and Restoration The same waters witness both condemnations of Jerusalem and assurances of a rebuilt sanctuary, highlighting the balance of holiness and grace. God’s glory departs because of sin but also pledges to return in covenant faithfulness. Model for Diaspora Ministry Ezekiel’s faithful service by the canal offers a paradigm for ministry among displaced believers: proclaim the Word, preserve identity, and keep covenant hope alive even when far from traditional centers of worship. Lessons for Today • God’s sovereignty extends to every place; exile or cultural marginalization cannot bar His revelation. Summary Chebar is more than an ancient canal; it is the stage on which God demonstrated His transcendence, commissioned a prophet, judged a nation, and promised future glory. The waters that irrigated Babylonian fields also nourished a revelation that still sustains faith today. Forms and Transliterations כְּבָ֑ר כְּבָ֔ר כְּבָֽר׃ כְּבָר֙ כבר כבר׃ kə·ḇār kəḇār keVarLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 1:1 HEB: עַל־ נְהַר־ כְּבָ֑ר נִפְתְּחוּ֙ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם NAS: while I was by the river Chebar among KJV: by the river of Chebar, [that] the heavens INT: was by the river Chebar were opened the heavens Ezekiel 1:3 Ezekiel 3:15 Ezekiel 3:23 Ezekiel 10:15 Ezekiel 10:20 Ezekiel 10:22 Ezekiel 43:3 8 Occurrences |
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