Original Word: גֶּבֶר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: geber
Pronunciation: gheh'-ber
Phonetic Spelling: (gheh'-ber)
KJV: every one, man, X mighty
NASB: man, men, man's, boy, everyone, warrior
Word Origin: [from H1396 (גָּבַר - prevailed)]

1. (properly) a valiant man or warrior
2. (generally) a person simply

every one, man, mighty

From gabar; properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply -- every one, man, X mighty.

see HEBREW gabar

Word Origin
from gabar
Definition
man
NASB Translation
boy (1), everyone (1), man (54), man's (3), men (8), warrior (1).

I. גֶּ֫בֶר₆₆ noun masculine man (Late Hebrew id., MI¹⁶ גברן (plural), Aramaic גְּבַר, ; Assyrian gabru, rival is Akkadian Loan-word according to Schr^{JLZ 1874, 200} Dl^{S 120, Sm. Chald. Gen. 286}) — Deuteronomy 22:5 39t.; גָּ֑בֶר Job 3:3 13t.; construct גְּבַּר Psalm 18:26 (= 2 Samuel 22:26 גִּבּוֺר but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 read גֶּבֶר); plural גְּבָרים Jeremiah 41:16 10t.; — man as strong, distinguished from women, children, and non-combatants whom he is to defend, chiefly poetic Exodus 10:11; Numbers 24:3,15 (E) Exodus 12:37; Joshua 7:14,17,18 (J) Deuteronomy 22:5 (twice in verse); Judges 5:30; 2 Samuel 23:1; 1 Chronicles 23:3; 1 Chronicles 24:4; 1 Chronicles 26:12; Job 3:3 14t. Job; Psalm 18:26 8t. Psalms; Proverbs 6:34 7t. Proverbs; Isaiah 22:17; Jeremiah 17:5 8t. Jeremiah; Lamentations 3:1,27,35,39; Daniel 8:15; Micah 2:2; Habakkuk 2:5; Zechariah 13:7; also 1 Samuel 10:21 ᵐ5 We Dr; = each (of locusts) Joel 2:8, compare אישׁ.

Overview

The Hebrew noun גֶּבֶר (geber) designates a male human being viewed through the lens of strength, vigor, and resolve. While often translated simply “man,” its biblical usage highlights the capacities and responsibilities of masculinity before God, whether in courageous exploits, steadfast faith, or humble frailty.

Distribution in Scripture

Approximately sixty-five occurrences appear across historical, poetic, prophetic, and wisdom books. Notable concentrations are found in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Jeremiah, with isolated uses in Samuel–Kings and Lamentations. The contexts create a composite picture: the warrior on the battlefield, the pilgrim in worship, the sufferer wrestling with mortality, and the believer called to unwavering trust.

Nuances within the Canon

1. Strength and Valor – In royal narratives, geber accents bravery. Adonijah gathered “fifty men” (1 Kings 1:5), and Zimri reigned in Tirzah after eliminating “all the males” (1 Kings 16:11), underscoring the military weight of male retainers.
2. Moral Fortitude – The term often exhorts inner courage. David’s dying charge, “Be strong, and prove yourself a man” (1 Kings 2:2), defines authentic manhood as covenantal fidelity.
3. Human Limitation – Wisdom literature balances strength with frailty: “But a man dies and is powerless” (Job 14:10) and “As for a man, his days are like grass” (Psalm 103:15, cf. geber in parallel).
4. Blessed Dependence – Jeremiah sets the decisive contrast: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man… Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD” (Jeremiah 17:5, 7). Here geber becomes a theological mirror reflecting either self-reliance or faith.

Representative Passages

• Job 38:3 – “Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.”
• Psalm 84:5 – “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.”
• Psalm 37:23 – “The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.”
• Proverbs 20:24 – “A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?”
• Lamentations 3:1 – “I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of His wrath.”

Contrast with Other Hebrew Terms for “Man”

• ’ādām stresses humanity as earth-formed creaturehood.
• ’îš conveys relational or social identity.
• ’enōsh highlights mortality and weakness.

Geber, by contrast, focuses on capacity—strength that is best exercised under divine authority.

Profiles of Notable ‘Geber’ Figures

• Job (Job 16:21; 42:17) wrestles honestly with suffering, modeling perseverance.
• The Psalmist (Psalm 84; 94) embodies blessed reliance on God amidst adversity.
• The unnamed sufferer of Lamentations 3 personifies covenant discipline leading to hope.
• Jeremiah (Jeremiah 17) stands as a prophetic exemplar, calling men to place trust in the LORD rather than human might.

Theological Themes

1. Derived Strength – Human vigor is acknowledged yet relativized; genuine power flows from the Creator (Job 40:9).
2. Accountability – Manly strength is never autonomous; it is measured by obedience (1 Kings 2:2-4).
3. Redemption of Masculinity – Even in judgment, God invites restoration; the strong man must become the faithful servant (Lamentations 3:24-27).

Christological Echoes

The ideal geber finds ultimate realization in the incarnate Son. Prophetic anticipation (“A strong man to run his course” – Psalm 19:5, cf. Messianic undertones) culminates in Jesus Christ, who embodied perfect strength through sacrificial obedience (Philippians 2:8). His resurrection vindicates true manhood and secures grace for believers to walk in renewed vigor.

Ministry Application

Pastoral instruction can harness geber to:
• Encourage men toward courageous, servant-hearted leadership (1 Corinthians 16:13).
• Remind all believers that physical or social strength is insufficient without reliance on God (2 Corinthians 12:9).
• Offer comfort in suffering, showing that even the strongest earthly man must trust the LORD who “remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14).

Practical Exhortation for Today

A biblical understanding of geber calls every Christian—male or female—to esteem God-given strength while confessing utter dependence on divine grace. True might is displayed not in self-assertion but in steadfast faith, righteous action, and humble service patterned after the ultimate Man, Jesus Christ.

גְּבָרִ֞ים גֶ֙בֶר֙ גֶ֣בֶר גֶ֥בֶר גֶּ֔בֶר גֶּ֖בֶר גֶּ֗בֶר גֶּ֜בֶר גֶּ֣בֶר גֶּ֥בֶר גֶּ֭בֶר גֶּֽבֶר־ גָ֑בֶר גָּ֑בֶר גָּ֔בֶר גָּ֗בֶר גָּֽבֶר׃ גָֽבֶר׃ גבר גבר־ גבר׃ גברים הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר הַ֠גְּבָרִים הַ֭גֶּבֶר הַגְּבָרִ֖ים הַגְּבָרִ֛ים הַגְּבָרִ֤ים הַגְּבָרִים֙ הַגֶּ֔בֶר הַגֶּ֖בֶר הַגֶּ֗בֶר הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙ הַגֶּ֣בֶר הגבר הגברים וְגֶ֣בֶר וְגֶ֥בֶר וּכְגֶ֖בֶר וגבר וכגבר כְּגֶ֣בֶר כְגֶ֣בֶר כגבר לְ֭גֶבֶר לְגֶ֣בֶר לִגְבָרִ֔ים לַגְּבָרִ֑ים לַגְּבָרִ֔ים לַגְּבָרִֽים׃ לַגֶּ֔בֶר לגבר לגברים לגברים׃ מִגֶּ֣בֶר מגבר cheGever gā·ḇer ḡā·ḇer gāḇer ḡāḇer Gaver gə·ḇā·rîm ge·ḇer ḡe·ḇer ge·ḇer- gəḇārîm geḇer ḡeḇer geḇer- gevaRim gever hag·gə·ḇā·rîm hag·ge·ḇer haggəḇārîm haggeḇer haggevaRim hagGever kə·ḡe·ḇer ḵə·ḡe·ḇer kəḡeḇer ḵəḡeḇer keGever lag·gə·ḇā·rîm lag·ge·ḇer laggəḇārîm laggeḇer laggevaRim lagGever lə·ḡe·ḇer ləḡeḇer Legever liḡ·ḇā·rîm liḡḇārîm ligvaRim mig·ge·ḇer miggeḇer migGever ū·ḵə·ḡe·ḇer ucheGever ūḵəḡeḇer veGever wə·ḡe·ḇer wəḡeḇerInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts