Passing over the waters as much as it is a physical act, it also signifies a symbolic act of leaving the past behind and starting afresh. Passing over was a distinct feature of God’s people. This repeats again with Israel as they cross the Red Sea towards freedom and Israel as they cross the Jordan towards the promised land. Abram served other gods beyond the river, but when he passed over, he was committed to God. In the above passage Joshua makes a distinction between Abram before he passes over, to the life he is called to live after he crossed over. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Jos 24:14,15 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt and serve ye the LORD. Jos 24:8 And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land and I destroyed them from before you. Jos 24:6 And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. Jos 24:2,3 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. This characteristic of “passing over” becomes part of the Hebrew experience, and is seen as part and parcel of the journey of God’s people as seen below. So it is now abundantly clear why Abram was called a Hebrew.

And Abram passed through(H5674 – עבר – ‛âbar) the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan and into the land of Canaan they came. Gen 12:4-6 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. It should be noted that the story of Abraham is connected to the word “Abar” Pass-over, as we see it is one of the first things mentioned about him. To pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over, to pass beyond, to pass through, traverse, passers-through, to pass through, to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by, passer-by, to be past, be over, to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance, to pass away, to emigrate, leave (one’s territory), to vanish, to perish, cease to exist, to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree), to be alienated, pass into other hands, to be crossed, to impregnate, cause to cross, to cause to pass over, cause to bring over, cause to cross over, make over to, dedicate, devote, to cause to pass through, to cause to pass by or beyond or under, let pass by, to cause to pass away, cause to take away, to pass over To pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress All of these words are connected as the root (Ayin-Bet-Resh עבר) in Hebrew stays the same.

Region beyond or across, side, opposite sideĪnother word connected with “Ivri” (Hebrew) is “Avar” which means “pass over”. So one who comes across or comes from beyond is a Hebrew.īrown-Driver-Briggs Dictionary Definition: A closely connected word to “Ivri”/”Hebrew” in the Hebrew language is “Eber” which means beyond/across. This may have referred to the fact that Abram came from the other side of the Euphrates River and settled in the plains of Mamre. This makes sense, as the first time we see the word “Hebrew” used is when Abram is called a “Abram the Hebrew”.

Gpsy crossing newberg