5675. abar
Lexical Summary
abar: beyond, region beyond

Original Word: עֲבַר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `abar
Pronunciation: ah-var
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ar')
NASB: beyond, region beyond
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H5676 (עֵבֶר - beyond)]

1. beyond, this side

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
beyond, this side

(Aramaic) corresponding to eber -- beyond, this side.

see HEBREW eber

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to eber
Definition
region across or beyond
NASB Translation
beyond (12), region beyond (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עֲבַר noun masculine region across, beyond (see Biblical Hebrew I. עֵ֫בֶרעָבַר); — construct in phrase עֲבַר(ֿ)נַהֲרָה, i.e. Syria (Scheft87): Ezra 4:10,11,17,20; Ezra 5:3,6 (twice in verse); Ezra 6:6 (twice in verse); Ezra 6:8,13; Ezra 7:21,25, נהרא ׳ע Ezra 4:16. compare in Cilician Aramaic, Cooke346.

עַד see עדה. below

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Geographic Scope

עֲבַר is the Hebrew term regularly rendered “Beyond the River” in the Ezra narrative. In every occurrence the “River” is the Euphrates, the great water-boundary that separated the Persian heartland from its western satrapies. Thus, עֲבַר functions less as a compass point and more as a covenant marker: it identifies the land in which the post-exilic community must live out faithfulness while still under foreign imperial control.

Biblical Context in Ezra

The word appears fourteen times, all in Ezra 4–7. It first surfaces in the adversaries’ correspondence with Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:10-11) and reappears in every royal reply, decree, and report that follows. The Berean Standard Bible repeatedly translates the phrase as “the province beyond the River,” e.g.,
• “To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the men of the region beyond the River…” (Ezra 4:11).
• “We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt… you will have no possession in the province beyond the River” (Ezra 4:16).

The repetition does more than give postal directions; it highlights the contested nature of Judah’s restoration and the legal framework within which God’s people must rebuild.

Political and Administrative Usage in the Persian Period

Persian administration divided its western territories into a single tax district called “Beyond-the-River” (Abar-Nahara). The satrap’s headquarters was likely at Damascus; local governors such as Tattenai (Ezra 5:3) and treasurers such as Shethar-bozenai enforced royal policy. When Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes issue decrees concerning the temple, the scribes consistently state that these orders are to be executed “in all the province beyond the River” (Ezra 6:8, 6:13; 7:21). The term therefore frames Judah’s restoration inside the very structures of the Gentile empire predicted by the prophets (Isaiah 44:28; Jeremiah 29:10).

Theological Implications of “Beyond the River”

1. Providence over Empires: The phrase reminds readers that the same Lord who dried up the Jordan (Joshua 3) now steers the policies of Persia. Imperial edicts unwittingly serve the redemptive plan.
2. Exile and Identity: Even after the return, Judah is labeled as part of an imperial province—not yet fully sovereign. The people must seek holiness in the midst of foreign oversight, echoing Jeremiah’s call to “seek the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7).
3. Typology of Pilgrimage: Just as Abraham was called from “beyond the River” (Joshua 24:2-3), the post-exilic community is summoned to leave spiritual exile and walk in covenant obedience.

Ministry Principles Derived

• Respect for Civil Authority: Ezra cooperates with Persian officials, modeling submission “for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13) while never compromising worship.
• Diligent Record-Keeping: The prominence of letters and archives (Ezra 5:17; 6:1-2) encourages transparency and integrity in ministry administration.
• Strategic Engagement: Knowing the governing structures “beyond the River” allows God’s servants to petition wisely (Ezra 7:6).

Christological Reflections

The motif of a people living under a foreign power yet carrying royal authorization to build God’s house foreshadows the church’s mandate. Jesus, the greater Temple (John 2:19-21), sends disciples “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)—territory that is, in effect, always “beyond the River.” Earthly jurisdictions may change, but the King’s decree stands: “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18).

Application for the Church Today

Believers often labor within cultural climates that regard them as a mere administrative subset. Like Judah “beyond the River,” the church finds security not in political autonomy but in the unassailable word of the sovereign Lord. Faithful work, respectful dialogue with authorities, and reliance on divine providence remain the pathway to advancing God’s kingdom until the full restoration promised in Revelation 21.

Forms and Transliterations
בַּעֲבַ֣ר בעבר עֲבַ֣ר עֲבַֽר־ עבר עבר־ ‘ă·ḇar ‘ă·ḇar- ‘ăḇar ‘ăḇar- avar ba‘ăḇar ba·‘ă·ḇar baaVar
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Englishman's Concordance
Ezra 4:10
HEB: שָׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֥ר עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃
NAS: and in the rest of the region beyond the River.
KJV: and the rest [that are] on this side the river,
INT: of Samaria the rest of the region the River Now

Ezra 4:11
HEB: ק) אֱנָ֥שׁ עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֖ה וּכְעֶֽנֶת׃
NAS: the men in the region beyond the River,
KJV: the men on this side the river,
INT: your servants the men the region the River and now

Ezra 4:16
HEB: דְּנָ֔ה חֲלָק֙ בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔א לָ֥א
NAS: possession in [the province] beyond the River.
KJV: no portion on this side the river.
INT: this possession beyond the River no

Ezra 4:17
HEB: בְּשָֽׁמְרָ֑יִן וּשְׁאָ֧ר עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֛ה שְׁלָ֖ם
NAS: and in the rest of [the provinces] beyond the River:
KJV: and [unto] the rest beyond the river,
INT: Samaria the rest beyond the River Peace

Ezra 4:20
HEB: וְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין בְּכֹ֖ל עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה וּמִדָּ֥ה
NAS: all [the provinces] beyond the River,
KJV: over all [countries] beyond the river;
INT: governing all beyond the River tribute

Ezra 5:3
HEB: תַּ֠תְּנַי פַּחַ֧ת עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֛ה וּשְׁתַ֥ר
NAS: the governor of [the province] beyond the River,
KJV: governor on this side the river,
INT: Tattenai the governor beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai

Ezra 5:6
HEB: תַּתְּנַ֣י ׀ פַּחַ֣ת עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֗ה וּשְׁתַ֤ר
NAS: the governor of [the province] beyond the River,
KJV: governor on this side the river,
INT: Tattenai the governor beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai

Ezra 5:6
HEB: אֲפַ֨רְסְכָיֵ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה עַל־
NAS: who were beyond the River,
KJV: the Apharsachites, which [were] on this side the river,
INT: the officials who were beyond the River unto

Ezra 6:6
HEB: תַּ֠תְּנַי פַּחַ֨ת עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֜ה שְׁתַ֤ר
NAS: governor of [the province] beyond the River,
KJV: governor beyond the river,
INT: Tattenai governor beyond the River Shethar-bozenai

Ezra 6:6
HEB: אֲפַרְסְכָיֵ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה רַחִיקִ֥ין
NAS: the officials of [the provinces] beyond the River,
KJV: the Apharsachites, which [are] beyond the river,
INT: the officials of beyond the River keep

Ezra 6:8
HEB: דִּ֚י מִדַּת֙ עֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔ה אָסְפַּ֗רְנָא
NAS: out of the taxes of [the provinces] beyond the River,
KJV: the tribute beyond the river,
INT: out of the taxes beyond the River the full

Ezra 6:13
HEB: תַּתְּנַ֞י פַּחַ֧ת עֲבַֽר־ נַהֲרָ֛ה שְׁתַ֥ר
NAS: the governor of [the province] beyond the River,
KJV: governor on this side the river,
INT: Tattenai the governor beyond the River Shethar-bozenai

Ezra 7:21
HEB: גִּזַּֽבְרַיָּ֔א דִּ֖י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֑ה דִּ֣י
NAS: who are [in the provinces] beyond the River,
KJV: the treasurers which [are] beyond the river,
INT: the treasurers who beyond the River who

Ezra 7:25
HEB: עַמָּה֙ דִּ֚י בַּעֲבַ֣ר נַהֲרָ֔ה לְכָל־
NAS: who are in [the province] beyond the River,
KJV: the people that [are] beyond the river,
INT: the people who beyond the River all

14 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5675
14 Occurrences


‘ă·ḇar- — 9 Occ.
ba·‘ă·ḇar — 5 Occ.

5674b
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