5681. Ibri
Lexical Summary
Ibri: Ibri

Original Word: עִבְרִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Ibriy
Pronunciation: ib-REE
Phonetic Spelling: (ib-ree')
KJV: Ibri
NASB: Ibri
Word Origin: [the same as H5680 (עִברִי - Hebrews)]

1. Ibri, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ibri

The same as Ibriy; Ibri, an Israelite -- Ibri.

see HEBREW Ibriy

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from Eber
Definition
a Levite
NASB Translation
Ibri (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. עִבְרִי proper name, masculine Levite name, 1 Chronicles 24:27; ᵐ5 Αβαι, A Ωβδι, ᵐ5L Αβαρια.

Topical Lexicon
Name and Meaning

ʿIḇrî (“Ibri”) derives from the root עבר (“to cross over”) and is cognate with the designation “Hebrew.” The name therefore conveys the idea of one who has crossed over, a covenant identity rooted in the patriarch Eber (Genesis 10:21). In the singular occurrence the word functions as a proper name rather than an ethnic title.

Biblical Occurrence

1 Chronicles 24:27 records Ibri among the sons of Jaaziah in the clan of Merari, one of the three Levitical families. “From the sons of Merari through Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.”

Family and Lineage

Merari was the youngest son of Levi (Genesis 46:11). His descendants were subdivided through Mahli and Mushi (Numbers 3:20). Jaaziah appears in the later Merarite genealogy (1 Chronicles 23:10–11), and Ibri is listed as one of Jaaziah’s four sons. Thus Ibri belongs to a post-exilic branch that helped repopulate priestly service when temple worship was restored.

Historical Setting in Davidic Reforms

1 Chronicles 23–26 describes King David’s Spirit-guided organization of Levites for the future temple. By enrolling every male Levite twenty years and older (1 Chronicles 23:24–27), David ensured continuous ministry beyond his lifetime. Ibri and his brothers were assigned within the twenty-four courses that regulated service in orderly rotations, foreshadowing the “all things done decently and in order” principle (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Levitical Duties of the Merarites

In the wilderness, Merarites bore the structural components of the tabernacle—frames, bars, pillars, bases, pegs, and cords (Numbers 3:36–37; 4:29–33). After the tabernacle gave way to Solomon’s temple, their charge expanded to maintenance of courts, chambers, and storage rooms (1 Chronicles 23:28). Ibri’s lineage therefore specialized in the physical stewardship that safeguarded sacred space for worship and sacrifice.

Spiritual Lessons and Ministry Implications

1. Covenant Identity: The very name Ibri reminds believers that God calls His people to be “sojourners” who have crossed from death to life (John 5:24).
2. Faithful Obscurity: Though Ibri appears only once, his inclusion underscores that every servant, known or hidden, matters in God’s redemptive plan (Hebrews 6:10).
3. Heritage of Order: The meticulous genealogies of Chronicles encourage congregations to value structure, accountability, and intergenerational faithfulness.
4. Supportive Ministry: Like the Merarites, many in the body of Christ serve behind the scenes, yet their ministry upholds public worship (1 Corinthians 12:22–24).

Genealogical Integrity and Messianic Line

Chronicles was compiled after the exile to affirm Israel’s continuity and to buttress hope in the promised Son of David. Recording minor figures such as Ibri testifies that no strand of covenant history has been lost; thus the reader can trust the accuracy of Scripture’s witness to the Messiah (Luke 24:44).

Application for Contemporary Believers

• Embrace covenant identity by “crossing over” daily from worldliness to holiness (Romans 12:1–2).
• Value unsung service that stabilizes congregational life, imitating Merarite diligence.
• Preserve spiritual heritage by mentoring the next generation, echoing David’s preparation of Ibri’s class for future temple duty (2 Timothy 2:2).

Forms and Transliterations
וְעִבְרִֽי׃ ועברי׃ veivRi wə‘iḇrî wə·‘iḇ·rî
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 24:27
HEB: וְשֹׁ֥הַם וְזַכּ֖וּר וְעִבְרִֽי׃
NAS: Shoham, Zaccur and Ibri.
KJV: and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
INT: Shoham Zaccur and Ibri

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 5681
1 Occurrence


wə·‘iḇ·rî — 1 Occ.

5680
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