Lexical Summary Ibri: Ibri Original Word: עִבְרִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ibri The same as Ibriy; Ibri, an Israelite -- Ibri. see HEBREW Ibriy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom 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). 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). Forms and Transliterations וְעִבְרִֽי׃ ועברי׃ veivRi wə‘iḇrî wə·‘iḇ·rîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 |