חֶ֫בֶר (che.ver)
che.ver
spell
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun chever primarily denotes an association, company, or band of people who share a common purpose or bond. In its most straightforward sense, it describes a group united by fellowship or collective action, reflecting the social nature of community life in the ancient Near East.
However, the word takes on a distinct and narrower meaning in specific biblical contexts, particularly in Deuteronomy 18:10-11. Here, it refers to a "spell" or the practice of enchantment associated with magicians and charmers. This usage highlights a forbidden type of association—one that seeks power through occult means rather than reliance on God.
The shift from general companionship to magical incantation suggests a deep connection between the idea of binding together and the act of casting a spell. Translators often render this sense as "spell" or "enchantment," capturing the specific prohibition against consulting such practitioners in Israel’s law.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chever usually describes a group of people bound together by friendship or shared goals. It speaks to the natural human desire for community and fellowship. However, in specific passages, it takes on a darker meaning related to spells or enchantments. This shift reminds us that not all bonds are healthy or God-honoring.
When the Bible warns against using chever in the context of magic, it highlights a dangerous reliance on hidden powers instead of trusting God. These practices attempt to control outcomes through secret knowledge or rituals. Such attempts isolate us from the open and honest relationship we have with our Creator.
We are called to find our security in God alone. Instead of seeking power through forbidden means, we can rest in His provision and protection. This word invites us to examine what binds us together and whether those connections draw us closer to faith or away from it.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- spells/ your1×
- in/ spells/ your1×
- a spell1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָ֑בֶר1×
- חֲבָרַ֖יִ/ךְ1×
- בַ/חֲבָרַ֙יִ/ךְ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 18:11
or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
This verse lists chever among forbidden occult practices, showing it as a specific type of magical spell prohibited in Israel's law.
-
Isaiah 47:9
But these two things will come to you in a moment in one day: the loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in their full measure, in the multitude of your sorceries, and the great abundance of your enchantments.
Here the term appears alongside sorceries to emphasize the futility of Babylonian enchantments against God's judgment.
-
Isaiah 47:12
“Stand now with your enchantments and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth, as if you might profit, as if you might prevail.
The prophet mocks those who rely on their accumulated spells, highlighting that such efforts cannot save them from disaster.