עֲבָרִים (a.va.rim)

The proper noun Abarim refers to a mountain range east of the Jordan River, situated in Moab opposite Jericho. The name itself carries the meaning "regions beyond," pointing to its location as a highland plateau that lies across from the Promised Land. This geographical feature is not merely a backdrop but a significant landmark in the biblical narrative, serving as the vantage point for viewing the territory of Canaan.

Mount Nebo forms part of this range and holds particular theological weight as the place where Moses died after surveying the land he would not enter (Deuteronomy 32:49). The term appears in five verses, primarily within Numbers and Jeremiah. In these texts, Abarim marks the boundary between the wilderness wanderings and the settlement of the inheritance, symbolizing both the proximity of God's promise and the distance remaining for a generation that failed to trust Him fully.

Translators often retain the Hebrew name rather than translating it literally, preserving its identity as a specific place of transition. The range represents a threshold; from its heights, the view is clear, yet the crossing remains impossible for those who have rebelled against divine instruction. It stands as a permanent reminder of the consequences of unbelief and the steadfastness of God's call to His people.