Eber
malePatriarchalMeaning: “The region beyond; one who crosses over”
A descendant of Shem from whose name the term "Hebrew" is widely thought to derive; father of Peleg and an ancestor of Abraham.
Biography
Eber was a great-grandson of Shem and an ancestor of Abraham (Genesis 10:21–25; 11:14–17). His name is widely understood to lie behind the word "Hebrew" — Abraham is later called "the Hebrew" (Genesis 14:13), a descendant of Eber. He was the father of Peleg and Joktan, and he appears in Luke's genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:35), one of the named links between the flood and the call of Abraham.
Life Timeline
Becomes the father of Peleg
On the Bible timeline
Eber belongs to the Creation & the Early World era (Beginning – c. 2100 BC).
- c. 2400 BC (traditional)The Flood
- c. 2200 BCThe Tower of Babel
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Eber
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Eber appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
7 verses in 1 bookGenesis7 verses
Genesis 10:21
Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
Genesis 10:24
And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. Salah: Heb. Shelah
Genesis 10:25
And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. Peleg: that is Division
Genesis 11:14
And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:
Genesis 11:15
And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
Genesis 11:16
And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: Peleg: Gr. Phalec
Genesis 11:17
And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.
Frequently asked about Eber
Who was Eber in the Bible?
A descendant of Shem from whose name the term "Hebrew" is widely thought to derive; father of Peleg and an ancestor of Abraham.
What does the name Eber mean?
The name Eber means “The region beyond; one who crosses over”.
Who were Eber's children?
Eber's children include Peleg.
Where does Eber appear in the Bible?
Eber is mentioned 7 times across 1 book: Genesis.
What can we learn from Eber?
The story of Eber touches on themes of shem, genealogy, hebrew, peleg — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Eber's life.
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