The spelling of the word "Chebar" follows the standard English phonetic transcription. According to IPA, the word is pronounced as /ˈkiːbɑːr/. It begins with the voiceless velar plosive /k/ followed by the long vowel /iː/. The following sound is a bilabial voiced stop consonant /b/, and the second vowel is an unrounded open back vowel /ɑː/. The word ends with an alveolar approximant /r/. Chebar refers to a river in Babylon and appears in various biblical texts.
Chebar is a proper noun commonly associated with the ancient river that holds significant historical and cultural importance, primarily mentioned in biblical texts. According to religious scriptures, the Chebar River or Chebar Canal was a waterway that flowed through the region of Babylonia, situated in present-day Iraq. It is often associated with the city of Nippur, an ancient Sumerian city located near the river's banks.
The Chebar River is mentioned prominently in the book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible. The river's significance lies in the fact that it was where the prophet Ezekiel had his famous visions and received divine messages from God. The Chebar River symbolizes a place of spiritual revelation and communication with the divine.
In terms of geography, the precise location and course of the Chebar River remain uncertain since it seems to have changed over time due to natural processes and human interventions.
The term "Chebar" has also been used more generally to describe any mysterious or mystical place of profound spiritual significance. It represents a metaphorical space where powerful insights, visions, or spiritual experiences occur. In this sense, "Chebar" has transcended its literal meaning to become a symbol of divine revelation and enlightenment.
Furthermore, the etymology or original meaning of the word "Chebar" is not definitively known, adding an enigmatic and mysterious aspect to its significance.
The word "Chebar" is of Akkadian origin. It is transliterated from the Akkadian word "kibratu", meaning "great canal" or "big river". In the Old Testament of the Bible, Chebar is mentioned as a river in Babylon where the prophet Ezekiel had visions. The Akkadian language was spoken in ancient Mesopotamia, and its influence can be seen in various Semitic languages of the region.