Home People Eber Eber was a descendant of Shem, Noah's son, and is regarded as the ancestor of the Hebrews. The name 'Hebrew' is likely derived from his name. According to the Bible, he lived for 464 years and is an important link in the lineage from Shem to Abraham.
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Key events Eber was born as the son of Shelah, in the lineage from Shem. He is listed as one of the important patriarchs after the flood.
21 Sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; he was the father of all the sons of Eber. Heb וּלְשֵׁ֥ם יֻלַּ֖ד גַּם־ה֑וּא אֲבִי֙ כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֵ֔בֶר אֲחִ֖י יֶ֥פֶת הַגָּדֽוֹל׃
24 Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber. Heb וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד יָלַ֣ד אֶת־שָׁ֑לַח וְשֶׁ֖לַח יָלַ֥ד אֶת־עֵֽבֶר׃
25 Two sons were born to Eber. One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided; his brother's name was Joktan. Heb וּלְעֵ֥בֶר יֻלַּ֖ד שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים שֵׁ֣ם הֽ͏ָאֶחָ֞ד פֶּ֗לֶג כִּ֤י בְיָמָיו֙ נִפְלְגָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יָקְטָֽן׃
14 When Shelah had lived thirty years, he became the father of Eber. Heb וְשֶׁ֥לַח חַ֖י שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־עֵֽבֶר׃
15 After he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived four hundred and three years and had other sons and daughters. Heb וֽ͏ַיְחִי־שֶׁ֗לַח אַחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־עֵ֔בֶר שָׁלֹ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃ ס
When Eber was 34 years old, he had a son named Peleg. In Peleg's days the earth was divided, which may refer to the confusion of languages at Babel or a geographical division.
25 Two sons were born to Eber. One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided; his brother's name was Joktan. Heb וּלְעֵ֥בֶר יֻלַּ֖ד שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים שֵׁ֣ם הֽ͏ָאֶחָ֞ד פֶּ֗לֶג כִּ֤י בְיָמָיו֙ נִפְלְגָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יָקְטָֽן׃
16 When Eber had lived thirty-four years, he became the father of Peleg. Heb וַֽיְחִי־עֵ֕בֶר אַרְבַּ֥ע וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־פָּֽלֶג׃
According to Genesis, Eber lived for 464 years, making him one of the longest-lived patriarchs after the flood. He actually outlived several of his descendants.
16 When Eber had lived thirty-four years, he became the father of Peleg. Heb וַֽיְחִי־עֵ֕בֶר אַרְבַּ֥ע וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־פָּֽלֶג׃
17 After he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years and had other sons and daughters. Heb וַֽיְחִי־עֵ֗בֶר אַחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־פֶּ֔לֶג שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃ ס
Through his son Joktan, Eber became the ancestor of various Arab tribes that settled in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula.
25 Two sons were born to Eber. One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided; his brother's name was Joktan. Heb וּלְעֵ֥בֶר יֻלַּ֖ד שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים שֵׁ֣ם הֽ͏ָאֶחָ֞ד פֶּ֗לֶג כִּ֤י בְיָמָיו֙ נִפְלְגָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יָקְטָֽן׃
26 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Heb וְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח׃
27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Heb וְאֶת־הֲדוֹרָ֥ם וְאֶת־אוּזָ֖ל וְאֶת־דִּקְלָֽה׃
28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Heb וְאֶת־עוֹבָ֥ל וְאֶת־אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־שְׁבָֽא׃
29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. Heb וְאֶת־אוֹפִ֥ר וְאֶת־חֲוִילָ֖ה וְאֶת־יוֹבָ֑ב כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י יָקְטָֽן׃
In 1 Chronicles, Eber's place in the lineage from Shem is repeated, confirming his important role as a link between Noah and Abraham.
18 Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber. Heb וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד יָלַ֣ד אֶת־שָׁ֑לַח וְשֶׁ֖לַח יָלַ֥ד אֶת־עֵֽבֶר׃
19 Two sons were born to Eber: one was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. Heb וּלְעֵ֥בֶר יֻלַּ֖ד שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים שֵׁ֣ם הָאֶחָ֞ד פֶּ֗לֶג כִּ֤י בְיָמָיו֙ נִפְלְגָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יָקְטָֽן׃
25 Eber, Peleg, Reu; Heb עֵ֥בֶר פֶּ֖לֶג רְעֽוּ׃
In the Gospel of Luke, Eber is included in Jesus' genealogy, highlighting his place in salvation history as a link in the line from Adam to Christ.
35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, Gk τοῦ Σεροὺχ τοῦ Ῥαγαὺ τοῦ Φάλεκ τοῦ Ἔβερ τοῦ Σαλὰ
Mentioned in the Bible (25)