Lexical Summary eber: Region beyond, side, other side Original Word: אֵבֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance long-winged From 'abar; a pinion -- (long-)wing(-ed). see HEBREW 'abar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as abar Definition pinions NASB Translation pinions (1), wings (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֵ֫בֶר noun [masculine] pinions (from strength, in poetry & figurative, plural in sense) as of dove Psalm 55:7; eagle Isaiah 40:31; ׳אֶרֶךְ הָא of king of Babylon under figure of eagle Ezekiel 17:3 ("" גְּדוֺל הַכְּנָפַיִם of broad, overshadowing wings). Topical Lexicon Essential Imageryאֵבֶר evokes the broad, sweeping “pinion” or fully spread wing of a large bird in flight. Unlike the more general Hebrew terms for “wing,” this word focuses on strength, lift, and the far-reaching span that bears a creature skyward. Scripture therefore employs it to portray the yearning for escape, the renewal of strength, and the far-reaching dominion of powerfully moving sovereignty. Occurrences and Literary Setting Psalm 55:6 – In David’s anguish, the psalmist cries, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.” The solitary use of אֵבֶר here crystallizes a heart that longs to rise above treachery and turmoil. The dove’s wing, gentle yet sufficient, symbolizes the peace God alone supplies when enemies encircle. Isaiah 40:31 – To the weary exiles the prophet promises, “But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles.” אֵבֶר is now allied with the eagle, emblem of majesty and tireless ascent. The verse pairs patient faith with vigorous, God-given power, assuring Judah that hope in the covenant Lord will lift them beyond human limitations. Ezekiel 17:3 – Ezekiel’s allegory opens with “A great eagle with great wings, long pinions and full plumage of many colors.” The prophet uses אֵבֶר to depict the Babylonian empire’s far-reaching military might. The vivid image introduces a parable of judgment and eventual messianic restoration, showing that the same God who permits an empire to spread its pinions will also plant a tender shoot that becomes a sheltering cedar. Historical and Canonical Significance 1. Exilic Hope: Isaiah 40 proclaims that waiting on the Lord reverses the despair of exile. The metaphor of soaring pinions counters the image of captives trudging to Babylon, signifying that restoration is entirely possible under divine grace. 2. Royal Accountability: Ezekiel’s eagle reveals that human empires, no matter how impressive their wingspan, remain under Yahweh’s governance. He lifts them up and brings them low according to His redemptive purposes (compare Daniel 2:20-21). 3. Personal Lament and Trust: Psalm 55 locates the same imagery within individual experience. Betrayal and inner turmoil are met not by retaliation but by longing to rise to God’s sanctuary, prefiguring New Testament calls to “set your hearts on things above” (Colossians 3:1). Intertextual Connections • Deuteronomy 32:11-12 pictures the Lord “like an eagle that stirs up its nest… spreading its wings to catch them,” resonating with the strength of אֵבֶר and underlining covenant care. • Ruth 2:12 appeals to finding refuge “under the wings of the LORD,” linking the idea of spread wings to covenant faithfulness, though a different Hebrew term is used. The thematic overlap deepens the pastoral emphasis of Psalm 55:6. • Matthew 23:37 envisions Jesus yearning to gather Jerusalem’s children “as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,” showing the same saving impulse later embodied in Christ. Theology of Wings and Flight 1. Dependence and Empowerment: Human capacity to soar is depicted as derivative. Strength is received, not self-generated (Isaiah 40:29-31). 2. Transcendence of Circumstances: Wings imply a realm above danger and limitation. Psalm 55:6 sets the paradigm; the New Covenant reiterates it spiritually in Philippians 3:20. 3. Divine Sovereignty: Ezekiel 17 shows that even predatory wings operate within God’s decree. Nations fly only by permission. Christological Reflections • The eagle imagery anticipates the resurrection and ascension of Christ, who rose far above rule and authority (Ephesians 1:20-21), securing believers’ ultimate flight from sin’s bondage. • The longing in Psalm 55 foreshadows Christ’s own travail in Gethsemane, where He entrusted His soul to the Father rather than escape earthly suffering, thereby opening true rest for His people (Hebrews 4:9-10). Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Waiting on the Lord remains central to personal renewal. Congregational teaching can employ Isaiah 40:31 to encourage disciplines of prayer, Scripture meditation, and Sabbath rest. • Counseling the betrayed finds a model in Psalm 55: hand the injustice to God and look upward rather than retaliate. • Missions strategy resonates with Ezekiel 17: divine sovereignty over empires guarantees the Gospel’s advance despite geopolitical turbulence. Devotional Insight Every occurrence of אֵבֶר moves from ground-level weakness to elevated strength. Believers who anchor hope in the covenant-keeping God will discover that He supplies the pinions. Whether seeking refuge, pressing through exile-like trials, or confronting intimidating powers, the promise stands: “Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles.” Forms and Transliterations אֵ֖בֶר אֵ֭בֶר אבר הָאֵ֔בֶר האבר ’ê·ḇer ’êḇer Ever hā’êḇer hā·’ê·ḇer haEverLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 55:6 HEB: יִתֶּן־ לִּ֣י אֵ֭בֶר כַּיּוֹנָ֗ה אָע֥וּפָה NAS: that I had wings like a dove! KJV: Oh that I had wings like a dove! INT: I had wings A dove fly Isaiah 40:31 Ezekiel 17:3 3 Occurrences |
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