Lexical Summary
chabrah: Company, association, band
Original Word: חַבְרָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: chabrah
Pronunciation: khab-raw'
Phonetic Spelling: (khab-raw')
KJV: other
NASB: associates
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) feminine of H226 (אוֹת - sign)9]
1. an associate
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
other
(Aramaic) feminine of chabar; an associate -- other.
see HEBREW chabar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) fem. of
chabarDefinitiona fellow
NASB Translationassociates (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] ; — plural suffix
Daniel 7:20 its fellows (in vision of horns).
Topical Lexicon
Entry Title: Chabrah (Strong’s Hebrew 2273)Semantic Range
Chabrah denotes a circle of companions, associates, or peers who stand together as a collective. Used only once in Scripture, the word conveys the idea of confederated equality—figures of similar standing joined in one body.
Context in Daniel 7:20
Daniel’s night vision describes a fourth beast with “ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell … and whose appearance was greater than his fellows” (Daniel 7:20). The “fellows” (chabrah) are the ten horns symbolizing kings of the final earthly empire just before the return of Messiah. Chabrah highlights their common status; each horn shares royal authority until the eleventh horn disrupts the equilibrium.
Prophetic Significance
1. Confederation of Power: Chabrah underscores a united front of rulers who exist contemporaneously (compare Revelation 17:12). Their solidarity magnifies the audacity of the little horn that “spoke words against the Most High” (Daniel 7:25).
2. Contrast with the Kingdom of God: Whereas the horns operate in a fragile alliance, the everlasting dominion given to “One like a Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13–14) is indivisible. Chabrah thus sets the stage for God’s decisive intervention.
3. Warning against Pride: The greater appearance and blasphemous speech of the eleventh horn reveal how pride can arise within any fellowship, turning companions into instruments of oppression (cf. Proverbs 16:18).
Historical Considerations
From a historically conservative view, the ten-king coalition is future, corresponding to an end-time geopolitical bloc. Earlier foreshadows may be detected in Rome’s fragmentation, but the full reality awaits fulfillment when a singular leader subdues three and dominates the rest.
Theological Themes
• Divine Sovereignty over human alliances (Daniel 2:21).
• The transitory nature of collective earthly power contrasted with God’s eternal kingdom (Daniel 7:27).
• The subtlety of apostasy arising within trusted circles (Acts 20:30).
Ministry and Discipleship Applications
• Discernment in Leadership: Elders and pastors must watch for domineering personalities that threaten congregational unity, reflecting the little horn’s spirit.
• Humility in Fellowship: Believers are called to “regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3), the opposite posture of the horn greater than its chabrah.
• Hope in Ultimate Justice: The saints can persevere under persecution, confident that the Ancient of Days will judge oppressive coalitions and vindicate His people (Daniel 7:22).
Connections with New Testament Themes
The temporary cohesion of chabrah parallels the ten toes of Daniel 2:42 and the ten kings who “receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour” (Revelation 17:12). In both Testaments, God allows alliances to form, exposes their insufficiency, and then establishes the unshakeable reign of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:24–25).
Summary
Chabrah encapsulates the idea of a united group of equals whose collective power is nevertheless vulnerable to subversion and destined to yield to the Kingdom of God. Its single appearance in Daniel serves as a microcosm of Scripture’s broader teaching on human confederations: they rise, they fall, but the Lord alone reigns forever.
Forms and Transliterations
חַבְרָתַֽהּ׃ חברתה׃ chavraTah ḥaḇ·rā·ṯah ḥaḇrāṯah
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