what is the…
Chebar

also known as: al-Khabur, Khabur, Kebar, Khabour, Habor, Chaboras

Hebrew: כְּבָר —transliteration: Kebar —meaning: length

This is an ancient river or major canal in the “land of the Chaldeans” (Ezek. 1:3), on the banks of which were located some of the Jews of the Captivity (Ezek. 1:1; 3:15, 23; 10:15, 20, 22).

It has been supposed to be identical with the river Habor, the Chaboras, or modern Khabour, which falls into the Euphrates at Circesium.

To the banks of this river some of the Israelites were removed by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17:6). An opinion that has much to support it is that the “Chebar” was the royal canal of Nebuchadnezzar, the Nahr Malcha, the greatest in Mesopotamia, which connected the Tigris with the Euphrates, in the excavation of which the Jewish captives were probably employed.

The Chebar (was a major canal (called “river” in biblical Hebrew) in ancient Chaldea/Babylonia, likely the Naru Kabaru (“Great Canal”) near Nippur, linked to the Euphrates system.

Its significance is that this was the site of the Jewish exile settlement (e.g., Tel Abib), where the prophet Ezekiel received his initial and key visions of God (Ezekiel 1:1–3, 3:15, 3:23, 10:15+), including the divine chariot and glory, during Babylonian captivity—symbolizing God's presence and revelation amid the exile.

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Article Version: February 9, 2026