Mibhar is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Mibhar was one of David’s mighty warriors, numbered among the elite fighting men who served as the king’s guard. He is mentioned only once in Scripture, in the roster of David’s heroes recorded in 1 Chronicles 11:38, where he appears as “Mibhar the son of Haggeri.” His name is tucked into a long list of warriors, most of whom are known to us only by name and a brief identifying phrase.
The setting of this list is the establishment of David’s kingdom. After years of fleeing from Saul and living as an outlaw, David finally became king over all Israel, and he gathered around himself a company of loyal, battle-hardened men. First Chronicles 11 describes these men as those who “came to David to Ziklag” and “helped him against the band of rovers,” strengthening his hold on the kingdom. They are called “the mighty men whom David had,” men who “strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom” (1 Chronicles 11:10). Mibhar belonged to this company.
What Scripture says of Mibhar is very little: he was the son of Haggeri, and he was one of David’s mighty men. No exploit is recorded for him, no single act of bravery singled out. He stands in the record simply as a faithful warrior among the ranks of those who served David. Yet his inclusion in this list means his service was remembered and counted worthy of record in Israel’s history.
The Name
The Hebrew name Mibhar (מִבְחָר) is related to a root meaning “to choose” or “to select,” and it is commonly understood to carry the sense of “choice” or “chosen.” This is a well-attested meaning in the Hebrew vocabulary, where the same root yields words for a chosen or select thing. Beyond this general sense, Scripture gives no interpretation of the name, and we should not press it further than the language allows. It is enough to note that the name likely means “chosen” or “choice.”
A Closing Thought
Mibhar is a reminder that most faithful service goes unnamed in the grand story. He never gets a verse describing a daring deed, yet he was counted among David’s mighty men, and God saw fit to preserve his name in Scripture. Not everyone is called to the dramatic exploit; many are called simply to stand in the ranks and serve loyally. If your name is written among the faithful, even without a headline, that is no small thing. God remembers the quiet servants as surely as the famous ones.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 11:38 — Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,