The Hebrew cheber refers to a company, band, or association of persons united by a common purpose or bond. It can describe a fellowship of companions, a league of allies, or even a group practicing forbidden arts.
Cheber appears in contexts ranging from military alliances to sorcery (Isaiah 47:9,12), and in the proper name Heber the Kenite (Judges 4:11). The word reflects the Hebrew understanding that human beings are relational by nature — we form bands, communities, and alliances. Theologically, the word raises the question of which company we keep: the community of faith or the fellowship of the ungodly. Psalm 1 opens precisely with this contrast.