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בָּכַר

𐤁𐤊𐤓

bâkar

H1069 verb

SILEX Entry

Root בכר to be born first, to make firstborn, to yield firstfruits

Definition

To be born first; to be or become the firstborn; to bring forth as firstborn (of offspring, both animal and human); to make or designate as firstborn; occasionally, to yield firstfruits (of plants or trees). In some contexts, the verb extends to conferring the legal or social status of 'firstborn,' with its associated rights and responsibilities.

Semantic Range

to bear or bring forth as firstborn, to be firstborn, to make or appoint as firstborn, to yield or produce firstfruits (rare, by extension)

Root / Etymology

Root: בָּכַר (b-k-r), meaning 'to be firstborn.' The verb derives from the core idea of emergence or priority in order of birth, especially relating to the initial offspring. There is interrelation with the noun בְּכוֹר (bekhôr, 'firstborn') and the denominative noun בִּכּוּרִים (bikkurim, 'firstfruits'); however, the verbal sense is more foundational, with nouns developing from the root verb.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, בָּכַר frequently refers to literal firstborn sons, daughters, or animals, usually denoting the child born first to a mother, or an animal first from its dam. The status of firstborn carried significant legal, social, and cultic implications—for example, inheritance rights, familial authority, and ritual consecration to YHWH (Exod 13:2; Deut 21:15–17). In later texts and Second Temple literature, the verb is less commonly used, with semantic focus shifting to the nouns associated with the ritual, legal, and symbolic importance of the firstborn. Distinctions arose between being firstborn by birth (the literal act, the domain of בָּכַר) versus being 'appointed' firstborn or holding preeminent status, even if not literally first in birth order (cf. uses in Psalms 89:28[27]). English translations such as 'firstborn' or 'to be born first' capture the core meaning, though may not always convey the legal or cultic nuances foundational to ancient Israelite society. The term is conceptually related but not identical to the process of dedication or offering of the בְּכוֹר (firstborn) or בִּכּוּרִים (firstfruits), which carry their own ritual connotations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to burst the womb, i.e. (causatively) bear or make early fruit (of woman or tree); also (as denominative from בִּכּוּר); to give the birthright; make firstborn, be firstling, bring forth first child (new fruit).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בכר (b-k-r) — to be born first, to make firstborn, to yield firstfruits

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1060 בְּכוֹר firstborn of
H1061 בִּכּוּר first yields of
H1062 בְּכוֹרָה firstborn-right
H1063 בִּכּוּרָה first-ripe fig
H1064 בְּכוֹרַת Bekorath

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1069-02 לְ/בַכֵּר֙ levaker HR/Vpc to make firstborn to designate as firstborn 1
H1069-03 יְבַכֵּ֔ר yevaker HVpi3ms it will bear he will make firstborn 1
H1069-04 יְבֻכַּ֤ר yevukar HVPi3ms is born firstborn he will be made firstborn 1
H1069-01 כְּ/מַבְכִּירָ֔ה kemavekirah HR/Vhrfsa like one bearing her first child like a firstborn-bearer 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1069-04 Leviticus 27:26 יְבֻכַּ֤ר yevukar HVPi3ms is born firstborn he will be made firstborn
H1069-02 Deuteronomy 21:16 לְ/בַכֵּר֙ levaker HR/Vpc to make firstborn to designate as firstborn
H1069-01 Jeremiah 4:31 כְּ/מַבְכִּירָ֔ה kemavekirah HR/Vhrfsa like one bearing her first child like a firstborn-bearer
H1069-03 Ezekiel 47:12 יְבַכֵּ֔ר yevaker HVpi3ms it will bear he will make firstborn
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