בֶכֶר
𐤁𐤊𐤓
Vekher
H1071 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun designating 'Beker,' the personal name borne by two distinct individuals in the Hebrew Bible. The semantic range includes its use as a personal name, with no independent lexical meaning apart from that use. In both occurrences, it identifies male descendants within Israelite genealogies.
Semantic Range
personal name (Beker); only used as a male proper name in genealogies; derived from 'firstborn' or 'primogeniture' concepts
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root בכר, meaning 'firstborn' or 'to be born first.' The name בֶכֶר (Beker) thus likely carries a connotation of 'firstborn' or one associated with primogeniture, possibly reflecting the status or hopes attached to the bearer. The form itself is a proper noun derived directly from the root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, בֶכֶר occurs as the name of two different Israelite individuals: (1) a son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:38; 1 Chronicles 7:6, 8:1), which associates the name with the tribal genealogy of Benjamin; and (2) a son of Manasseh (Numbers 26:35, 1 Chronicles 7:14-15). The recurrence across tribal contexts suggests the name was not exclusive to one lineage. The underlying root בכר ('firstborn') is productive in names and terms related to firstborn status and inheritance. In English translations, the name is sometimes rendered as 'Becher,' but without a full rendering of its etymological background. There is no evidence that the name connotes priesthood, religious function, or a specific occupation. It is distinct from the common noun בְּכוֹר (bekhōr, 'firstborn'), but related by root and meaning. The individuals bearing this name are identified as Israelites in the patriarchal and early monarchy genealogies.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as בֶּכֶר; Beker, the name of two Israelites; Becher.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בכר (b-k-r) — to be born first, firstborn, primogeniture
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1071-03 |
וָ/בֶ֨כֶר֙ | vavekher | HC/Np |
and Becher | and Beker | 2 |
H1071-01 |
לְ/בֶ֕כֶר | levekher | HR/Np |
of Becher | to Beker | 1 |
H1071-04 |
בֶ֗כֶר | vekher | HNp |
Becher | Firstborn | 1 |
H1071-02 |
בָֽכֶר | vakher | HNp |
Becher | Firstborn | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1071-03 |
Genesis 46:21 | וָ/בֶ֨כֶר֙ | vavekher | HC/Np |
and Becher | and Beker |
H1071-01 |
Numbers 26:35 | לְ/בֶ֕כֶר | levekher | HR/Np |
of Becher | to Beker |
H1071-03 |
1 Chronicles 7:6 | וָ/בֶ֛כֶר | vavekher | HC/Np |
and Becher | and Beker |
H1071-04 |
1 Chronicles 7:8 | בֶ֗כֶר | vekher | HNp |
Becher | Firstborn |
H1071-02 |
1 Chronicles 7:8 | בָֽכֶר | vakher | HNp |
Becher | Firstborn |