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בִּכְרִי

𐤁𐤊𐤓𐤉

Bikheri

H1075 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בכר to be firstborn, to bear first, to be early

Definition

Bikri is a personal name meaning 'pertaining to Bikri' or 'descendant of Bikri.' The formation suggests a patronymic or gentilic use. In the Hebrew Bible, Bikri specifically refers to Sheba son of Bichri, indicating 'Bichri' is likely a family or clan designation deriving from an individual ancestor named Bikri or a related root. The noun does not carry an inherent descriptive sense apart from its function as a proper noun indicating lineage or family."

Semantic Range

patronymic or gentilic designation, personal name, clan/family identity, descendant of Bikri

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root בָּכַר (b-k-r), which generally means 'to be firstborn' or 'to bear first.' The form בִּכְרִי appears to serve as a gentilic or patronymic, signifying 'of Bikri' or 'belonging to Bikri.' The name Bikri itself may be built from the concept of 'firstborn' or may preserve a non-Hebrew or archaic naming pattern. The precise etymological connection is possible but not absolutely certain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Bikri appears in the Hebrew Bible specifically as the family designation of Sheba son of Bichri (2 Samuel 20), described as a Benjaminite. The word functions as a clan or family name, not an appellative or descriptive noun. The name likely marks descent from an ancestor named Bikri or is derived from a related term meaning 'firstborn.' English translations often transliterate the term as 'Bichri' but sometimes interpret it as simply a personal name without noting its gentilic force. The context never suggests a broader ethnic or geographic usage; it strictly denotes a familial or clan identity within Israelite (specifically Benjaminite) society in the monarchic period. Unlike other terms based on בָּכַר, which can denote birth order or status, בִּכְרִי is limited to patronymic usage. Later terminology such as 'Jew' is not relevant to this context; the term identifies a Benjaminite clan in the time of King David.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בָּכַר; youth-ful; Bikri, an Israelite; Bichri.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בכר (b-k-r) — to be firstborn, to bear first, to be early

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

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1075-01 בִּכְרִ֖י bikheri HNp Bichri Firstborn-clansman 8

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1075-01 2 Samuel 20:1 בִּכְרִ֖י bikheri HNp Bichri Firstborn-clansman
H1075-01 2 Samuel 20:2 בִּכְרִ֑י bikheri HNp Bichri Firstborn-clansman
H1075-01 2 Samuel 20:6 בִּכְרִ֖י bikheri HNp Bichri Firstborn-clansman
H1075-01 2 Samuel 20:7 בִּכְרִֽי bikheri HNp Bichri Firstborn-clansman
H1075-01 2 Samuel 20:10 בִּכְרִֽי bikheri HNp Bichri Firstborn-clansman
H1075-01 2 Samuel 20:13 בִּכְרִֽי bikheri HNp Bichri Firstborn-clansman
H1075-01 2 Samuel 20:21 בִּכְרִ֣י bikheri HNp Bichri Firstborn-clansman
H1075-01 2 Samuel 20:22 בִּכְרִי֙ bikheri HNp of Bichri Firstborn-clansman
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