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בַּרְבֻּר

𐤁𐤓𐤁𐤓

barbur

H1257 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ברר to select, to purify, to make abundant

Definition

A domesticated or fattened fowl, specifically a bird bred or chosen for its plumpness or suitability for consumption. In biblical usage, refers to a bird prepared as food, particularly one valued for its size or abundance of flesh.

Semantic Range

fattened fowl, grain-fed bird, domesticated waterfowl, possibly swan/goose/duck, bird for eating

Root / Etymology

From the root בָּר (bar), which primarily means 'grain,' by reduplication of the second and third radicals, yielding a noun that denotes a bird associated with fattening on grain. The structure suggests an intensive or repeated action or state, hence a bird that is 'fattened' or 'well-fed,' especially by being grain-fed. The connection with grain (bar) in the root indicates the bird’s diet, which makes it desirable for eating.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בַּרְבֻּר appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (1 Kings 5:3 [Eng. 4:23]), within a list describing the variety of food served at King Solomon's table. The context suggests a particularly valued species for consumption, likely a domesticated or semi-domesticated waterfowl. Some modern identifications suggest 'swan,' 'goose,' or 'duck,' but the exact species is uncertain due to limited textual evidence. The English word 'fowl' used in early translations is generic and does not capture the nuance of a bird specifically fattened for feasting. In later Hebrew, בַּרְבֻּר came to mean 'swan,' but this identification is anachronistic for the biblical period. The term does not specifically denote a religious or sacrificial category of bird and is contrasted with more general terms for birds such as עוֹף ('of'). The reduplicative form intensifies the association with grain as the bird's source of plumpness or desirability.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

by reduplication from בָּר; a fowl (as fattened on grain); fowl.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ברר (b-r-r) — to select, to purify, to make abundant

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1247 בַּר winnowed grain
H1248 בַּר winnowed grain
H1249 בַּר winnowed grain
H1250 בָּר purified grain
H1252 בֹּר in purity

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1257-01 וּ/בַרְבֻּרִ֖ים uvareburim HC/Ncmpa and-fattened-poultry and grain-fattened fowls 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1257-01 1 Kings 5:3 וּ/בַרְבֻּרִ֖ים uvareburim HC/Ncmpa and-fattened-poultry and grain-fattened fowls
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