בָּרָה (H1262) — Hebrew Lexicon

בָּרָה

𐤁𐤓𐤄

bârâh

H1262 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ברה to choose, to select, to make clear, to feed (with grain)

Definition

To select, choose, or pick out (often with care); in some contexts, to feed or provide grain; rarely, to make manifest or clear. The primary use is to denote careful selection or choice, either of people or things, sometimes extending metaphorically to acts of discernment, and, in denominative usage, to feeding (primarily with grain). Rarely, it can indicate the act of making something obvious or evident.

Semantic Range

to choose, to select (with care), to pick out, to provide or feed (especially with grain), to make manifest or clear, to declare, to purify (in some contexts)

Root / Etymology

Root is ברה (bet-resh-heh), possibly connected with the core meaning 'to select, make clear'; however, as a denominative from בָּר (bar, 'grain', 'pure'), it develops the sense 'to feed (with grain)'. There is overlap in meaning with בָּרַר (barar, 'to purify, select'). The verb form often preserves the nuance of careful choosing or the act of ‘declaring clear’ by selection. Some uses may be influenced by analogy with related roots emphasizing purity or distinction.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בָּרָה (bârâh) is an uncommon verb, appearing infrequently in the Hebrew Bible. In poetic use (e.g., Psalm 89:20), it often points to God’s choosing of an individual for a special role. In post-exilic or wisdom literature (Ecclesiastes 3:18), the sense shifts towards making something manifest or evident—akin to exposing or clarifying. When used denominatively from the noun 'bar' (grain), it acquires the secondary sense of 'to feed' (e.g., Genesis 41:35 of feeding the people with stored grain). The distinction with בָּרַר (barar) is narrow: both may indicate selection or purification, but בָּרָה leans towards the act of choosing or providing sustenance, while בָּרַר focuses on sifting or refining. English translations do not always capture these nuances, sometimes rendering the word simply as 'choose', 'feed', or 'manifest', which can obscure the specific context or underlying metaphor.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to select; also (as denominative from בָּר) to feed; also (as equivalent to בָּרַר) to render clear (Ecclesiastes 3:18); to select; to feed; to render clear; choose, (cause to) eat, manifest, (give) meat.

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Root Family

ברה (b-r-h) — choosing, selecting, making clear, feeding with grain

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1267	בָּרוּת	in my prepared meal
H1274	בְּרִי	fat
H1279	בִּרְיָה	the substantial food

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H1262-05`	וְ/אֶבְרֶ֖ה	veevereh	`HC/Vqi1cs`	and I will eat	and I will choose	2
`H1262-01`	בְּרוּ	beru	`HVqv2mp`	choose	Select!	1
`H1262-04`	בָרָ֥א	vara	`HVqp3ms`	did he eat	bad	1
`H1262-02`	לְ/הַבְר֧וֹת	lehaverot	`HR/Vhc`	to persuade	to cause to choose	1
`H1262-03`	לְ/בָרוֹת֙	levarot	`HR/Vpc`	for food	to carefully select	1
`H1262-06`	וְ/תַבְרֵ֣/נִי	vetavereni	`HC/Vhj3fs/Sp1cs`	and let her feed me	and may she choose me	1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H1262-01`	1 Samuel 17:8	בְּרוּ	beru	`HVqv2mp`	choose	Select!
`H1262-02`	2 Samuel 3:35	לְ/הַבְר֧וֹת	lehaverot	`HR/Vhc`	to persuade	to cause to choose
`H1262-04`	2 Samuel 12:17	בָרָ֥א	vara	`HVqp3ms`	did he eat	bad
`H1262-06`	2 Samuel 13:5	וְ/תַבְרֵ֣/נִי	vetavereni	`HC/Vhj3fs/Sp1cs`	and let her feed me	and may she choose me
`H1262-05`	2 Samuel 13:6	וְ/אֶבְרֶ֖ה	veevereh	`HC/Vqi1cs`	and I will eat	and I will choose
`H1262-05`	2 Samuel 13:10	וְ/אֶבְרֶ֖ה	veevereh	`HC/Vqi1cs`	and I will eat	and I will choose
`H1262-03`	Lamentations 4:10	לְ/בָרוֹת֙	levarot	`HR/Vpc`	for food	to carefully select

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