בָּשַׂר
𐤁𐤔𐤓
bâsar
H1319 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To bring or announce news, especially good or momentous news; to proclaim a significant event. In biblical usage, often refers to the public declaration of victory, rescue, or the arrival of favorable circumstances. Unlike casual reporting, it involves the intentional communication of consequential information, frequently with a positive or joyful connotation.
Semantic Range
to bring good news, to announce victory, to declare important news, to proclaim deliverance, to publish; to act as herald, to report joyous information
Root / Etymology
Root בשר, primarily meaning 'flesh' or 'meat.' The verbal use (Pi‘el stem) derives metaphorically, possibly from the notion of health, life, or vigor associated with fresh flesh, extending to lively or optimistic news—thus, to announce or proclaim good news. The root is distinct from the homograph noun for 'flesh,' though shared etymology is likely; the sense development from 'flesh' to 'good news' may relate to physical well-being and the practice of sharing news of health or victory.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Israelite contexts, בָּשַׂר in the Pi‘el stem is used chiefly with the sense of proclaiming or announcing good news, particularly in contexts of military victory, deliverance, or royal accession (e.g., 1 Samuel 31:9; 2 Samuel 4:10; Isaiah 40:9). The proclamation is typically public and often joyful, sometimes accompanied by ritual or celebratory acts. Over time, especially in post-exilic prophetic and poetic literature (e.g., Isaiah 52:7), the term takes on more figurative and eschatological resonance, sometimes anticipating ultimate rescue or restoration for the community. English translations commonly render the term as 'bring good news,' 'announce,' or 'proclaim,' but may not always capture the cultural weight or jubilation inherent in the biblical usage. The verb is related semantically but not always etymologically to other Hebrew terms for news, such as הִגִּיד (to tell/declare) or שָׁמַע (to hear/report), which may carry more general or neutral senses. In later Hebrew and Second Temple literature, this root's nuance influenced the development of the Greek 'euangelizomai' (to evangelize, proclaim good news).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to be fresh, i.e. full (rosy, (figuratively) cheerful); to announce (glad news); messenger, preach, publish, shew forth, (bear, bring, carry, preach, good, tell good) tidings.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בשר (b-ś-r) — freshness, announce, proclaim
Word Forms
15 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1319-08 |
מְבַשֵּֽׂר | mevaser | HVprmsa |
a herald | proclaiming-herald | 5 |
H1319-07 |
לְ/בַשֵּׂ֛ר | levaser | HR/Vpc |
to preach good news | to herald good news | 3 |
H1319-10 |
תְבַשֵּׂ֔ר | tevaser | HVpi2ms |
you bring news | you herald good news | 2 |
H1319-01 |
בַּשְּׂר֥וּ | baseru | HVpv2mp |
Proclaim | Proclaim glad news! | 2 |
H1319-09 |
מְבַשֶּׂ֣רֶת | mevaseret | HVprfsc |
O herald | heralding woman | 2 |
H1319-05 |
הַֽ֝/מְבַשְּׂר֗וֹת | hamevaserot | HTd/Vprfpa |
the women proclaiming good news | the good-news heralding women | 1 |
H1319-04 |
הַֽ/מְבַשֵּׂ֜ר | hamevaser | HTd/Vprmsa |
the messenger | the one proclaiming good news | 1 |
H1319-15 |
יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙ | yitebaser | HVti3ms |
Let good news be proclaimed | he will act as herald | 1 |
H1319-13 |
וַ/אֲבַשְּׂרָ֖ה | vaavaserah | HC/Vph1cs |
and I will bring good news | let me proclaim good news | 1 |
H1319-12 |
וּ/בִשַּׂרְתָּ֖ | uvisareta | HC/Vpq2ms |
but you shall bear | and you proclaimed good news | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
24 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1319-04 |
1 Samuel 4:17 | הַֽ/מְבַשֵּׂ֜ר | hamevaser | HTd/Vprmsa |
the messenger | the one proclaiming good news |
H1319-07 |
1 Samuel 31:9 | לְ/בַשֵּׂ֛ר | levaser | HR/Vpc |
to proclaim | to herald good news |
H1319-11 |
2 Samuel 1:20 | תְּבַשְּׂר֖וּ | tevaseru | HVpj2mp |
proclaim | may you proclaim glad news |
H1319-06 |
2 Samuel 4:10 | כִ/מְבַשֵּׂר֙ | khimevaser | HR/Vprmsa |
as a bringer of good news | as a good-news herald |
H1319-13 |
2 Samuel 18:19 | וַ/אֲבַשְּׂרָ֖ה | vaavaserah | HC/Vph1cs |
and I will bring good news | let me proclaim good news |
H1319-12 |
2 Samuel 18:20 | וּ/בִשַּׂרְתָּ֖ | uvisareta | HC/Vpq2ms |
but you shall bear | and you proclaimed good news |
H1319-10 |
2 Samuel 18:20 | תְבַשֵּׂ֔ר | tevaser | HVpi2ms |
you shall bear | you herald good news |
H1319-08 |
2 Samuel 18:26 | מְבַשֵּֽׂר | mevaser | HVprmsa |
brings good news | proclaiming-herald |
H1319-15 |
2 Samuel 18:31 | יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙ | yitebaser | HVti3ms |
Let good news be proclaimed | he will act as herald |
H1319-10 |
1 Kings 1:42 | תְּבַשֵּֽׂר | tevaser | HVpi2ms |
you bring news | you herald good news |