בְּאֵרָה
𐤁𐤀𐤓𐤄
Beerah
H880 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper name designating an Israelite figure, specifically an individual named Beerah. Occurs as a personal name, meaning 'well' or 'spring,' likely signifying 'one associated with a well' or 'well-supplied.' The name is best understood as indicating a connection to a notable natural water source or as denoting blessing or abundance associated with a well.
Semantic Range
proper name, personal designation; underlying sense of 'well,' 'spring' (by derivation, not direct usage)
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root באר (b-ʼ-r), meaning 'to dig a well' or 'well, spring.' The name בְּאֵרָה (Beʾerah) is a feminine form, with the -ה suffix indicating either feminine grammatical gender or serving as a theophoric or abstract ending. It is derived from the word for 'well.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
בְּאֵרָה appears in 1 Chronicles 5:6 as the name of a Reubenite chieftain. The term is used as a proper name and does not occur with the meaning of 'well' in narrative or descriptive passages. The use of place- and water-source-related names as personal names is common in biblical onomastics. In this period of the Israelite monarchy, personal names often reflected elements of daily life, environment, or religious significance. Standard English translations retain the proper name transliterated as 'Beerah,' though the underlying meaning of 'well' is not transparent in translation. The name should not be confused with the more common noun בְּאֵר (beʾer, 'well, spring') or with similar place names like בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע (Beersheba).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as בְּאֵרָא; Beerah, an Israelite; Beerah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
באר (b-ʾ-r) — well, spring, to dig a well, to provide water, to make clear
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H874 | בָּאַר | clearly explain |
| H875 | בְּאֵר | dug well |
| H876 | בְּאֵר | toward Well-place |
| H877 | בֹּאר | excavated cisterns |
| H878 | בְּאֵרָא | Beera |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H880-01 |
בְּאֵרָ֣ה | beerah | HNp |
Beerah | Well-Spring | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H880-01 |
1 Chronicles 5:6 | בְּאֵרָ֣ה | beerah | HNp |
Beerah | Well-Spring |