בְּאֵרוֹת
𐤁𐤀𐤓𐤅𐤕
Beerot
H881 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: Beeroth—a town or settlement associated with the Gibeonite alliance in the territory historically ascribed to the tribe of Benjamin. As a plural noun, the term literally refers to 'wells, water-holes, springs,' but in biblical usage, 'Beeroth' designates this specific location. Semantic range includes both the common noun sense of 'wells' and the toponym.
Semantic Range
wells, water-holes, springs; Beeroth (a town or settlement); collective or plural of 'well', but mainly as a geographical proper name in the Bible
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root באר (b-ʼ-r), meaning 'to dig a well' or 'well, water pit,' plus the feminine plural ending -ות. This plural form reflects either the presence of multiple wells at the site or a collective feature, but in context functions as a fixed place name rather than describing multiple physical wells.
Historical & Contextual Notes
'Beeroth' appears as a geographic designation in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in texts associated with the Israelite settlement period and the tribal allotments (e.g., Joshua 9:17; 18:25; 2 Samuel 4:2–3). The town is connected with the Gibeonites, who made a treaty with the Israelites, and later is included within the territory given to Benjamin. Despite its plural form, by the biblical period it had become a fixed name for a single town and not a generic description for 'wells.' In English translations and historical usage, the name is commonly rendered as 'Beeroth,' but this obscures the literal sense of 'wells.' The later use of the town's name persists into post-exilic sources, but without evidence for continued ethnic or political significance beyond the early monarchic period. The term's connection with water sources reflects a broader pattern in place-naming in ancient Israel, where key settlements were often named for their proximity to essential water features. Compare related place-names such as Beersheba (Be'er Sheva, 'well of seven/[the] oath'). The term does not refer to inhabitants (e.g., 'Beerothites') in the same way as gentilic nouns and does not acquire a distinctly religious or ethnic connotation. The English use 'Beeroth' is a transliteration and does not capture the underlying geographic or descriptive nuance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine plural of בְּאֵר; wells; Beeroth, a place in Palestine; Beeroth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
באר (b-ʾ-r) — to dig, to provide a well, well, water-source
| 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
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H881-02 |
וּ/בְאֵר֖וֹת | uveerot | HC/Np |
and Beeroth | and Beeroth | 4 |
H881-01 |
בְּאֵר֔וֹת | beerot | HNp |
Beeroth | Beeroth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H881-02 |
Joshua 9:17 | וּ/בְאֵר֖וֹת | uveerot | HC/Np |
and Beeroth | and Beeroth |
H881-02 |
Joshua 18:25 | וּ/בְאֵרֽוֹת | uveerot | HC/Np |
and Beeroth | and Beeroth |
H881-01 |
2 Samuel 4:2 | בְּאֵר֔וֹת | beerot | HNp |
Beeroth | Beeroth |
H881-02 |
Ezra 2:25 | וּ/בְאֵר֔וֹת | uveerot | HC/Np |
and Beeroth | and Beeroth |
H881-02 |
Nehemiah 7:29 | וּ/בְאֵר֔וֹת | uveerot | HC/Np |
and Beeroth | and Beeroth |