בּוּז
𐤁𐤅𐤆
Buz
H938 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name designating (1) a son of Nahor (Abraham’s brother) and (2) a group or region associated with Buz, likely representing a people group in the northeastern region relative to Israel. The word functions exclusively as a proper name in the Hebrew Bible and does not appear as a common noun or verb. Its primary reference is as a genealogical or territorial marker.
Semantic Range
proper name of a person, proper name of a people group or region
Root / Etymology
From root בּוּז (bûz), meaning 'to despise, hold in contempt.' The proper name may derive from this root, potentially signifying 'despised' or 'contemptuous,' though the semantic connection to the narrative context is not explicit. The usage as a personal or toponymic name preserves the root form as a proper noun without functioning as a descriptor.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בּוּז occurs in Genesis 22:21 as the son of Nahor, placing it firmly within the patriarchal period. The name appears again in Jeremiah 25:23, almost certainly as a geographic or ethnic designation for a group or region, likely east of the land of Israel, grouped with Dedan and Tema—other tribes of the Arabian fringe. During the patriarchal/monarchic period, names derived from verbal roots, including those with negative connotations, were common and did not always indicate the literal meaning in terms of character or fate. Standard English translations retain 'Buz' as a proper noun rather than interpretive translation. The identification of 'Buzite' in Job (Job 32:2) connects the name to a regional or clan designation, possibly linking the area with traditions of wisdom literature, given the association of Elihu the Buzite with Job's dialogues. Usage is concentrated in genealogical and prophetic lists, without narrative play on the semantic implications of the root. Later translation traditions sometimes conflate 'Buz' with later identities ('Jew/Jewish'), but this is historically imprecise and not supported by evidence from the biblical text.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as בּוּז; Buz, the name of a son of Nahor, and of an Israelite; Buz.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בוז (b-w-z) — to despise, hold in contempt
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H936 | בּוּז | they despised |
| H937 | בּוּז | contempt |
| H940 | בּוּזִי | the Buz-descendant |
| H941 | בּוּזִי | My Contempt |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H938-01 |
בּ֣וּז | buz | HNp |
Buz | Buz | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H938-01 |
Genesis 22:21 | בּ֣וּז | buz | HNp |
Buz | Buz |
H938-01 |
Jeremiah 25:23 | בּ֔וּז | buz | HNp |
Buz | Buz |
H938-01 |
1 Chronicles 5:14 | בּֽוּז | buz | HNp |
Buz | Buz |