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בָּחַר

𐤁𐤇𐤓

bâchar

H977 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To choose, select, or prefer. Used to denote the act of choosing or selecting something or someone, often with the implication of preference or approval. In certain contexts, carries the nuance of choosing for a special function, purpose, or relationship, particularly in reference to individuals, groups, locations, or objects. May imply both human and divine choosing.

Semantic Range

to choose, to select, to prefer, to appoint, to be selected, to be preferred, to choose for a specific purpose, to elect, to show preference, to designate, to single out

Root / Etymology

From the root בחר (b-ḥ-r), meaning 'to choose, select, prefer.' The verb בָּחַר arises directly from this root and consistently reflects the action of choosing or preferring. The etymology is clear and ties the meaning directly to the experiential act of selection or preference, whether by humans or by the divine.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בָּחַר is widely used across the Hebrew Bible to describe both ordinary human acts of choosing (e.g., selecting a course of action, a king, or a location) and the distinctive act of divine selection (e.g., YHWH choosing Israel, certain individuals such as David, or specific places like Jerusalem). Divine choosing often conveys a covenantal or functional relationship (Deut 7:6; 1 Sam 16:8-10), and highlights exclusivity, purpose, or favor without requiring intrinsic merit. The term is frequently used with objects (e.g., stones, warriors), with people (especially leaders), and abstractly (e.g., to prefer wisdom or justice). Uses vary from direct, practical choices to more theologically loaded or ideological affirmations of identity and belonging. In exilic and post-exilic texts, בחר plays a key role in articulating Israelite self-understanding in the context of restoration and continuity (Isa 41:8-9; Isa 44:1-2). English translations such as 'choose,' 'elect,' or 'prefer' often capture the main sense, but the depth of covenantal or relational nuance—especially in divine choosing—may be underappreciated. This word should not be confused with other roots for 'choose' or 'separate' (such as גָּרַל for casting lots). The fuller scope goes beyond mere selection, sometimes connoting affirmation, value, or unique purpose.

Translation Consistency

primary "choose" 15 occurrences

'Choose' is the most natural, general English verb that covers the full semantic range (choose, select, prefer, appoint, be chosen). P2 data overwhelmingly uses forms of 'choose' (chose/chosen/choose), and the infinitive 'choose' provides a single consistent base to inflect for tense/person while preserving both human and divine senses.

Alternatives (35 occurrences):
"chose" (25x) "chosen" (7x) "chosen ones of" (2x) "chosen men" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select; acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

בחר (Yivechar) — to choose, select, prefer

Root בחר to choose, select, prefer
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2984 יִבְחַר He Will Choose
H4004 מִבְחוֹר chosen place
H4005 מִבְחָר in the choicest of
H4006 מִבְחָר choicest of
H970 בָּחוּר chosen young man

Word Forms

37 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H977-36 יִבְחַ֛ר yivechar HVqi3ms chooses he chooses he will choose 32
H977-01 בָּחַ֣ר bachar HVqp3ms has chosen he chose he chose 18
H977-06 בָּחוּר֙ bachur HVqsmsa chosen chosen one chosen one 14
H977-30 וַ/יִּבְחַ֗ר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms and he chose and he chose and he chose 14
H977-03 בָּחָֽרְתִּי bachareti HVqp1cs I have chosen I chose I chose 13
H977-02 בָּחָ֑רְתָּ bachareta HVqp2ms you have chosen you chose you chose 7
H977-25 בָחַ֨רְתִּי vachareti HVqp1cs I have chosen I chose I chose 7
H977-08 בְּחַרְתֶּ֖ם becharetem HVqp2mp you have chosen you chose you chose 6
H977-16 נִבְחָֽר nivechar HVNrmsa choice the chosen one choice 6
H977-04 בַּחֲר֨וּ bacharu HVqv2mp they chose they chose they chose 5

Occurrences in Scripture

170 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H977-01 1 Samuel 10:24 בָּֽחַר bachar HVqp3ms he has chosen he chose he chose
H977-08 1 Samuel 12:13 בְּחַרְתֶּ֖ם becharetem HVqp2mp you have chosen you chose you chose
H977-30 1 Samuel 13:2 וַ/יִּבְחַר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms and he chose and he chose and he chose
H977-24 1 Samuel 16:8 בָחַ֥ר vachar HVqp3ms has chosen he chose has chosen
H977-24 1 Samuel 16:9 בָחַ֥ר vachar HVqp3ms chosen he chose and he chose
H977-24 1 Samuel 16:10 בָחַ֥ר vachar HVqp3ms has chosen he chose has chosen
H977-30 1 Samuel 17:40 וַ/יִּבְחַר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms and he chose and he chose and he chose
H977-35 1 Samuel 20:30 בֹחֵ֤ר vocher HVqrmsa you have chosen one who chooses you choose
H977-06 1 Samuel 24:3 בָּח֖וּר bachur HVqsmsa chosen chosen one chosen
H977-10 1 Samuel 26:2 בְּחוּרֵ֣י bechurey HVqsmpc chosen chosen ones of chosen ones of
H977-06 2 Samuel 6:1 בָּח֥וּר bachur HVqsmsa chosen men chosen one chosen men
H977-01 2 Samuel 6:21 בָּֽחַר bachar HVqp3ms chose he chose he chose
H977-30 2 Samuel 10:9 וַ/יִּבְחַ֗ר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms he selected and he chose and he chose
H977-10 2 Samuel 10:9 בְּחוּרֵ֣י bechurey HVqsmpc choice chosen ones of chosen ones of
H977-36 2 Samuel 15:15 יִבְחַ֛ר yivechar HVqi3ms chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-01 2 Samuel 16:18 בָּחַ֧ר bachar HVqp3ms has chosen he chose he chose
H977-13 2 Samuel 17:1 אֶבְחֲרָ֣ה evecharah HVqh1cs Let me choose let me choose let me choose
H977-18 2 Samuel 19:39 תִּבְחַ֥ר tivechar HVqi2ms you choose you choose you choose
H977-07 2 Samuel 24:12 בְּחַר bechar HVqv2ms choose choose choose
H977-02 1 Kings 3:8 בָּחָ֑רְתָּ bachareta HVqp2ms you have chosen you chose you chose
H977-25 1 Kings 8:16 בָחַ֣רְתִּי vachareti HVqp1cs I chose I chose I chose
H977-28 1 Kings 8:16 וָ/אֶבְחַ֣ר vaevechar HC/Vqw1cs but I chose and I chose and I chose
H977-02 1 Kings 8:44 בָּחַ֣רְתָּ bachareta HVqp2ms you have chosen you chose you chose
H977-02 1 Kings 8:48 בָּחַ֔רְתָּ bachareta HVqp2ms you chose you chose you chose
H977-03 1 Kings 11:13 בָּחָֽרְתִּי bachareti HVqp1cs I have chosen I chose I chose
H977-03 1 Kings 11:32 בָּחַ֣רְתִּי bachareti HVqp1cs I-have-chosen I chose I chose
H977-03 1 Kings 11:34 בָּחַ֣רְתִּי bachareti HVqp1cs I chose I chose I chose
H977-03 1 Kings 11:36 בָּחַ֣רְתִּי bachareti HVqp1cs I-have-chosen I chose I chose
H977-06 1 Kings 12:21 בָּח֖וּר bachur HVqsmsa chosen chosen one chosen
H977-01 1 Kings 14:21 בָּחַ֨ר bachar HVqp3ms had chosen he chose he chose
H977-34 1 Kings 18:23 וְ/יִבְחֲר֣וּ veyivecharu HC/Vqj3mp and let them choose and let them choose and let them choose
H977-04 1 Kings 18:25 בַּחֲר֨וּ bacharu HVqv2mp Choose they chose choose
H977-03 2 Kings 21:7 בָּחַ֨רְתִּי֙ bachareti HVqp1cs I have chosen I chose I chose
H977-03 2 Kings 23:27 בָּחַ֨רְתִּי֙ bachareti HVqp1cs I have chosen I chose I chose
H977-08 Isaiah 1:29 בְּחַרְתֶּֽם becharetem HVqp2mp you-have-chosen you chose you chose
H977-23 Isaiah 7:15 וּ/בָח֥וֹר uvachor HC/Vqa and-to-choose and choosing and to choose
H977-23 Isaiah 7:16 וּ/בָחֹ֣ר uvachor HC/Vqa and choose and choosing and to choose
H977-19 Isaiah 14:1 וּ/בָחַ֥ר uvachar HC/Vqq3ms and will choose and he chose and he will choose
H977-36 Isaiah 40:20 יִבְחָ֑ר yivechar HVqi3ms he chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-09 Isaiah 41:8 בְּחַרְתִּ֑י/ךָ becharetikha HVqp1cs/Sp2ms I have chosen I have chosen you I have chosen you
H977-09 Isaiah 41:9 בְּחַרְתִּ֖י/ךָ becharetikha HVqp1cs/Sp2ms I have chosen you I have chosen you I have chosen you
H977-36 Isaiah 41:24 יִבְחַ֥ר yivechar HVqi3ms chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-03 Isaiah 43:10 בָּחָ֑רְתִּי bachareti HVqp1cs I have chosen I chose I chose
H977-03 Isaiah 44:1 בָּחַ֥רְתִּי bachareti HVqp1cs whom I have chosen I chose I chose
H977-03 Isaiah 44:2 בָּחַ֥רְתִּי bachareti HVqp1cs whom I have chosen I chose I chose
H977-09 Isaiah 48:10 בְּחַרְתִּ֖י/ךָ becharetikha HVqp1cs/Sp2ms I have chosen you I have chosen you I have chosen you
H977-31 Isaiah 49:7 וַ/יִּבְחָרֶֽ/ךָּ vayivecharekha HC/Vqw3ms/Sp2ms and-he-has-chosen-you and he chose you and he chose you
H977-22 Isaiah 56:4 וּ/בָֽחֲר֖וּ uvacharu HC/Vqq3cp and-choose and they chose and choose
H977-14 Isaiah 58:5 אֶבְחָרֵ֔/הוּ evecharehu HVqi1cs/Sp3ms I choose it I choose him I choose him
H977-14 Isaiah 58:6 אֶבְחָרֵ/הוּ֒ evecharehu HVqi1cs/Sp3ms I choose I choose him I choose him
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