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בַּחֻרִים

𐤁𐤇𐤓𐤉𐤌

Bachurim

H980 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בחר to choose, select, be chosen

Definition

The plural noun בַּחֻרִים (Bachurim) primarily refers to 'young men'—males in the prime of adolescence or early adulthood, especially in contexts emphasizing vigor, unmarried status, or readiness for military service. In a distinct usage, Bachurim is the name of a village or settlement located near Jerusalem during the monarchic period.

Semantic Range

young men, youth in the prime of life; unmarried or eligible males; Bachurim: a settlement near Jerusalem during the monarchic period; group characterized as young men

Root / Etymology

From the root בחר ('to choose, select'), forming בָּחוּר ('chosen one, young man'), emphasizing the prime or select status of youth. The plural form בַּחֻרִים means 'young men.' As a place name (Bachurim), it likely denotes a location associated with, or named for, a group of such young men or a particular social status, but precise etymological motivation for the toponym is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בַּחֻרִים as 'young men' is an infrequent plural of בָּחוּר, found especially in poetic or formal passages, sometimes denoting unmarried males distinguished for their vigor or as a social class eligible for military or civic service. The term does not inherently specify exact age, but context suggests adolescence through young adulthood. In the special case of Bachurim as a proper noun, it designates a locality near the Mount of Olives and the Jordan Valley (e.g., 2 Samuel 3:16; 16:5), associated with narratives from the United Monarchy. Modern English translations sometimes conflate the name Bahurim with the common noun, but in Hebrew, context—definite article, proper name status—clearly distinguishes them. Later Jewish and Christian usage sometimes renders the place name as 'Bahurim' or 'Bachurim.' In historical context, 'young men' (plural) would largely refer to Israelite males in the monarchic or pre-monarchic periods, with connotations relevant to military, ritual, or social standing. The employment of בַּחֻרִים in post-exilic Hebrew diminishes, with other terms for young men or youths (e.g., נַעַר) sometimes preferred or having overlapping meaning. The toponym Bahurim continues to be referenced in Second Temple period literature but fades from later record.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or בַּחוּרִים; masculine plural of בָּחוּר; young men; Bachurim, a place in Palestine; Bahurim.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בחר (b-ḥ-r) — choose, select, be chosen

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

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H980-03 מִ/בַּֽחוּרִ֑ים mibachurim HR/Np from Bahurim from Bachurim 2
H980-01 בַּֽחֻרִ֑ים bachurim HNp Bahurim chosen young men 2
H980-02 בְּ/בַחוּרִ֗ים bevachurim HR/Np in Bahurim in Bachurim 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H980-01 2 Samuel 3:16 בַּֽחֻרִ֑ים bachurim HNp Bahurim chosen young men
H980-01 2 Samuel 16:5 בַּֽחוּרִ֑ים bachurim HNp Bahurim chosen young men
H980-02 2 Samuel 17:18 בְּ/בַחוּרִ֗ים bevachurim HR/Np in Bahurim in Bachurim
H980-03 2 Samuel 19:17 מִ/בַּֽחוּרִ֑ים mibachurim HR/Np from-chosen-ones from Bachurim
H980-03 1 Kings 2:8 מִ/בַּחֻרִים֒ mibachurim HR/Np from Bahurim from Bachurim
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