בָּעַט
to trample down, i.e. (figuratively) despise
Definition
The Hebrew verb בָּעַט (bâʻaṭ) literally means 'to kick' or 'to trample down with the feet.' Figuratively, it describes an act of contemptuous rejection or rebellion, especially against authority. In Deuteronomy 32:15, it depicts Israel 'kicking' against God who had nourished them, a powerful image of ungrateful rebellion. In 1 Samuel 2:29, it describes Eli's sons 'kicking at' God's sacrificial offerings, showing blatant disrespect for sacred things. Thus, the word moves from a physical action to a metaphor for despising and spurning what is good or holy.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in poetic or prophetic rebuke contexts. It appears in Moses's song (Deuteronomy 32:15) to describe national apostasy, and in a divine oracle against the priestly house of Eli (1 Samuel 2:29) to condemn priestly corruption. In both instances, it describes a willful, arrogant rejection of God's gracious provisions and established order.
Etymology
A primitive root, its basic meaning is the physical act of kicking. Cognates in other Semitic languages support this sense. The figurative meaning of 'despise' or 'reject with contempt' developed naturally from the image of an animal kicking against its master or someone trampling something underfoot.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the essence of covenant rebellion. It portrays sin not merely as a mistake but as an active, contemptuous spurning of God's kindness and authority. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the ingratitude and arrogance inherent in Israel's idolatry and the priests' sacrilege, framing them as a direct insult to the Provider.
In an agrarian society, the image of a well-fed animal (like the 'fed bullock' in Deuteronomy 32:15) kicking against its owner was a proverbial picture of shocking ingratitude and dangerous rebellion. This cultural metaphor powerfully communicated the severity of Israel's spiritual condition.
מָאַס (māʼas, H3988) — to reject or despise, a more general term for refusal. נָאַץ (nāʼaṣ, H5006) — to spurn or treat with contempt, often used of defying God's word.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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