בַּכְרִי
a Bakrite (collectively) or descendants of Beker
Definition
בַּכְרִי (Bakrîy) is a patronymic noun meaning 'a Bakrite' or 'descendants of Beker.' It refers collectively to the clan or family group tracing its lineage back to Beker (or Becher), who was a son of Benjamin according to Genesis 46:21. The term identifies this specific Benjaminite family unit within the tribal census lists of Israel. Its sole biblical occurrence is in the context of a military census in Numbers 26:35, where the Bakrites are counted among the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 26:35. It appears within the detailed census ordered by God before Israel's entry into the Promised Land. The usage is strictly genealogical and administrative, listing the Bakrites as one of the clans descended from Benjamin's son Beker. There are no other contextual uses or patterns, as it is a specific, one-time identifier for a family group.
Etymology
The word is formed patronymically from the proper name בֶּכֶר (Beker, H1071), meaning 'firstborn' or 'young camel.' The suffix -ִי (-îy) indicates 'belonging to' or 'descended from,' a common Hebrew construction for family or tribal names (e.g., 'Israelite' from Israel). Thus, בַּכְרִי literally means 'of Beker' or 'belonging to Beker's line.'
Semantic Range
While the word itself is primarily a genealogical marker, its inclusion in the Numbers 26 census underscores the theological importance of God's faithfulness to the patriarchal promises. Counting each clan by name demonstrated that God remembered and preserved every family within His covenant people, even those lesser-known lines like the Bakrites. It highlights the meticulous care with which God maintains the identity and inheritance of His people.
In ancient Israelite culture, clan and family identity were paramount for inheritance, military organization, and social structure. Being listed as a distinct clan like the Bakrites affirmed their share in the tribal territory and their role in the community. The census in Numbers was not merely a headcount but a recording of covenant membership and military readiness, integral to the nation's identity as they prepared to enter the land.
מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah, H4940) — A broader term for 'family' or 'clan,' whereas בַּכְרִי specifies one particular clan. בֵּית אָב (beth av, H1004) — Means 'father’s house,' a smaller familial unit than a clan.
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.
Full methodology & sources →