בַּר
beloved; also pure, empty
Definition
The Hebrew word בַּר (bar) carries two primary senses in the Old Testament. First, it means 'pure' or 'clean,' describing moral and ritual purity, as seen in Psalm 24:4, where one with 'clean hands and a pure heart' may ascend God's hill. Second, it means 'beloved' or 'choice,' used as a term of endearment, particularly in the Song of Songs (6:9, 10) to describe the Shulammite woman as the 'choice one' among women. The sense of 'empty' or 'clear' is also attested, as in Job 11:4, where Zophar speaks of doctrine being 'clear' or pure.
Biblical Usage
בַּר is used seven times across poetic and wisdom literature. Its meaning of 'pure' appears in Psalms (19:8; 24:4; 73:1) and Proverbs 14:4, often in contexts of divine law, righteousness, and integrity. The meaning of 'beloved' or 'choice' is exclusive to the Song of Songs (6:9, 10), describing exclusive affection. The usage in Job 11:4 is debated but leans toward 'clear' or 'pure' in the context of speech.
Etymology
Derived from the root בָּרַר (H1305), meaning 'to purify, select, or make clear.' This root conveys the ideas of separation and refinement, which developed into the noun בַּר's meanings of purity (as something refined) and chosenness (as something selected).
Semantic Range
This word enriches the understanding of biblical purity and election. As 'pure,' it connects to the holiness required to approach God (Psalm 24:3-4) and the perfection of God's law (Psalm 19:8). As 'beloved' or 'choice,' it reflects God's elective love for His people, mirrored in human covenantal love in the Song of Songs, pointing to divine selectivity and intimate relationship.
In its cultural setting, purity (בַּר) was not merely an internal state but involved ritual and ethical cleanliness integral to Israelite worship and community life. As a term of endearment ('choice one'), it reflects the high value placed on exclusive, covenantal love within marriage, celebrated in ancient Near Eastern love poetry.
טָהוֹר (tahor, H2889) — focuses more on ritual or ceremonial cleanness. נָקִי (naqi, H5355) — emphasizes innocence or being free from guilt. בָּחוּר (bachur, H970) — means 'chosen' or 'young man,' overlapping in the sense of being selected.
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 →