בָּרָה
to select; to feed; to render clear
Definition
The Hebrew verb בָּרָה (bârâh) carries three primary meanings in the Old Testament. Its most common sense is 'to select' or 'choose,' as seen when Goliath challenges the Israelites to 'choose a man' to fight him (1 Samuel 17:8). A second, distinct meaning is 'to feed' or 'cause to eat,' used in narratives about David refusing food while mourning (2 Samuel 3:35, 12:17). A third, rarer meaning is 'to make clear' or 'manifest,' found only in Ecclesiastes 3:18, where God 'makes it clear' that humans are like beasts.
Biblical Usage
בָּרָה is used only seven times, primarily in the historical books of Samuel. Five of its occurrences relate to the act of choosing or selecting a person (1 Samuel 17:8) or a course of action. The other two instances in Samuel describe the refusal or provision of food (2 Samuel 3:35, 12:17). Its usage for 'feeding' appears in intimate, often distressing, domestic contexts like Amnon's feigned illness (2 Samuel 13:5-6, 10). The solitary poetic use in Lamentations 4:10 ('fed them') and the philosophical use in Ecclesiastes 3:18 ('make clear') are unique.
Etymology
As a primitive root, בָּרָה (bârâh) is the basis for its own meanings. Scholars note it functions as a denominative verb from בָּר (bār, H1250), meaning 'grain' or 'cleanness,' which explains the 'feed' and 'make clear' senses. It is also considered equivalent to the more common verb בָּרַר (bārar, H1305), which means 'to purify, select, or make bright,' sharing the core ideas of selection and clarification.
Semantic Range
While not a major theological term, בָּרָה enriches our understanding of divine and human agency. Its use for 'selection' in 1 Samuel 17:8 highlights the theme of God's chosen deliverer, contrasting human choice with divine providence. The sense of 'making clear' in Ecclesiastes 3:18 touches on God's role in revealing truth about the human condition. Understanding its range from 'choosing' to 'feeding' shows how biblical language connects practical, physical acts (eating) with more abstract concepts of choice and revelation.
The use of בָּרָה for 'feeding' in 2 Samuel reflects the cultural importance of shared meals and fasting. Refusing food was a profound sign of grief and mourning (2 Samuel 3:35, 12:17), while pressuring someone to eat, as in the story of Amnon and Tamar (2 Samuel 13), could be a manipulative act within family dynamics. The act of 'choosing' a champion for single combat (1 Samuel 17:8) was a recognized practice in ancient warfare to avoid full-scale battle.
בָּחַר (bāḥar, H977) — The most common verb for 'choose,' often used for God's elective choice (e.g., Deuteronomy 7:6). בָּרָה implies a more specific, situational selection. בָּרַר (bārar, H1305) — Shares meanings of selecting and purifying; used more frequently and broadly, including for refining metals. אָכַל (ʾākal, H398) — The standard verb for 'to eat'; בָּרָה in the 'feed' sense focuses on the act of providing or causing someone to eat.
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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