בְּכוֹרַת
Bekorath, an Israelite
Definition
Bekorath (בְּכוֹרַת) is a proper noun referring to an Israelite man, the great-grandfather of King Saul, mentioned only once in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 9:1). The name is a feminine form derived from the Hebrew word for 'firstborn' (בְּכוֹרָה, bekorah), signifying 'firstborn-ness' or 'primogeniture.' In this singular biblical usage, it functions solely as a personal name within a genealogical list, identifying an ancestor in the tribe of Benjamin. There are no other attested meanings or uses of this specific form in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel 9:1, as part of the genealogy introducing Saul: '...the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.' The context is purely genealogical, listing Saul's lineage within the tribe of Benjamin. It appears in the historical books, specifically in the narrative establishing Saul's background before his anointing as king.
Etymology
The name בְּכוֹרַת (Bekorath) is the feminine form of the noun בְּכוֹרָה (bekorah, H1062), which means 'birthright' or 'right of the firstborn.' It is directly derived from the root ב־כ־ר (b-k-r), relating to being first or early. The feminine ending '-ath' likely functions here as an abstract noun formation, meaning something like 'state of being firstborn' or 'primogeniture,' which was then used as a personal name.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is used only for identification, its etymological connection to 'firstborn' (bekorah) is theologically significant. The concept of the firstborn is central to Israelite identity, inheritance, and redemption (Exodus 13:2). In Saul's genealogy, this name subtly echoes themes of lineage and covenant promise. Understanding that Saul's ancestor bore a name meaning 'firstborn' enriches the reader's view of his royal lineage, even as his kingship would later be contrasted with David's, from whom the ultimate 'firstborn' Messiah would come (Colossians 1:15).
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often meaningful and reflected hopes, circumstances, or attributes. A name derived from 'firstborn' would evoke the high status, double inheritance rights, and familial responsibility associated with the firstborn son (Deuteronomy 21:17). Using such a term as a personal name, even in a feminine grammatical form for a male individual, highlights the cultural importance of primogeniture. It marks the bearer as connected to a line of inheritance and prominence.
בְּכוֹר (bekor, H1060) — the common masculine noun for 'firstborn' (son or animal). בְּכוֹרָה (bekorah, H1062) — the feminine noun for 'birthright' or 'right of the firstborn,' the direct source of the name Bekorath.
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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