בֵּרִי
Beri, an Israelite
Definition
Beri is a proper name given to an Israelite man, a son of Zophah, from the tribe of Asher (1 Chronicles 7:36). As a personal name, it identifies a specific individual within the genealogical records of Israel. The name appears only in this single biblical context, where it functions solely to denote this person within the lineage of the tribe of Asher.
Biblical Usage
The word בֵּרִי (Bêrîy) is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 7:36. Its usage is strictly genealogical, appearing in a list of the descendants of Asher. There are no other contexts or patterns of usage for this proper noun.
Etymology
The name Beri is likely a shortened or contracted form of the name Beeri (בְּאֵרִי, H882), which means 'my well' or 'man of the well.' This derivation connects it to the Hebrew root בְּאֵר (be'er), meaning 'well.' As a personal name, it may have originally signified a connection to a water source or been a theophoric element implying 'Yahweh is my well.'
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, personal names often carried meaning, reflecting circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or attributes of God. While Beri itself is only a name in a list, its probable connection to 'well' or 'spring' would have been culturally significant, as water sources were vital for life and could symbolize blessing and provision. Its appearance in a genealogy underscores the importance of tribal and familial identity for the Israelites.
Beeri (Bᵉʼêrîy, H882) — The likely longer form of the name, meaning 'my well.'
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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