בְּרִיעִי
a Beriite (collectively) or descendants of Beriah
Definition
The Hebrew word בְּרִיעִי (Bᵉrîyʻîy) is a patronymic noun meaning 'a Beriite,' referring collectively to the descendants of Beriah. It identifies a specific clan within the larger tribe of Benjamin, as recorded in the census of Israelite clans in Numbers 26:44. The term functions solely as a familial and tribal designation, with no other attested meanings or applications in the biblical text. Its singular occurrence underscores its specific genealogical purpose.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 26:44, within the context of a detailed census of the Israelite tribes taken on the plains of Moab. It appears in the listing of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin, specifically identifying 'the family of the Beriites' as descendants of Beriah, who was a son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21). The usage is purely genealogical and administrative, serving to document the tribal structure of Israel.
Etymology
The word is derived patronymically from the proper name בְּרִיעָה (Bᵉrîyʻâh, H1283), meaning 'Beriah.' The name Beriah itself is of uncertain etymology but may be related to the Hebrew root ב-ר-ע (b-r-ʻ), which can connote 'evil' or 'misfortune,' possibly indicating a circumstance of his birth (cf. 1 Chronicles 7:23). The '-îy' suffix is a standard Hebrew patronymic ending, meaning 'belonging to' or 'descendant of.'
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, clan and tribal identity were of paramount importance for inheritance, military organization, and social structure. Being identified as a 'Beriite' placed an individual within the specific lineage of Beriah and the broader tribe of Benjamin. This genealogical record, as seen in Numbers 26, was crucial for allocating land in Canaan and maintaining the covenant community's organization as promised to the patriarchs.
בֵּן (bēn, H1121) — A general term for 'son' or 'descendant,' whereas בְּרִיעִי specifies descent from a particular ancestor. מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpāḥâ, H4940) — Refers to a 'family' or 'clan' as a social unit, the category to which the Beriites belonged.
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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