בֵּית בָּרָה
Beth-Barah, a place in Palestine
Definition
Beth-Barah is a place name meaning 'house of the ford' or 'ford house,' referring to a location with a river crossing in ancient Palestine. It appears only once in the Bible, in Judges 7:24, as part of Gideon's military campaign against the Midianites. The site is strategically significant as it likely controlled a key crossing point of the Jordan River, allowing Gideon's forces to cut off the enemy's retreat. While its exact location is uncertain, it is associated with the broader region where the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh operated during the period of the judges.
Biblical Usage
This proper noun is used only in Judges 7:24, where Gideon commands the men of Ephraim to seize the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-Barah. The context is military and geographical, identifying a strategic point to block the fleeing Midianite army after their defeat. Its singular occurrence highlights its role as a specific landmark in a narrative of divine deliverance through Gideon.
Etymology
The name Beth-Barah derives from the Hebrew words בַּיִת (bayit, H1004), meaning 'house' or 'household,' and עֲבָרָה (ʿăbārâ, H5679), meaning 'ford' or 'crossing place.' It is a compound place name common in Hebrew toponymy, indicating a settlement or notable site at a river crossing. Similar constructions include Beth-el ('house of God') and Beth-shean ('house of rest').
Semantic Range
Beth-Barah, while a minor geographical detail, underscores God's providential guidance in Israel's history. In Judges 7, God uses specific locations like this ford to ensure victory for Gideon's small army, demonstrating that even obscure places play a role in His deliverance. Understanding the name's meaning ('house of the ford') enriches the narrative by highlighting the strategic control of resources (the Jordan River) as part of God's battle plan, reminding readers that God orchestrates events down to the last detail.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, place names often described physical features or functions of a site. A 'ford house' would have been a vital transit point for trade, travel, and military movements, especially across the Jordan River. Controlling such a crossing was economically and militarily significant, as seen in Gideon's order to secure it. This reflects a society where geography directly influenced community life and conflict.
Beth-abarah (בֵּית עֲבָרָה, H1004+H5679) — variant spelling found in some manuscripts; Abel (אָבֵל, H59) — a term for 'meadow' or 'stream,' sometimes used in place names near water; Yarden (יַרְדֵּן, H3383) — the Jordan River, the body of water Beth-Barah likely forded.
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 →