בֵּית בִּרְאִי

Beth-Biri, a place in Palestine

Definition

Beth-Biri is a proper noun referring to a town or settlement in the territory of the tribe of Simeon, located in southern Judah. The name itself means 'house of a creative one' or 'house of my creation.' It is listed among the cities allotted to the Simeonites during the reigns of David and Solomon, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:31. As a place name, it signifies a specific geographical location within the tribal inheritance system of ancient Israel.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 4:31. It appears in a list of cities that belonged to the tribe of Simeon 'until the reign of David.' Its usage is purely geographical and administrative, functioning to document the territorial holdings of one of the Israelite tribes during the early monarchy period.

Etymology

The name Beth-Biri is a compound of two Hebrew words: 'Beth' (בַּיִת, H1004), meaning 'house' or 'household,' and 'Biri' (from בָּרָא, H1254), a form related to the verb 'to create' or 'to shape.' Thus, the name can be interpreted as 'house of a creator' or 'house of my creation.' It may refer to a founding ancestor or denote a place established through a deliberate act of founding or building.

Semantic Range

In the cultural context of tribal Israel, a place name like Beth-Biri, which incorporates 'Beth,' often indicated a settled community or a family estate. Its inclusion in a tribal city list (1 Chronicles 4:28-33) reflects the importance of land inheritance and tribal identity. The name's connection to 'creation' might hint at a local tradition about the town's founding, though no specific story is preserved in the biblical text.

Beth-lebaoth (Bêyth Lᵉbaʼôwth, H1034) — Another Simeonite city meaning 'house of lionesses,' listed alongside Beth-Biri in 1 Chronicles 4:31, showing shared tribal geography.

Word Details

Scripture References