בּוֹקֵר
a cattle-tender
Definition
The Hebrew noun בּוֹקֵר (bôwqêr) refers specifically to a cattle-tender or herdsman, someone who cares for and manages a herd of livestock. It is used in Amos 7:14, where the prophet Amos, in his defense before Amaziah, identifies his vocational background not as a professional prophet but as a 'herdsman' and a dresser of sycamore figs. The term emphasizes a pastoral, agricultural occupation, distinct from roles in the royal or priestly establishments. While its core meaning is straightforward, its single biblical occurrence carries significant rhetorical weight in defining prophetic identity and divine calling.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Amos 7:14. In this context, Amos uses it to describe his occupation prior to his prophetic calling, contrasting his humble, agrarian work with the institutional religious role of a court prophet. The usage highlights the theme that God often calls individuals from ordinary, non-elite backgrounds for His purposes.
Etymology
The word בּוֹקֵר is an active participle derived from the root בָּקַר (bāqar, H1239), which means 'to seek out, inquire, or care for.' This root is itself a denominative verb from the noun בָּקָר (bāqār, H1241), meaning 'cattle' or 'herd.' Thus, the term literally means 'one who tends or cares for cattle,' directly linking the occupation to the management of livestock.
Semantic Range
Though a simple occupational term, בּוֹקֵר gains theological significance in Amos 7:14. Amos's self-identification as a herdsman underscores the biblical theme of God's sovereign calling, often bypassing human institutions and social status. It emphasizes that prophetic authority comes from God's commission, not from professional pedigree, enriching our understanding of humility, vocation, and divine election in the prophetic tradition.
In ancient Israel, a herdsman (בּוֹקֵר) was a common agricultural worker responsible for the well-being, grazing, and protection of a herd, typically cattle. This was a vital but often humble and physically demanding occupation, associated with rural life rather than urban centers or royal courts. Amos's claim to this identity would have been understood as a statement of his ordinary, non-privileged social standing.
רֹעֶה (rōʿeh, H7462) — a broader term for a shepherd or herder of sheep/goats; often used metaphorically for leaders. נֹקֵד (nōqēd, H5349) — a keeper of sheep, specifically a tender of flocks; also used by Amos (Amos 1:1) to describe himself.
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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