בּוּז
Buz, the name of a son of Nahor, and of an Israelite
Definition
Buz is a proper name given to two distinct individuals in the Old Testament. First, in Genesis 22:21, Buz is listed as a son of Nahor (Abraham's brother) and a nephew of Abraham, placing him within the early Aramean lineage. Second, in 1 Chronicles 5:14, Buz is recorded as a Gadite, a member of the tribe of Gad, indicating an Israelite ancestor. The name also appears in Jeremiah 25:23 as part of a list of peoples, likely referring to a tribe or region descended from the original individual.
Biblical Usage
The name Buz is used exclusively as a proper noun for people or a derived tribal/regional name. It appears in genealogical records (Genesis 22:21, 1 Chronicles 5:14) and in a prophetic oracle of judgment against nations (Jeremiah 25:23). Its usage is sparse and specific, serving to identify ancestry or a community among those judged.
Etymology
The name Buz is identical to the common Hebrew noun בּוּז (bûz, H937), which means 'contempt' or 'disdain.' It is likely a name derived from this root, possibly describing a characteristic or circumstance at birth. Similar naming practices using words for negative traits are found elsewhere in Scripture.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its appearances connect to key biblical themes. In Genesis, it grounds the Abrahamic narrative in a specific familial and ethnic context. In Jeremiah, its inclusion among judged nations underscores the scope of God's sovereignty over all peoples, not just Israel. Understanding its root meaning ('contempt') may hint at a narrative or character trait now lost to history.
In ancient Semitic culture, names were often significant and descriptive, not merely labels. Bearing a name meaning 'contempt' might reflect circumstances of birth, a hoped-for reversal of fortune, or a perceived characteristic. The dual appearance as both an Aramean and an Israelite name illustrates the interconnectedness of tribes and nations in the ancient Near East.
בּוּז (bûz, H937) — This is the identical root word, a common noun meaning 'contempt,' from which the proper name is derived.
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 →