Bible Word Study
בְּאֵר
Bᵉʼêr · Beer, a place in the Desert, also one in Palestine
בְּאֵר
Beer, a place in the Desert, also one in Palestine
Definition
Beer (בְּאֵר) is a proper noun referring to two distinct locations in the Old Testament. The first is a well or watering place in the wilderness, mentioned in Numbers 21:16-18, where the Israelites dug a well and sang a song of praise. The second is a location in the territory of the tribe of Judah, possibly a town, where Jotham fled after delivering his parable (Judges 9:21). The name itself means 'well,' directly linking both places to a vital source of water.
Biblical Usage
The word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times as a place name. In Numbers 21:16, it refers to a specific well in the desert wilderness during the Israelite journey. In Judges 9:21, it refers to a location in the land of Canaan, likely within the tribal territory of Judah, serving as a place of refuge. There is no pattern of usage beyond these two distinct geographical references.
Etymology
The word בְּאֵר (Bᵉʼêr) is identical to the common noun H875 (בְּאֵר), which means 'well' or 'pit.' It is derived from the root ב.א.ר (B-A-R), meaning 'to dig' or 'to explain.' As a place name, it simply denotes a location characterized by a well, highlighting its primary function as a water source.
Semantic Range
While the place name itself is not theologically loaded, its connection to the common noun for 'well' can enrich reading. In Numbers 21, the well at Beer becomes a site of divine provision and communal celebration in the wilderness, a tangible symbol of God's sustenance. Understanding the name means 'well' adds a layer of meaning to these narratives of survival and refuge. In the arid landscape of the ancient Near East, a reliable water source was critical for survival and settlement. A place named 'Beer' or 'Well' would have been a significant landmark, a hub for travel, and a potential site for community. Its mention immediately conveyed practical importance—it was not just a name but a description of the location's most vital resource. עַיִן (ʿayin, H5869) — A spring or fountain, a natural source of water, whereas a בְּאֵר is a dug well.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]