Bible Word Study
בִּכְרִי
Bikrîy · Bikri, an Israelite
בִּכְרִי
Bikri, an Israelite
Definition
בִּכְרִי (Bikrî) is a proper noun referring to an Israelite man named Bikri, specifically identified as the father or ancestor of Sheba, a Benjaminite rebel. The name means 'youthful' or 'firstborn,' derived from the root for 'firstborn.' In the biblical narrative, Bikri himself is not an active character; the term is used exclusively to identify his son, Sheba ben Bichri, who led a revolt against King David (2 Samuel 20:1-2). All occurrences of the word serve this single purpose: to denote Sheba's lineage as 'Sheba, son of Bichri.'
Biblical Usage
This word appears eight times, all within 2 Samuel 20. It is used exclusively in the context of Sheba's rebellion. The usage pattern is consistent: it always modifies 'Sheba' to identify his paternal lineage (e.g., 'Sheba the son of Bichri,' 2 Samuel 20:1). The term anchors the rebel's identity within a specific Israelite family, highlighting the internal tribal strife during David's reign.
Etymology
Derived from the root בָּכַר (bākar, H1069), meaning 'to be firstborn' or 'to bear early/new fruit.' The name בִּכְרִי is a gentilic or patronymic formation, meaning 'belonging to the firstborn' or 'youthful one.' It shares a root with בְּכוֹר (bekôr, H1060), the common word for 'firstborn.'
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its narrative context is significant. Sheba ben Bichri's rebellion (2 Samuel 20) represents the continued consequences of David's sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent fracturing of his kingdom, as prophesied in 2 Samuel 12:10-11. Understanding that Bikri means 'firstborn' may subtly contrast Sheba's claim of primacy (2 Samuel 20:1) with David's God-established kingship. In ancient Israelite culture, a patronymic (identification by one's father) was a primary marker of identity and social location. Labeling Sheba as 'son of Bichri' immediately informed the original audience of his family and likely tribal reputation. Names derived from 'firstborn' (Bikri) possibly conveyed hopes for prominence or blessing associated with the status of the firstborn son in Israelite society. בְּכוֹר (bekôr, H1060) — The common noun for 'firstborn,' whereas Bikrî is a proper name derived from it.
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]