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בָּרִיא

𐤁𐤓𐤉𐤀

bârîyʼ

H1277 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Well-fed, fattened, or plump, particularly in reference to animals or humans; indicates notable physical robustness or healthy fleshiness. The term is most often used to describe animals selected for sacrifice or for consumption, as well as robustly healthy individuals.

Semantic Range

fattened (animal, esp. cattle), robust (of person), well-fed, plump, healthy, vigorous; suitable or fit (esp. as a choice animal for sacrifice or feasting)

Root / Etymology

From the root בריא, likely derived by extension from the root ברא in the rare sense 'to be fat, healthy,' not the common 'to create.' The form integrates with other Hebrew terms for 'fattened' cattle or people, but the precise etymological path is debated; some scholars link it to an abstract sense of health or flourishing. The association is with physical vigor rather than creative activity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בָּרִיא appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, usually describing livestock that is 'fattened' or robust (Genesis 41, Pharaoh's dreams), or a person noted for physical stoutness. The term stands in contrast with רָזֶה (thin, gaunt) and other Hebrew words conveying leanness or malnutrition. In sacrificial and royal narrative contexts, fattened animals symbolize abundance and prosperity. English translations often render בָּרִיא as 'fat,' 'well-fed,' or 'plump;' however, the nuance is not merely about excess fat but about health, readiness, and suitability (especially for significant events). Later Hebrew retains similar sense, with the root giving rise to Modern Hebrew 'bari' (healthy). The term is not unique to Israelite contexts but fits within broader ancient Near Eastern symbolism in which fatness indexes well-being and divine favor. English versions may obscure this with language implying mere corpulence or overfeeding, but in biblical usage, the emphasis is positive and desirable.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בָּרָא (in the sense of בָּרָה); fatted or plump; fat ((fleshed), -ter), fed, firm, plenteous, rank.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

ברא (Berayah) — to create, to shape, to bring into existence, to form

Root ברא to be fat, healthy, robust
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1254 בָּרָא he created
H1256 בְּרָאיָה and Yahweh has created
H1278 בְּרִיאָה a created thing

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1277-04 בְּרִיא֥וֹת beriot HAafpa fat well-fed ones fat 2
H1277-05 הַ/בְּרִיאָ֖ה haberiah HTd/Aafsa of-the-fat the well-fed one the well-fed one 2
H1277-06 הַ/בְּרִיא֖וֹת haberiot HTd/Aafpa healthy the well-fed ones the well-fed ones 2
H1277-01 בָּרִ֖יא bari HAamsa fat robust, well-fed fat 1
H1277-02 בְּרִאָֽה beriah HAafsa plenteous robust one plenteous 1
H1277-03 בְּרִאִ֗ים beriim HAampa fattened robust ones fattened ones 1
H1277-07 וּ/בָרִ֥יא uvari HC/Aamsa and their body is fat and robust and robust 1
H1277-08 וּ/בְרִיאֵ֖י uveriey HC/Aampc and fatter and robust ones of and robust of 1
H1277-09 וּ/בְרִיאֹ֣ת uveriot HC/Aafpc and plump and fattened ones and plump 1
H1277-10 וְ/הַ/בְּרִיאֹ֑ת vehaberiot HC/Td/Aafpa and healthy and the well-fed ones and healthy 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1277-09 Genesis 41:2 וּ/בְרִיאֹ֣ת uveriot HC/Aafpc and plump and fattened ones and plump
H1277-10 Genesis 41:4 וְ/הַ/בְּרִיאֹ֑ת vehaberiot HC/Td/Aafpa and healthy and the well-fed ones and healthy
H1277-04 Genesis 41:5 בְּרִיא֥וֹת beriot HAafpa plump well-fed ones plump
H1277-06 Genesis 41:7 הַ/בְּרִיא֖וֹת haberiot HTd/Aafpa healthy the well-fed ones the well-fed ones
H1277-04 Genesis 41:18 בְּרִיא֥וֹת beriot HAafpc fat well-fed ones fat
H1277-06 Genesis 41:20 הַ/בְּרִיאֹֽת haberiot HTd/Aafpa the fat the well-fed ones the well-fed ones
H1277-01 Judges 3:17 בָּרִ֖יא bari HAamsa fat robust, well-fed fat
H1277-03 1 Kings 5:3 בְּרִאִ֗ים beriim HAampa fattened robust ones fattened ones
H1277-05 Ezekiel 34:3 הַ/בְּרִיאָ֖ה haberiah HTd/Aafsa the healthy/fat the well-fed one the well-fed one
H1277-02 Habakkuk 1:16 בְּרִאָֽה beriah HAafsa plenteous robust one plenteous
H1277-05 Zechariah 11:16 הַ/בְּרִיאָה֙ haberiah HTd/Aafsa of-the-fat the well-fed one the well-fed one
H1277-07 Psalms 73:4 וּ/בָרִ֥יא uvari HC/Aamsa and their body is fat and robust and robust
H1277-08 Daniel 1:15 וּ/בְרִיאֵ֖י uveriey HC/Aampc and fatter and robust ones of and robust of
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