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בָּחַר

𐤁𐤇𐤓

bâchar

H977 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To choose, select, or prefer. Used to denote the act of choosing or selecting something or someone, often with the implication of preference or approval. In certain contexts, carries the nuance of choosing for a special function, purpose, or relationship, particularly in reference to individuals, groups, locations, or objects. May imply both human and divine choosing.

Semantic Range

to choose, to select, to prefer, to appoint, to be selected, to be preferred, to choose for a specific purpose, to elect, to show preference, to designate, to single out

Root / Etymology

From the root בחר (b-ḥ-r), meaning 'to choose, select, prefer.' The verb בָּחַר arises directly from this root and consistently reflects the action of choosing or preferring. The etymology is clear and ties the meaning directly to the experiential act of selection or preference, whether by humans or by the divine.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בָּחַר is widely used across the Hebrew Bible to describe both ordinary human acts of choosing (e.g., selecting a course of action, a king, or a location) and the distinctive act of divine selection (e.g., YHWH choosing Israel, certain individuals such as David, or specific places like Jerusalem). Divine choosing often conveys a covenantal or functional relationship (Deut 7:6; 1 Sam 16:8-10), and highlights exclusivity, purpose, or favor without requiring intrinsic merit. The term is frequently used with objects (e.g., stones, warriors), with people (especially leaders), and abstractly (e.g., to prefer wisdom or justice). Uses vary from direct, practical choices to more theologically loaded or ideological affirmations of identity and belonging. In exilic and post-exilic texts, בחר plays a key role in articulating Israelite self-understanding in the context of restoration and continuity (Isa 41:8-9; Isa 44:1-2). English translations such as 'choose,' 'elect,' or 'prefer' often capture the main sense, but the depth of covenantal or relational nuance—especially in divine choosing—may be underappreciated. This word should not be confused with other roots for 'choose' or 'separate' (such as גָּרַל for casting lots). The fuller scope goes beyond mere selection, sometimes connoting affirmation, value, or unique purpose.

Translation Consistency

primary "choose" 30 occurrences

'Choose' is the most natural, general English verb that covers the full semantic range (choose, select, prefer, appoint, be chosen). P2 data overwhelmingly uses forms of 'choose' (chose/chosen/choose), and the infinitive 'choose' provides a single consistent base to inflect for tense/person while preserving both human and divine senses.

Alternatives (20 occurrences):
"chose" (16x) "chosen one" (3x) "chosen" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select; acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

בחר (Yivechar) — to choose, select, prefer

Root בחר to choose, select, prefer
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2984 יִבְחַר He Will Choose
H4004 מִבְחוֹר chosen place
H4005 מִבְחָר in the choicest of
H4006 מִבְחָר choicest of
H970 בָּחוּר chosen young man

Word Forms

37 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H977-36 יִבְחַ֛ר yivechar HVqi3ms chooses he chooses he will choose 32
H977-01 בָּחַ֣ר bachar HVqp3ms has chosen he chose he chose 18
H977-06 בָּחוּר֙ bachur HVqsmsa chosen chosen one chosen one 14
H977-30 וַ/יִּבְחַ֗ר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms and he chose and he chose and he chose 14
H977-03 בָּחָֽרְתִּי bachareti HVqp1cs I have chosen I chose I chose 13
H977-02 בָּחָ֑רְתָּ bachareta HVqp2ms you have chosen you chose you chose 7
H977-25 בָחַ֨רְתִּי vachareti HVqp1cs I have chosen I chose I chose 7
H977-08 בְּחַרְתֶּ֖ם becharetem HVqp2mp you have chosen you chose you chose 6
H977-16 נִבְחָֽר nivechar HVNrmsa choice the chosen one choice 6
H977-04 בַּחֲר֨וּ bacharu HVqv2mp they chose they chose they chose 5

Occurrences in Scripture

170 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H977-04 Genesis 6:2 בָּחָֽרוּ bacharu HVqp3cp they chose they chose they chose
H977-30 Genesis 13:11 וַ/יִּבְחַר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms and chose and he chose and he chose
H977-06 Exodus 14:7 בָּח֔וּר bachur HVqsmsa chosen chosen one chosen
H977-07 Exodus 17:9 בְּחַר bechar HVqv2ms Choose choose choose
H977-30 Exodus 18:25 וַ/יִּבְחַ֨ר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms and chose and he chose and he chose
H977-36 Numbers 16:5 יִבְחַר yivechar HVqi3ms he chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Numbers 16:7 יִבְחַ֥ר yivechar HVqi3ms chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-12 Numbers 17:20 אֶבְחַר evechar HVqi1cs I choose I choose I will choose
H977-30 Deuteronomy 4:37 וַ/יִּבְחַ֥ר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms and he chose and he chose and he chose
H977-01 Deuteronomy 7:6 בָּחַ֣ר bachar HVqp3ms has chosen he chose he chose
H977-30 Deuteronomy 7:7 וַ/יִּבְחַ֣ר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms and chose and he chose and he chose
H977-30 Deuteronomy 10:15 וַ/יִּבְחַ֞ר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms and he chose and he chose and he chose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 12:5 יִבְחַ֨ר yivechar HVqi3ms he will choose he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 12:11 יִבְחַר֩ yivechar HVqi3ms he will choose he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 12:14 יִבְחַ֤ר yivechar HVqi3ms YHWH shall choose he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 12:18 יִבְחַ֜ר yivechar HVqi3ms He chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 12:21 יִבְחַ֜ר yivechar HVqi3ms chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 12:26 יִבְחַ֥ר yivechar HVqi3ms chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-01 Deuteronomy 14:2 בָּחַ֣ר bachar HVqp3ms has chosen he chose he chose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 14:23 יִבְחַר֮ yivechar HVqi3ms He chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 14:24 יִבְחַר֙ yivechar HVqi3ms chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 14:25 יִבְחַ֛ר yivechar HVqi3ms will choose he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 15:20 יִבְחַ֣ר yivechar HVqi3ms he will choose he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 16:2 יִבְחַ֣ר yivechar HVqi3ms He chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 16:6 יִבְחַ֨ר yivechar HVqi3ms he chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 16:7 יִבְחַ֛ר yivechar HVqi3ms he chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 16:11 יִבְחַר֙ yivechar HVqi3ms He will choose he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 16:15 יִבְחַ֣ר yivechar HVqi3ms He will choose he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 16:16 יִבְחָ֔ר yivechar HVqi3ms he chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 17:8 יִבְחַ֛ר yivechar HVqi3ms He chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 17:10 יִבְחַ֣ר yivechar HVqi3ms He shall choose he chooses it will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 17:15 יִבְחַ֛ר yivechar HVqi3ms he will choose he chooses he will choose
H977-01 Deuteronomy 18:5 בָּחַ֛ר bachar HVqp3ms has chosen he chose he chose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 18:6 יִבְחַ֥ר yivechar HVqi3ms chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-01 Deuteronomy 21:5 בָּחַ֞ר bachar HVqp3ms has chosen he chose he chose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 23:17 יִבְחַ֛ר yivechar HVqi3ms he chooses he chooses he will choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 26:2 יִבְחַר֙ yivechar HVqi3ms He will choose he chooses he will choose
H977-20 Deuteronomy 30:19 וּ/בָֽחַרְתָּ֙ uvachareta HC/Vqq2ms therefore choose and you chose therefore choose
H977-36 Deuteronomy 31:11 יִבְחָ֑ר yivechar HVqi3ms he will choose he chooses he will choose
H977-30 Joshua 8:3 וַ/יִּבְחַ֣ר vayivechar HC/Vqw3ms and chose and he chose and he chose
H977-36 Joshua 9:27 יִבְחָֽר yivechar HVqi3ms he will choose he chooses he will choose
H977-04 Joshua 24:15 בַּחֲר֨וּ bacharu HVqv2mp choose they chose choose
H977-08 Joshua 24:22 בְּחַרְתֶּ֥ם becharetem HVqp2mp have chosen you chose you chose
H977-36 Judges 5:8 יִבְחַר֙ yivechar HVqi3ms he chose he chooses he chose
H977-08 Judges 10:14 בְּחַרְתֶּ֖ם becharetem HVqp2mp you-have-chosen you chose you chose
H977-06 Judges 20:15 בָּחֽוּר bachur HVqsmsa choice chosen one chosen one
H977-06 Judges 20:16 בָּח֔וּר bachur HVqsmsa chosen chosen one chosen one
H977-06 Judges 20:34 בָּחוּר֙ bachur HVqsmsa choice chosen one chosen one
H977-23 1 Samuel 2:28 וּ/בָחֹ֣ר uvachor HC/Vqa and I chose and choosing and I chose
H977-08 1 Samuel 8:18 בְּחַרְתֶּ֖ם becharetem HVqp2mp you have chosen you chose you chose
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