בְּכוֹר (H1060) — Hebrew Lexicon

בְּכוֹר

𐤁𐤊𐤅𐤓

bᵉkôwr

H1060 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בכר to be born first, to be early, to come before

Definition

Firstborn; the one born first in order among siblings, especially sons, and thus holding a position of particular status or precedence within the family or clan structure. In extended uses, can denote a preeminent individual or group, or the earliest or most prominent instance of a class. The term frequently implies legal and social privileges associated with birth order, such as inheritance rights and special responsibilities.

Semantic Range

firstborn son, eldest child, animal firstborn, preeminent one, chief or most distinguished (figurative), earliest or initial instance of a group or class

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root בָּכַר (b-k-r), which carries the core meaning 'to be born first', 'to be early'. The noun בְּכוֹר is a masculine substantive denoting the male who is first born.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite society, the בְּכוֹר held significant rights and responsibilities, including a double portion of inheritance (Deut 21:17), and could be associated with leadership within the family group. The status of 'firstborn' was sometimes subject to loss or transfer (e.g., Reuben in Gen 49:3-4). The legal and ritual importance of the firstborn is evident in texts relating to redemption (Exod 13:1-16; Num 18:15-17), where all firstborn—both human and animal—were considered especially belonging to Yhwh. In poetic and prophetic contexts, בְּכוֹר can take on the broader sense of 'most important' or 'preeminent' (e.g., Ps 89:28). Later translations and traditions, especially those influenced by Hellenistic or Christian periods, sometimes rendered the term with the Greek 'prototokos' (firstborn), which also took on metaphorical or theological nuances. Standard English translations as 'firstborn' generally convey the primary sense, but may not fully capture the associated legal and social dimensions in ancient Israelite context. Distinct from related terms such as בְּכֹרָה (bekorah, 'birthright'), which refers specifically to the rights or privileges of the firstborn.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בָּכַר; firstborn; hence, chief; eldest (son), firstborn(-ling).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בכר (b-k-r) — to be born first, to be early, to come before

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1061	בִּכּוּר	first yields of
H1062	בְּכוֹרָה	firstborn-right
H1063	בִּכּוּרָה	first-ripe fig
H1064	בְּכוֹרַת	Bekorath
H1067	בְּכִירָה	the firstborn daughter
H1069	בָּכַר	like a firstborn-bearer
H1070	בֶּכֶר	young male camels of
H1071	בֶכֶר	to Beker
H1072	בִּכְרָה	young she-camel
H1073	בַּכֻּרָה	the first-ripe figs
H1074	בֹּכְרוּ	First-Born
H1075	בִּכְרִי	Firstborn-clansman
H1076	בַּכְרִי	the Bakrite

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H1060-01`	בְּכֹ֤ר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of	58
`H1060-10`	הַ/בְּכ֖וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son	28
`H1060-05`	בְּכֹר֖/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son	10
`H1060-11`	מִ/בְּכ֤וֹר	mibekhor	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the firstborn	from firstborn of	4
`H1060-12`	בְכ֨וֹר	vekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of	3
`H1060-04`	בְּכֹ֣רִ/י	bekhori	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my firstborn	my firstborn son	3
`H1060-03`	בְּכוֹרֵ֣י	bekhorey	`HNcmpc`	firstborn	firstborn of	3
`H1060-02`	בְּכֹרֶ֔/ךָ	bekhorekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	your firstborn	your firstborn son	2
`H1060-15`	בְכוֹר/וֹ֙	vekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son	1
`H1060-09`	בִּ/בְכֹר֣/וֹ	bivekhoro	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	with his firstborn	with his firstborn	1
`H1060-08`	בִּ/בְכוֹרֵי/הֶ֑ם	bivekhoreyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	in their firstborn	in their firstborn ones	1
`H1060-06`	בְּכֹר֤וֹת	bekhorot	`HNcmpc`	firstborns	firstborn ones of	1
`H1060-14`	בְכֹרִ֖/י	vekhori	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	My firstborn	my firstborn	1
`H1060-07`	בִּ/בְכֹ֣ר	bivekhor	`HR/Ncmsc`	with the firstborn	with the firstborn of	1
`H1060-13`	בְכֹֽרְ/ךָ֖	vekhorekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	your firstborn	your firstborn son	1

Occurrences in Scripture

118 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H1060-05`	Genesis 10:15	בְּכֹר֖/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-05`	Genesis 22:21	בְּכֹר֖/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-01`	Genesis 25:13	בְּכֹ֤ר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-02`	Genesis 27:19	בְּכֹרֶ֔/ךָ	bekhorekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	your firstborn	your firstborn son
`H1060-13`	Genesis 27:32	בְכֹֽרְ/ךָ֖	vekhorekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	your firstborn	your firstborn son
`H1060-01`	Genesis 35:23	בְּכ֥וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Genesis 36:15	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-05`	Genesis 38:6	בְּכוֹר֑/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-01`	Genesis 38:7	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-10`	Genesis 41:51	הַ/בְּכ֖וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	of the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	Genesis 43:33	הַ/בְּכֹר֙	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-01`	Genesis 46:8	בְּכֹ֥ר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-10`	Genesis 48:14	הַ/בְּכֽוֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	was the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	Genesis 48:18	הַ/בְּכֹ֔ר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-04`	Genesis 49:3	בְּכֹ֣רִ/י	bekhori	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my firstborn	my firstborn son
`H1060-14`	Exodus 4:22	בְכֹרִ֖/י	vekhori	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	My firstborn	my firstborn
`H1060-02`	Exodus 4:23	בְּכֹרֶֽ/ךָ	bekhorekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	your firstborn	your firstborn son
`H1060-01`	Exodus 6:14	בְּכֹ֣ר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn of	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 11:5	בְּכוֹר֮	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-11`	Exodus 11:5	מִ/בְּכ֤וֹר	mibekhor	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the firstborn	from firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 11:5	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor-2	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 11:5	בְּכ֥וֹר	bekhor-3	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 12:12	בְּכוֹר֙	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 12:29	בְּכוֹר֮	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-11`	Exodus 12:29	מִ/בְּכֹ֤ר	mibekhor	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the firstborn	from firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 12:29	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor-2	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 12:29	בְּכ֥וֹר	bekhor-3	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 13:2	בְּכ֜וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 13:13	בְּכ֥וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 13:15	בְּכוֹר֙	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-11`	Exodus 13:15	מִ/בְּכֹ֥ר	mibekhor	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the firstborn	from firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 13:15	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor-2	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 13:15	בְּכ֥וֹר	bekhor-3	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 22:28	בְּכ֥וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Exodus 34:20	בְּכ֤וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Leviticus 27:26	בְּכ֞וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 1:20	בְּכֹ֣ר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-10`	Numbers 3:2	הַ/בְּכ֣וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:12	בְּכ֛וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:13	בְּכוֹר֒	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:13	בְּכ֜וֹר	bekhor-2	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:13	בְּכוֹר֙	bekhor-3	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:40	בְּכֹ֤ר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:41	בְּכֹ֖ר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:41	בְּכ֔וֹר	bekhor-2	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:42	בְּכֹ֖ר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:43	בְּכ֨וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:45	בְּכוֹר֙	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-11`	Numbers 3:46	מִ/בְּכ֖וֹר	mibekhor	`HR/Ncmsc`	from firstborn	from firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 3:50	בְּכ֛וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 8:16	בְּכ֥וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 8:17	בְּכוֹר֙	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 8:17	בְּכוֹר֙	bekhor-2	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 8:18	בְּכ֖וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 18:15	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 18:15	בְּכֽוֹר	bekhor-2	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 18:17	בְּֽכוֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-12`	Numbers 18:17	בְכ֨וֹר	vekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-12`	Numbers 18:17	בְכ֥וֹר	vekhor-2	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 26:5	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Numbers 33:4	בְּכ֑וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-10`	Deuteronomy 15:19	הַ/בְּכ֡וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-07`	Deuteronomy 15:19	בִּ/בְכֹ֣ר	bivekhor	`HR/Ncmsc`	with the firstborn	with the firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Deuteronomy 15:19	בְּכ֥וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-10`	Deuteronomy 21:15	הַ/בְּכ֖וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	Deuteronomy 21:16	הַ/בְּכֹֽר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	Deuteronomy 21:17	הַ/בְּכֹ֨ר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	Deuteronomy 25:6	הַ/בְּכוֹר֙	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-01`	Deuteronomy 33:17	בְּכ֨וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-09`	Joshua 6:26	בִּ/בְכֹר֣/וֹ	bivekhoro	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	with his firstborn	with his firstborn
`H1060-01`	Joshua 17:1	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Joshua 17:1	בְּכ֨וֹר	bekhor-2	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-05`	Judges 8:20	בְּכוֹר֔/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-10`	1 Samuel 8:2	הַ/בְּכוֹר֙	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	1 Samuel 17:13	הַ/בְּכ֗וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-15`	2 Samuel 3:2	בְכוֹר/וֹ֙	vekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-05`	1 Kings 16:34	בְּכֹר֜/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-10`	2 Kings 3:27	הַ/בְּכ֜וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-03`	Isaiah 14:30	בְּכוֹרֵ֣י	bekhorey	`HNcmpc`	the firstborn of	firstborn of
`H1060-04`	Jeremiah 31:9	בְּכֹ֥רִ/י	bekhori	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	is my firstborn	my firstborn son
`H1060-04`	Micah 6:7	בְּכוֹרִ/י֙	bekhori	`HNcmsc/Sp1cs`	my firstborn	my firstborn son
`H1060-10`	Zechariah 12:10	הַ/בְּכֽוֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-01`	Psalms 78:51	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Psalms 89:28	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	Psalms 105:36	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-03`	Psalms 135:8	בְּכוֹרֵ֣י	bekhorey	`HNcmpc`	the firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-08`	Psalms 136:10	בִּ/בְכוֹרֵי/הֶ֑ם	bivekhoreyhem	`HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp`	in their firstborn	in their firstborn ones
`H1060-10`	Job 1:13	הַ/בְּכֽוֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	Job 1:18	הַ/בְּכֽוֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-01`	Job 18:13	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn of	firstborn of
`H1060-06`	Nehemiah 10:37	בְּכֹר֤וֹת	bekhorot	`HNcmpc`	firstborns	firstborn ones of
`H1060-03`	Nehemiah 10:37	בְּכוֹרֵ֨י	bekhorey	`HNcmpc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-05`	1 Chronicles 1:13	בְּכֹר֖/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-01`	1 Chronicles 1:29	בְּכ֤וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	1 Chronicles 2:3	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-05`	1 Chronicles 2:13	בְּכֹר֖/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-01`	1 Chronicles 2:25	בְּכ֥וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 2:25	הַ/בְּכ֣וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-01`	1 Chronicles 2:27	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-05`	1 Chronicles 2:42	בְּכֹר֖/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-01`	1 Chronicles 2:50	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn of	firstborn of
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 3:1	הַ/בְּכ֣וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the-firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 3:15	הַ/בְּכוֹר֙	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-01`	1 Chronicles 4:4	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn of	firstborn of
`H1060-01`	1 Chronicles 5:1	בְּכֽוֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	the firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 5:1	הַ/בְּכוֹר֒	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	was the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-01`	1 Chronicles 5:3	בְּכ֣וֹר	bekhor	`HNcmsc`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 6:13	הַ/בְּכֹ֥ר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-05`	1 Chronicles 8:1	בְּכֹר֑/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 8:30	הַ/בְּכ֖וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-05`	1 Chronicles 8:39	בְּכֹר֔/וֹ	bekhoro	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	his firstborn	his firstborn son
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 9:5	הַ/בְּכ֖וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 9:31	הַ/בְּכ֖וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 9:36	הַ/בְּכ֖וֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 26:2	הַ/בְּכוֹר֙	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-10`	1 Chronicles 26:4	הַ/בְּכוֹר֙	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the firstborn	the firstborn son
`H1060-12`	1 Chronicles 26:10	בְכ֔וֹר	vekhor	`HNcmsa`	firstborn	firstborn of
`H1060-10`	2 Chronicles 21:3	הַ/בְּכֽוֹר	habekhor	`HTd/Ncmsa`	was the firstborn	the firstborn son

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