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בִּכְרָה

𐤁𐤊𐤓𐤄

bikrâh

H1072 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בכר to be firstborn, to be young, to be early

Definition

A young female camel, usually one that has not yet borne offspring; in some contexts may refer primarily to a she-dromedary (one-humped camel), stressing youth and gender. The term is used where the age and sex of the animal are relevant, often in lists of property or where specific qualities of young female camels are noted.

Semantic Range

young female camel, young dromedary, she-camel (emphasis on youthfulness); contrasts with general camel or unspecified camel; in rare cases, may refer generally to female camel

Root / Etymology

From the root בָּכַר (b-k-r), which means 'to be firstborn, to be early, to be young.' בִּכְרָה is the feminine form derived from the masculine noun בֶּכֶר (bekher, 'young male camel' or by extension 'young animal'). The suffix -ָה marks the feminine. Thus, the term specifically denotes a young female camel.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite and broader Northwest Semitic societies, camels (especially young ones) were valuable assets, both for transport and as a measure of wealth. The gender and age distinction in property lists (as in Gen 32:16) likely reflects practical realities of why and how camels were kept, with young female camels prized both for breeding and longevity in service. The word occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible—most notably in Genesis 32:16—where herds and livestock are listed as gifts or possessions, indicating the term’s specialized use. In later Hebrew, the term’s usage is further narrowed or generalized, but its primary biblical sense remains the young female camel. English translations sometimes simply render בִּכְרָה as 'camel' or 'she-camel,' potentially missing the nuance of youth.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of בֶּכֶר; a young she-camel; dromedary.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בכר (b-k-r) — to be firstborn, to be early, to be young

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1060 בְּכוֹר firstborn of
H1061 בִּכּוּר first yields of
H1062 בְּכוֹרָה firstborn-right
H1063 בִּכּוּרָה first-ripe fig
H1064 בְּכוֹרַת Bekorath

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1072-01 בִּכְרָ֥ה bikherah HNcfsa dromedary young she-camel 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1072-01 Jeremiah 2:23 בִּכְרָ֥ה bikherah HNcfsa dromedary young she-camel
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