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בְּעוֹר

𐤁𐤏𐤅𐤓

Beor

H1160 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בער to burn, consume, be kindled

Definition

Beor, a personal name found in the Hebrew Bible, signifying a proper noun referring to two individuals: (1) The father of Bela, an early Edomite leader, and (2) the father of Balaam, the prophetic figure in the narratives concerning Moab and Midian. While the form בְּעוֹר resembles Hebrew roots relating to burning, its usage is consistently as a name and not as a common noun or verb; thus, its meaning remains a proper name rather than conveying a lexical sense of 'burning' or 'lamp.'

Semantic Range

personal name (Beor), possible etymological sense of 'burning,' but unattested as a common noun or verb in biblical usage

Root / Etymology

The root is commonly associated with בער (b-ʻ-r), which in its verb form means 'to burn.' However, the formation and use as בְּעוֹר (Beor) as a personal name may be related to the root, but the connection is uncertain and not lexically productive outside of the domain of proper names. Thus, the etymology is uncertain beyond possible association with burning or consuming. Some suggest a link to 'torch' or 'burner,' but as a personal name, this is speculative.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the biblical text, בְּעוֹר occurs solely as a personal name, never as a common noun. The two bearers of the name—Bela's father (Gen 36:32; 1 Chr 1:43), a pre-Israelite leader in Edom, and Balaam's father (Num 22:5; 24:3)—highlight its use across different traditions. There is no indication in the text that the name was ever understood in narrative or poetic contexts to mean 'lamp,' 'torch,' or 'burning;' these meanings are imported from a presumed root and not from attested usage. English translations consistently render בְּעוֹר as 'Beor.' The connection to burning is noted by medieval and modern commentators, but no semantic implications are apparent in the biblical stories. The name is not used to denote ethnic, geographic, or religious identity beyond familial designation. In post-biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, the name does not appear to persist or develop additional meanings.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בָּעַר (in the sense of burning); a lamp; Beor, the name of the father of an Edomitish king; also of that of Balaam; Beor.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בער (b-ʿ-r) — to burn, consume, be kindled

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1165 בְּעִיר their grazing-animal
H1197 בָּעַר she burned
H1198 בַּעַר beast-like senseless
H1199 בָּעֲרָא Baʿarah
H1200 בְּעֵרָה the blazing

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1160-01 בְּע֑וֹר beor HNp Beor Beor 8
H1160-02 בְעֹ֔ר veor HNp Beor light of 2

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1160-01 Genesis 36:32 בְּע֑וֹר beor HNp Beor Beor
H1160-01 Numbers 22:5 בְּע֗וֹר beor HNp Beor Beor
H1160-02 Numbers 24:3 בְעֹ֔ר veor HNp Beor light of
H1160-02 Numbers 24:15 בְעֹ֔ר veor HNp Beor light of
H1160-01 Numbers 31:8 בְּע֔וֹר beor HNp Beor Beor
H1160-01 Deuteronomy 23:5 בְּע֗וֹר beor HNp of Beor Beor
H1160-01 Joshua 13:22 בְּע֖וֹר beor HNp Beor Beor
H1160-01 Joshua 24:9 בְּע֖וֹר beor HNp Beor Beor
H1160-01 Micah 6:5 בְּע֑וֹר beor HNp of Beor Beor
H1160-01 1 Chronicles 1:43 בְּע֔וֹר beor HNp of Beor Beor
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