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בְּעֵרָה

𐤁𐤏𐤓𐤄

bᵉʻêrâh

H1200 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בער to burn, consume by fire

Definition

A state of burning or blazing; used to denote fire or a burning substance, particularly in poetic or figurative contexts. The term emphasizes the aspect of active combustion or consuming fire, rather than an object such as a hearth or altar. It may connote both literal and figurative burning, including passionate anger or divine judgment, depending on context.

Semantic Range

burning, blaze, combustion, fire (poetic/destructive), fig. consuming wrath or judgment

Root / Etymology

Root: בער (to burn, consume by fire). בְּעֵרָה is a feminine noun form derived from the root בער, which means to burn or be consumed by fire. The noun expresses the state, act, or condition of burning. Not a common noun; distinct from other fire terms like אֵשׁ (esh, general word for fire) or מְדוּרָה (medurah, hearth, bonfire).

Historical & Contextual Notes

בְּעֵרָה (bᵉʻêrâh) is rare and appears in poetic contexts (e.g., Isaiah 30:33), often signifying not just ordinary fire but a consuming or destructive burning, sometimes with metaphorical import. In later tradition and translations, the nuance may be obscured, and it may be rendered simply as 'fire' or 'burning.' The term occasionally serves in texts where divine judgment or wrath is described as a consuming fire. Unlike אֵשׁ, which refers to fire in both mundane and ritual contexts, בְּעֵרָה tends to highlight the dynamic act or result of burning. In post-biblical periods, the noun is not prominent, and its usage does not directly translate to later religious terminology such as 'hellfire.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בָּעַר; a burning; fire.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בער (b-ʿ-r) — to burn, consume by fire

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1160 בְּעוֹר Beor
H1165 בְּעִיר their grazing-animal
H1197 בָּעַר she burned
H1198 בַּעַר beast-like senseless
H1199 בָּעֲרָא Baʿarah

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1200-01 הַ/בְּעֵרָֽה habeerah HTd/Ncfsa the burning the blazing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1200-01 Exodus 22:5 הַ/בְּעֵרָֽה habeerah HTd/Ncfsa the burning the blazing
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