בִּרְשַׁע
𐤁𐤓𐤔𐤏
Biresha
H1306 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Birshaʻ is a proper personal name designating a king of Gomorrah listed in the patriarchal narratives. The name is constructed as a theophoric or meaningful compound, likely conveying an association with wickedness or injustice, although the precise intent is uncertain. It does not function as a common noun, but as a name, its semantic nuance is often suggested by Hebrew speakers to imply 'with wickedness' or 'in wickedness.' Semantic range is therefore limited to its function as a name, though it carries overtone of moral character when interpreted by later readers.
Semantic Range
Birshaʻ (proper name); with/in wickedness (suggested etymological sense); king of Gomorrah
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root רשע (r-sh-‘), meaning 'to be wicked, to act criminally,' prefixed with בִּ (bi-), commonly translated as 'in' or 'with'; thus potentially 'in wickedness' or 'with wickedness.' The structure is typical of names formed with prefixed prepositions, though this specific form appears only as a personal name. Root meaning and lexical meaning diverge, as this is a proper name rather than a common noun or adjective. Etymology uncertain as to whether this construction is genuinely reflective of contemporary naming conventions or editorially constructed for narrative purposes.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Birshaʻ appears solely in Genesis 14:2,9 as the king of Gomorrah, one of five Canaanite rulers mentioned in the account of Abraham's era. The meaning 'in wickedness' or 'with wickedness' aligns with the biblical evaluation of Gomorrah, and may reflect a narrative or literary intention to link the meaning of the king's name with the moral reputation of the city. There is scholarly debate over whether this was an actual historical personal name or a name coined by biblical writers to communicate a moral point. In later rabbinic literature and English translations, the suggestive meaning is sometimes foregrounded or even substituted for a descriptive label. Contrasts with other kingly names in Genesis 14, some of which are similarly transparent or polemically constructed (e.g., Bera, Shinab). Standard English translations typically retain the Hebrew form as a proper name, but footnotes sometimes explain the apparent wordplay. The use of personal names with apparent moral or theological significance is not uncommon in biblical narrative.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from רֶשַׁע with a prepositional prefix; with wickedness; Birsha, a king of Gomorrah; Birsha.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רשע (r-sh-ʿ) — to be wicked, to act unjustly, to do wrong
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3573 | כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַיִם | Kushan of double-wickedness |
| H4849 | מִרְשַׁעַת | the wicked woman |
| H7561 | רָשַׁע | I will act wickedly |
| H7562 | רֶשַׁע | from unjustness |
| H7563 | רָשָׁע | the guilty man |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1306-01 |
בִּרְשַׁ֖ע | biresha | HNp |
Birsha | In-Wickedness | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1306-01 |
Genesis 14:2 | בִּרְשַׁ֖ע | biresha | HNp |
Birsha | In-Wickedness |