בָּתַר
𐤁𐤕𐤓
bâthar
H1334 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
A verb meaning to cut, cleave, or divide, especially by severing into distinct pieces. It commonly refers to cutting an object or animal into sections, often as part of a ritual or agreement (such as the halving of animals in covenant ceremony). In rare cases, it can extend to general dividing, cutting in two, or separating by physical severance.
Semantic Range
to cut in two, to divide into sections or pieces, to sever parts, to cleave (especially ritually, as in dividing animals), to separate by cutting
Root / Etymology
From the root ב-ת-ר, which denotes the act of cutting or splitting apart. The verb בָּתַר derives directly from this root and primarily refers to physical division with an emphasis on separation into parts. There is no attested relationship with other roots meaning 'to divide' in Hebrew beyond the semantic field.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, בָּתַר is most notably found in covenantal contexts, such as Genesis 15:10, where Abram divides animals as part of a covenant ritual, a practice known elsewhere in the Ancient Near East. The act of dividing or halving sacrificial animals (distinct from slaughter) symbolized the solemnity and binding nature of agreements, especially covenants, by enacting a curse or invoking grave consequences upon breach. This term is largely restricted to narrative or ritual descriptions and is rare outside such contexts. בָּתַר should be differentiated from פָּרַס, 'to break apart' (usually for bread or more general portions), and חָצָה, 'to split/divide' (used for dividing water or groups). In post-biblical or Rabbinic Hebrew, the root develops into the noun בֶּתֶר ('piece, part') and maintains the sense of breaking down into sections, but the technical covenant-ratification usage diminishes after the biblical period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root,; to chop up; divide.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בתר (b-t-r) — to cut, to divide, to sever
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1335 | בֶּתֶר | his severed pieces |
| H1336 | בֶּתֶר | cleft crags |
| H1338 | בִּתְרוֹן | the Split-Gorge |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1334-02 |
וַ/יְבַתֵּ֤ר | vayevater | HC/Vpw3ms |
and divided | and he cut in pieces | 1 |
H1334-01 |
בָתָֽר | vatar | HVqp3ms |
divided | he cut in two | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1334-02 |
Genesis 15:10 | וַ/יְבַתֵּ֤ר | vayevater | HC/Vpw3ms |
and divided | and he cut in pieces |
H1334-01 |
Genesis 15:10 | בָתָֽר | vatar | HVqp3ms |
divided | he cut in two |