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בְּאֵרִי

𐤁𐤀𐤓𐤉

Beeri

H882 noun

SILEX Entry

Root באר to dig, to search out, to well up, to be a well

Definition

Proper name designating two distinct individuals in the Hebrew Bible: (1) a Hittite man, father of Judith, one of Esau’s wives (Genesis 26:34), and (2) an Israelite man, father of the prophet Hosea (Hosea 1:1). The name likely means 'well-person' or 'person from the well,' reflecting either association with a spring or symbolic imagery of a well as a source.

Semantic Range

proper name of two biblical figures (one Hittite, one Israelite); one associated by genealogy with the Edomite line, and one with Israelite prophetic tradition

Root / Etymology

From the root באר meaning 'to dig a well' or 'well, spring.' The suffix ִי can indicate relation or origin (i.e., 'of the well', 'well-dweller'). Thus, בְּאֵרִי derives from באר, signifying someone associated with a well, or 'belonging to the well.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the patriarchal period, Beeri as a personal name reflects Canaanite and Northwest Semitic naming practices, often invoking natural features such as wells, significant for pastoral and semi-nomadic cultures. The occurrence of Beeri as a Hittite name suggests integration or interaction between groups residing in southern Canaan. As the father of Hosea, the name marks his Israelite heritage, but the individual Beeri is otherwise not elaborated upon. English translations simply transliterate the name as 'Beeri,' but the underlying association with wells or springs is largely lost. The term does not directly indicate religious or national identity, and does not carry theological connotations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בְּאֵר; fountained; Beeri, the name of a Hittite and of an Israelite; Beeri.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

באר (b-ʾ-r) — to dig, to search out, to well up, well, spring

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H874 בָּאַר clearly explain
H875 בְּאֵר dug well
H876 בְּאֵר toward Well-place
H877 בֹּאר excavated cisterns
H878 בְּאֵרָא Beera

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H882-01 בְּאֵרִ֖י beeri HNp Beeri Well-Dweller 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H882-01 Genesis 26:34 בְּאֵרִ֖י beeri HNp Beeri Well-Dweller
H882-01 Hosea 1:1 בְּאֵרִ֔י beeri HNp Beeri Well-Dweller
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