בְּאֵר לַחַי רֹאִי
𐤁𐤀𐤓 𐤋𐤇𐤉 𐤓𐤀𐤉
Beer Lachay Roi
H883 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun referring to a specific desert well or oasis, most precisely 'the well of the Living One who sees me.' The phrase functions as a place name in the biblical narrative, signifying a site where a deity is perceived as living and seeing, specifically in the context of divine communication or revelation. Semantic range includes: a named physical location (oasis/well), a theological commemoration of a revelatory experience involving divine perception and life-giving presence.
Semantic Range
well (water source), place of divine encounter, memorial commemorating divine revelation, oasis in the wilderness, geographical site associated with Hagar and Abrahamic narratives
Root / Etymology
Constructed from three elements: the noun בְּאֵר (beer, 'well'), the noun/adjective חַי (chai, 'living, alive'), and the participle רֹאִי (ro'i, 'my seeing' or 'one who sees me'), with the prefixed לַ ('to/of'). The phrase is often parsed as 'the well of the Living One who sees me,' directly referencing the narrative in Genesis 16. The root meanings are: באר (to dig a well), חי (to be alive), ראה (to see).
Historical & Contextual Notes
Beer-lahai-roi appears in Genesis 16:14 and Genesis 24:62; 25:11, originating with Hagar's encounter with a divine being in the wilderness. The naming reflects Hagar's experience that she was both seen and sustained by a living deity. The term is unique to this narrative and not generically used for other wells or locations. Over time, it maintains its status as a geographical and memorial name in the Negev, primarily associated with the patriarchal period. Later traditions and translations may render the phrase with different theological emphases or, in English, as a simple place name; the original reference highlights both physical and experiential realities for ancient Israelites. The structure of the phrase is grammatically ancient and unusual in Hebrew, adding to its distinctiveness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בְּאֵר and חַי (with prefix) and רֹאֶה; well of a living (One) my Seer; Beer-Lachai-Roi, a place in the Desert; Beer-lahai-roi.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
באר, חי, ראה (b-ʾ-r; ḥ-y; r-ʾ-h) — to dig a well, to be alive, to see, to perceive
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H883-01 |
בְּאֵ֥ר | beer | HNp |
well | Well of the Living One Who Sees Me | 3 |
H883-03 |
רֹאִ֑י | roi | HNp |
Roi | my Seer | 3 |
H883-02 |
לַחַ֖י | lachay | HNp |
Lahai | Well of the Living One who sees me | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H883-01 |
Genesis 16:14 | בְּאֵ֥ר | beer | HNp |
well | Well of the Living One Who Sees Me |
H883-02 |
Genesis 16:14 | לַחַ֖י | lachay | HNp |
Lahai | Well of the Living One who sees me |
H883-03 |
Genesis 16:14 | רֹאִ֑י | roi | HNp |
Roi | my Seer |
H883-01 |
Genesis 24:62 | בְּאֵ֥ר | beer | HNp |
the well | Well of the Living One Who Sees Me |
H883-02 |
Genesis 24:62 | לַחַ֖י | lachay | HNp |
of the living one | Well of the Living One who sees me |
H883-03 |
Genesis 24:62 | רֹאִ֑י | roi | HNp |
who sees me | my Seer |
H883-01 |
Genesis 25:11 | בְּאֵ֥ר | beer | HNp |
Beer | Well of the Living One Who Sees Me |
H883-02 |
Genesis 25:11 | לַחַ֖י | lachay | HNp |
Lahai | Well of the Living One who sees me |
H883-03 |
Genesis 25:11 | רֹאִֽי | roi | HNp |
Roi | my Seer |