בּוּר
𐤁𐤅𐤓
bûwr
H952 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To bore, to pierce or penetrate (with a tool or instrument); figuratively, to investigate or examine something thoroughly. The primary meaning refers to making a hole or perforation, often in material objects (wood, stone, etc.), and, by extension, describes the act of scrutinizing or investigating something deeply or carefully.
Semantic Range
to make a hole or perforation, to pierce, to penetrate; to examine thoroughly, to scrutinize, to investigate deeply; to declare (in the sense of making something known through thorough examination)
Root / Etymology
Root בּוּר (בור) derives from the verbal root ב-ו-ר, associated with the idea of boring or drilling. The core meaning at the root level is 'to bore' or 'to pierce', with figurative extension to 'examine' or 'investigate' due to the underlying concept of penetrating beneath the surface. The verbal formation reflects intensive action or causative processes of making a hole or searching deeply.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb בּוּר is rare in the Hebrew Bible. Its concrete sense ('to bore, pierce') reflects physical actions related to ancient technologies (boring into wood, stone). The figurative usage ('examine') is attested primarily in poetic or wisdom contexts, expressing the idea of searching out or investigating a matter in depth. Unlike the more common root חָקַר (ḥāqar, 'to search, investigate'), בּוּר conveys a more forceful or penetrating examination, implying not just observation but a deep or forceful inquiry. Later translation traditions sometimes render figurative uses as 'declare' or 'make known', reflecting an interpretive rather than lexical approach. The semantic field overlaps partially with other verbs meaning 'to search' (חָקַר) or 'to test' (נָסָה) but retains a nuance of penetration or making an opening. Its usage is limited and often restricted to specialized or metaphorical contexts. In Second Temple and post-biblical Hebrew, the root falls out of common usage, with semantic domains taken up by other, more frequently used verbs. English translations sometimes obscure the physical basis of the verb by favoring abstract senses in figurative contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to bore, i.e. (figuratively) examine; declare.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בור (b-w-r) — to bore, to pierce, to investigate deeply
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H952-01 |
וְ/לָ/ב֣וּר | velavur | HC/R/Vqc |
and to bore through | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H952-01 |
Ecclesiastes 9:1 | וְ/לָ/ב֣וּר | velavur | HC/R/Vqc |
and to bore through |