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Bible Encyclopedias
Well
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (prop. בְּאֵר, beer, φρέαρ, a dug source of living, though not running, water; but "well" is an occasional rendering in the A. V. likewise of בּוֹר, b6r, 2 Samuel 3:26; 2 Samuel 23:15-16; 1 Chronicles 11:17-18; 2 Chronicles 26:10, a "pit," i.e. cistern; also of מִעְיָן, mayan, Joshua 18:15; 2 Kings 3:19; 2 Kings 3:25; Psalms 84:6, a "fountain;" of מָקוֹר, makior, Proverbs 10:11, a "fountain;" and even of 2, עִיַן, Genesis 24:13; Genesis 24:16; Genesis 24:29-30; Genesis 24:42-43; Genesis 24:45; Genesis 49:22, a living spring; and so of πηγή , John 4:6; John 4:14), . The difference between a well (beer) and a cistern (bô r ) consists chiefly in the use of the former word to denote a receptacle for water springing up freshly from the ground, while the latter usually denotes a reservoir for rain-water (Genesis 26:19; Genesis 26:32; Proverbs 5:15; John 4:14). (See CISTERN).
Both these Heb. words come from a root (בּוּר or בָּאִר ) significant of digging, and are thus distinguished from a natural fountain. The formier (beer) is still represented by the Arabic bir, used in the same sense; but the latter (bô r) has in modern times given place to birket (=בְּרֵכָה, ), which signifies an open pool of surface water. (See TOPOGRAPHICAL TERMS).
The first well mentioned in Scripture is in "the wilderness," in the way to Shur, where Hagar sat down when fleeing from Sarai, which was afterwards called Beer-lahai-roi, "the well of him that liveth and seeth me" (Genesis 16:14), between Kadesh and Bered. It is called both a "fountain" and a ‘"ell." The second well mentioned is also in connection with Hagar's history (Genesis 21:19) in the wilderness of Beersheba. After this a good many wells are mentioned the wells of Beersheba, which remain to this day (Genesis 26:25); the Mesopotamian well (Genesis 24:11), at the city of Nahor; the wells in Gerar (Genesis 26:15; Genesis 26:18); the well Esek (Genesis 26:20); the, well Sitnah (Genesis 26:21); the well Rehoboth (Genesis 26:22); the well in Haran (29:2); the wells of Elim (Exodus 15:27); the well dug by the princes (Numbers 21:61); the well of Nephtoah (Joshua 18:15); the great well in Sechu (1 Samuel 19:22); the well of Bethlehem by the gate (2 Samuel 23:16); the well of a rod (Judges 7:1); Jacob's well, on the low slope of Gerizim (John 4:6).(See FOUNTAIN).
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