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Bible Lexicons
Old Testament Hebrew Lexical Dictionary Hebrew Lexicon
Strong's #977 - בָּחַר
- Brown-Driver-Briggs
- Strong
- to choose, elect, decide for
- (Qal) to choose
- (Niphal) to be chosen
- (Pual) to be chosen, selected
- Book
- Word
did not use
this Strong's Number
2012) rhb (בההר BHhR) AC: Choose CO: ? AB: Youth: An examination to determine the choicest. [from: hb- choosing a choice one]
V) rhb (בההר BHhR) - Choose: KJV (172): (vf: Paal, Niphal, Pual) choose, chosen, choice, acceptable, appoint, excellent - Strongs: H977 (בָּחַר) bm) rihb (בההיר BHhYR) - Chosen: KJV (13): chosen, choice one, chosen one, elect - Strongs: H972 (בָּחִיר)
dm) rfhb (בההור BHhWR) - Youth: A young person as one chosen for an activity. KJV (45): young, chosen - Strongs: H970 (בָּחֻר)
df3) tfrfhb (בההורות BHhWRWT) - Youth: A young age. KJV (3): youth - Strongs: H979 (בְּחֻרוֹת)
hm) rhbm (מבההר MBhhR) - Chosen: KJV (12): choose, chosen, choice, acceptable, appoint, excellent - Strongs: H4005 (מִבְחָר)
hcm) rfhbm (מבההור MBHhWR) - Choice: The best of a group. KJV (2): choice - Strongs: H4004 (מִבְחוֹר)
Jeff Benner, Ancient Hebrew Research Center Used by permission of the author.
Qal Perfect בָּחַר Deuteronomy 7:6 66t.; יִבְחַר Isaiah 41:24 60t.; אֶבֲחַר Job 29:25 (Baer); Imperative בְּחַר Exodus 17:9 5t.; Infinitive absolute בָּחוֺר 1 Samuel 2:28; Isaiah 7:15,16; Infinitive construct suffix בָּחֳרִי Ezekiel 20:5; Participle בֹּחֵר 1 Samuel 20:30; Zechariah 3:2; passive בָּחוּר Exodus 14:7 18t.; —
1 with בְּ
a. divine choice, of Abraham Nehemiah 9:7; Israel Deuteronomy 7:7; Isaiah 44:1; Ezekiel 20:5; to become his people Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Jeshurun Isaiah 44:2; the seed of the patriarchs Deuteronomy 4:37; Deuteronomy 10:15; Levites Deuteronomy 18:5; Deuteronomy 21:5; 1 Chronicles 15:2; 2 Chronicles 29:11; Aaron Psalm 105:26; Judah 1 Chronicles 28:4 not Ephraim Psalm 78:67; Levi and Judah Jeremiah 33:24; the king Deuteronomy 17:15, especially David 1 Samuel 10:24; 1 Samuel 16:8,9,10; 2 Samuel 6:21; 1 Kings 8:16 (= 2 Chronicles 6:6) 1 Chronicles 28:4,5; 1 Chronicles 29:1; 2 Chronicles 6:5; Psalm 78:70; others Numbers 16:5; Numbers 17:20 (P) Haggai 2:23; place of sacrifice Deuteronomy 12:18; Deuteronomy 14:25; Deuteronomy 16:7,15; Deuteronomy 17:8; 2 Chronicles 7:12; the city 1 Kings 8:16,44 (= 2 Chronicles 6:5,34) 1 Kings 11:32; Jerusalem 2 Chronicles 6:6; Isaiah 14:1; Zechariah 1:17; Zechariah 2:16; Zechariah 3:2; Zion Psalm 132:13; delusions Isaiah 66:4.
b. man's choice, of ways Proverbs 3:31; Isaiah 66:3; good things Isaiah 7:15,16; life Deuteronomy 30:19; gods Judges 10:14; Isaiah 41:24; God's pleasure Isaiah 56:4; Isaiah 65:12; Isaiah 66:4.
2 with אֲשֶׁר (alone, for ׳אשׁר בחר ב):
a. divine choice, Israel Isaiah 41:8 יַעֲקֹב אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתִּיךָ, Isaiah 43:10; the people 1 Kings 3:8; Psalm 33:12; men Numbers 16:7 (P) Psalm 65:5; king 2 Samuel 16:18; 1 Kings 11:34; place of sacrifice Deuteronomy 12:14,26; Deuteronomy 15:20; Deuteronomy 17:10; Deuteronomy 31:11 (D) Joshua 9:27 (P), especially לָשׂוּם שְׁמוֺ שָׁם Deuteronomy 12:5,21; Deuteronomy 14:24, לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֺ שָׁם Deuteronomy 12:11; Deuteronomy 14:23; Deuteronomy 16:2,6,11; Nehemiah 1:9; the city 1 Kings 8:48 (= 2 Chronicles 6:38), לשׂום שׁמי שׁם 1 Kings 11:36; 1 Kings 14:21 (= 2 Chronicles 12:13); Jerusalem 1 Kings 11:13; 2 Kings 21:7 (= 2 Chronicles 33:7) 2 Kings 23:27; fast Isaiah 58:5,6; way Psalm 25:12.
b. man's choice, place to dwell in Deuteronomy 23:7; gardens Isaiah 1:29; king 1 Samuel 12:13; wives Genesis 6:2 (J); what to do 2 Samuel 15:15.
3 with accusative & לְ, choose some one or something for:
a. divine choice, of Levi 1 Samuel 2:28; Jacob Psalm 135:4; Psalm 135:5; inheritance Psalm 47:5.
b. human choice persons Exodus 17:9; Joshua 24:15,22 (E) 1 Samuel 8:18; 1 Samuel 13:12; 2 Samuel 24:12 (= 1 Chronicles 21:20); things Genesis 13:11 (J) 1 Samuel 17:40; 1 Kings 18:23,25; Job 34:4.
4 with accusative and מִן, choose, select from 2 Samuel 10:9 (= 1 Chronicles 19:10).
5 accusative
a. divine choice, temple 2 Chronicles 7:16; Judah Psalm 78:68; servant Isaiah 41:9; Isaiah 49:7.
b. man's choice, persons Exodus 18:28 (E) Judges 5:8; Joshua 8:3 (J) 2 Samuel 17:1; things Job 7:15; Job 9:14; Job 15:5; Job 29:25; Job 34:33; Psalm 119:30; Psalm 119:173; Proverbs 1:29; Isaiah 40:20.
6 with עַל, כי על זה בחרת מעני for this thou hast chosen rather than affliction Job 36:21; with accusative and על pregnantly כל אשׁר תבחר עלי all that thou choosest (to lay) upon me 2 Samuel 19:39.
7 with לְ of accusative 1 Samuel 20:30 (many MSS. have בְּ; but ᵐ5 We Dr read חָבֵר companion). The participle בָּחוּר chosen, of a ruler Psalm 89:20, warrior Jeremiah 49:19 (= Jeremiah 50:44); as cedars Song of Solomon 5:15; collective רכב בחור chosen chariots Exodus 14:7 (E); אישׁ בחור chosen men, warriors Judges 20:15,16,34; 1 Samuel 24:3; 2 Chronicles 13:3,17, for which בָּחוּר alone 1 Kings 12:21 2 Chronicles 11:1; 25:5; בחורי ישׂראל 1 Samuel 26:2; Psalm 78:31; 2 Samuel 10:9 בחורי בישׂראל ("" 1 Chronicles 19:10 בחור בישׂראל, doubtless the true reading, as 2 Samuel 6:1).
8 test, try (Aramaic = בחן) בְּחַרְתִּיךָ בְּכוּר עֹ֑נִי Isaiah 48:10 I have tested thee in the furnace of affliction ᵑ6ᵑ7 Ges Hi Ew De Che Dr, but chosen ᵑ9 Rab Calv AV. Niph`al נִבְחַר Jeremiah 8:3; Participle נִבְחָר Proverbs 8:10 5t.; — to be chosen.
a. absolute chosen, choice Proverbs 8:10,19; Proverbs 10:20.
b. construct מִן, וְנִבְחַרמות מחיים death will be chosen rather than life Jeremiah 8:3; choicer than Proverbs 16:16; Proverbs 22:1; נבחר ליהוה מזבח choicer (more acceptable) to Yahweh than peace-offering Proverbs 21:3.
Pu`alיְבֻחַר chosen, selected Ecclesiastes 9:4 (יְחֻבַּר Qr).
בָּחַר fut. יִבְחַר
(1) to prove, i.q. to try, to examine, like the Syr. ܒܚܰܪ i.q. Heb. בָּחַן. (I place this signification first, although it is the less frequent, and particularly belongs to the later Hebrew[?]; because trial, proof, precedes choice. The primary idea is either that of rubbing on a touchstone, so that it is the same as בָּחַן, or in dividing in pieces and examining; comp. ܒܘܰܪ, בָּקַר No.1. To this answer Greek πειράω, Lat. perior, whence experior, comperior, periculum, peritus). Isaiah 48:10, בְּחַרְתִּיךָ בְּכוּר עֹנִי “I have proved thee in the furnace of affliction,” Job 34:4; 2 Chronicles 34:6 where the כתיב should be read בָּחַר בָּתֵּיהֶם “he proved (searched) their houses,” (of the idolators).
(2) to approve, i.q. to choose, to select. It answers to the Arab. منحر VIII. to select the best, to have the best, to take the better part of a thing, مِنْحرَةُ, مُنْحرَةُ, something select, what is chosen. Job 9:14, 15:5 29:25. Often with a dat. לוֹ to choose for oneself, Genesis 13:11; Exodus 17:9; Joshua 24:15. The thing chosen is put in the accus. (see the instances cited), and more often also with בּ prefixed; (comp. בְּ B, 4). Deuteronomy 7:6, 14:2 18:5 Numbers 16:5, 17:20 1 Samuel 10:24, 16:8, 1 Samuel 16:9, etc.; once עַל (which denotes desire of any thing, and see עַל No. 4 ), Job 36:21 also מִן (in the sense of preference) Psalms 84:11. Participle בָּחוּר pl. constr. בְּחוּרֵי 1 Samuel 26:2
(a) beloved, chosen, Exodus 14:7 (b) excellent, surpassing, Song of Solomon 5:15.
(3) to love any one, to delight in any thing (both of which are significations taken from that of choosing), to desire, construed with an acc. Genesis 6:2; Isaiah 1:29. 2 Samuel 15:15, בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַר אֲדֹנִי “according to all that my lord shall desire;” Proverbs 1:29, 3:31 followed by בְּ Isaiah 14:1, וּבָחַר עוֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל “and he will again love Israel;” Zechariah 1:17, 3:2 and לְ 1 Samuel 20:30 (where however, many copies have בְ). Once pregn. עַל of pers. is added, 2 Samuel 19:39, כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־ תִּבְחַר עָלַי אֱעֶשֶׂה־לָּךְ “whatever thou desirest (and layest) on me (to do) I will do it for thee.”
Niphal
(1) to be chosen, preferable, excellent; followed by מִן preferable to any thing, Jeremiah 8:3 part. נִבְחָר choice, כֶּסֶף נִבְחָר Proverbs 10:20, 8:10, 19 followed by מִן more choice than, Proverbs 16:16, 22:1.
(2) followed by לְ to be chosen by any one, to please any one, Proverbs 21:3.
Pual, to be chosen, only Ecclesiastes 9:4 כתיב.
Derived nouns are בָּחִיר, בַּחוּר, בְּחֻרִים, בְּחוּרוֹת, מִבְחָר, מִבְחוֹר, pr.n. יִבְחָר and