Word Study for H1069 (בָּכַר)

bâkar /baw-kar'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningproperly, to burst the womb, i.e. (causatively) bear or make early fruit (of woman or tree); also (as denominative from בִּכּוּר); to give the birthright

KJV usagemake firstborn, be firstling, bring forth first child (new fruit).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of bâkar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word bâkar, represented by H1069, is a primitive root with the core meaning of bringing something forth first. It appears 4 times in 4 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning encompasses the act of bearing a first child, producing early fruit, and legally designating the firstborn to grant a birthright.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical text, H1069 is used in several distinct contexts. It defines a legal status in the laws of inheritance, where a father is prohibited from making a younger son firstborn over the true firstborn Deuteronomy 21:16. In a sacrificial context, it refers to an animal that is the Lord's firstling by birth Leviticus 27:26. The verb is also used metaphorically to describe the intense anguish of Zion, which is compared to a woman who bringeth forth her first child Jeremiah 4:31. Finally, it illustrates supernatural abundance in a prophetic vision where trees by a holy river bring forth new fruit every month Ezekiel 47:12.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concepts of birth, primacy, and fruitfulness:

H1060 bᵉkôwr (firstborn): This is the noun form derived from H1069, signifying the person or animal that is the firstborn. The firstborn holds a special status, belonging to God Exodus 13:2 and receiving special honor Jeremiah 31:9.
H2470 châlâh (woman in travail): This root describes being sick, afflicted, or in the pains of childbirth. It is used alongside H1069 in Jeremiah 4:31 to emphasize the deep sorrow and anguish associated with the symbolic birth pangs of Zion.
H6529 pᵉrîy (fruit): This word for fruit is the direct object of the action in Ezekiel 47:12. The concept of fruit is used throughout scripture to refer to both literal produce and the figurative outcome or reward of one's actions Jeremiah 17:10.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1069 is seen in the principles it enacts.

The Law of the Firstborn: The verb is central to establishing the legal and religious status of the firstborn. The act of making a firstling consecrates it to the Lord Leviticus 27:26, and the designation of the firstborn son secures his rightful inheritance Deuteronomy 21:16.
Imagery of Divine Renewal: In Ezekiel's vision, the action of bringing forth new fruit is a direct result of life-giving water flowing from the sanctuary. This use of H1069 points to a theme of supernatural provision and restoration that comes from God's presence Ezekiel 47:12.
A Symbol of Extreme Distress: The physical act of bringing forth a first child is used as a powerful scriptural metaphor for a nation's ultimate crisis. It conveys a unique and overwhelming anguish, as illustrated by the daughter of Zion's suffering Jeremiah 4:31.

Summary

In summary, H1069 is a specific and potent verb that, while rare, is foundational to the concept of "firstness" in scripture. It moves beyond a simple biological function to define legal rights, consecrate offerings to God, and provide vivid imagery for both divine blessing and profound human suffering. It demonstrates how a single action word can carry significant legal, agricultural, and theological meaning.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מַבְכִּירָה
יְבַכֵּר
בַכֵּר
יְבֻכַּר

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 4 of the 39 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 35.

Leviticus

Deuteronomy

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.