English · KJV
H1260

בֶּרֶד

Bered /beh'red/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom בָּרַד
Meaninghail; Bered, the name of a place south of Palestine, also of an Israelite
KJV usageBered.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Bered — 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 Bered, represented by H1260, is derived from a root meaning hail. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses. The word is used in Scripture to identify both a specific place south of Palestine and an Israelite individual.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical occurrences, H1260 holds two distinct identities. Geographically, it is mentioned as a landmark near the well called Beerlahairoi, situated between Kadesh and Bered Genesis 16:14. Genealogically, Bered is named as an individual in the lineage of Ephraim, listed as the son of Shuthelah 1 Chronicles 7:20. These two uses establish its role as both a location and a person within the biblical record.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the context in which Bered appears:

  • H1121 bên (son): This word is essential for understanding the genealogical placement of Bered as a son of Shuthelah and a descendant of Ephraim 1 Chronicles 7:20. It defines the family relationships and generational continuity.
  • H669 ʼEphrayim (Ephraim): This name identifies the tribe from which the person Bered descends 1 Chronicles 7:20. Ephraim is a significant tribe, referred to elsewhere as God's "firstborn" Jeremiah 31:9.
  • H883 Bᵉʼêr la-Chay Rôʼîy (Beer-lahai-roi): This is the name of the well, "well of a living (One) my Seer," that the location Bered helps to situate Genesis 16:14. It is a place of divine encounter.
  • H6946 Qâdêsh (Kadesh): Meaning "sanctuary," this is the other geographical marker mentioned alongside Bered, defining the location of the well Genesis 16:14.

Theological Significance

While mentioned infrequently, the contexts for H1260 connect it to larger theological themes.

  • Geographical Witness: The location of Bered serves as a marker for Beerlahairoi, a well named to commemorate God's active presence and provision Genesis 16:14. Its inclusion in the text preserves the location of this significant event.
  • Covenant Lineage: The individual Bered is part of the recorded genealogy of Ephraim H669, a tribe that God calls "my dear son" Jeremiah 31:20. This places Bered within the story of God's covenant relationship with the people of Israel.

Summary

In summary, H1260 is a term with a dual application as both a geographical place and a personal name. As a location, it helps identify the site of Beerlahairoi, a place tied to God's watchfulness. As a person, Bered is noted in the lineage of Ephraim, connecting him to the history of God's chosen people. Though rare, its uses demonstrate how even minor details in Scripture contribute to the broader narratives of divine providence and covenant faithfulness.

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 noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • בָּרֶד
  • בֶרֶד

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H669 אֶפְרַיִם dual of masculine form of אֶפְרָת; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its t H883 בְּאֵר לַחַי רֹאִי from בְּאֵר and חַי (with prefix) and רֹאֶה; well of a living (One) my Seer; Beer-Lachai-Roi, a place in the Desert; Bee H6946 קָדֵשׁ the same as קָדֵשׁ; sanctuary; Kadesh, a place in the Desert; Kadesh. Compare קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ.

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis and 1 Chronicles (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Genesis
1
1 Chronicles

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.