a primitive root; to select; also (as denominative from בָּר) to feed; also (as equivalent to בָּרַר) to render clear (Ecclesiastes 3:18); to select; to feed; to render clear; choose, (cause to) eat, manifest, (give) meat.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bârâh**, represented by `{{H1262}}`, is a primitive root primarily meaning **to select** or **to feed**. It appears 8 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible. The word's usage centers on two distinct actions: the deliberate choosing of a person, and the act of providing food or causing someone to eat, often in a personal or intimate context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H1262}}` is used to describe moments of critical choice and personal care. Its meaning of "to select" is vividly illustrated when Goliath challenges the armies of Israel, "choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me" [[1 Samuel 17:8]]. The more common usage relates to providing food. It appears several times in the tragic story of Amnon and Tamar, where Amnon feigns illness and asks for Tamar to come and "give me meat" [[2 Samuel 13:5]] so that he may "eat at her hand" [[2 Samuel 13:6]]. It is also used when David, in mourning, refuses to "eat bread" [[2 Samuel 12:17]] or when the people attempt "to cause David to eat meat" [[2 Samuel 3:35]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which `{{H1262}}` is used:
* `{{H1279}}` **biryâh** (food; meat): This feminine noun is derived from **bârâh** and refers to the food being prepared and served. It is used when Amnon requests that Tamar "dress the meat" [[2 Samuel 13:5]] for him.
* `{{H3027}}` **yâd** (a hand): The hand is often the instrument by which the action of `{{H1262}}` is accomplished. Amnon’s specific request is to "eat at her hand" ([[2 Samuel 13:6]], 10), indicating a desire for personal, direct feeding.
* `{{H3899}}` **lechem** (food, especially bread): This word for sustenance is often the object of the verb **bârâh**. It is the "bread" David refuses to eat while grieving [[2 Samuel 12:17]], and the "meat" the people wanted to cause him to eat [[2 Samuel 3:35]].
* `{{H398}}` **ʼâkal** (to eat): This is the action that follows the provision of food. Jonadab's instructions to Amnon are for Tamar to give `{{H1262}}` meat so that he may see it and "eat" `{{H398}}` it [[2 Samuel 13:5]].
* `{{H6213}}` **ʻâsâh** (to do or make): This verb describes the preparation of the food that will be offered. Tamar is instructed to "dress" or "make" `{{H6213}}` the food before bringing it to be eaten [[2 Samuel 13:5]].
### Theological Significance
The conceptual significance of `{{H1262}}` is seen in the varied contexts of its use, highlighting how a simple action can carry great weight.
* **Critical Selection:** The use of **bârâh** for choosing a champion in battle underscores an act of deliberate and consequential decision-making. The fate of the armies hangs on the man who is chosen [[1 Samuel 17:8]].
* **Provision and Care:** In its sense of "to feed," the word often implies an act of care for another, such as feeding the sick or encouraging a mourner to eat ([[2 Samuel 13:5]], [[2 Samuel 12:17]]).
* **Intimacy and Deception:** The word is central to Amnon's plot, where the intimate act of being fed by hand is used as a pretense to create a situation of vulnerability and carry out a violent crime [[2 Samuel 13:6]].
* **Ultimate Desperation:** In its most harrowing context, **bârâh** is used in Lamentations to describe how, in the utter despair of a siege, children became "meat" for their mothers, signifying a complete societal and moral collapse [[Lamentations 4:10]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1262}}` **bârâh** is a focused term that encompasses both the act of "selecting" and the act of "feeding." While its appearances are few, they are significant, ranging from a strategic choice in warfare to the most personal interactions of care, deception, and desperation. The word demonstrates how fundamental actions like choosing and eating are imbued with deep social and moral significance within the biblical text.
TRV