### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **biryâh**, represented by `{{H1279}}`, is a feminine noun meaning **food** or **meat**. It is derived from the root word `{{H1262}}` `bârâh`. This specific term is rare, appearing only **3 times** across **3 unique verses**, all within a single biblical narrative.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The use of `{{H1279}}` is confined entirely to the story of Amnon and Tamar in 2 Samuel 13. In this context, it refers to a specially prepared meal that serves as a key element in a deceptive plot. Jonadab advises Amnon to feign illness and ask his father to send Tamar to "dress the **meat**" in his sight [[2 Samuel 13:5]]. Following this, King David commands Tamar to go to her brother's house and "dress him **meat**" [[2 Samuel 13:7]]. Finally, Amnon instructs Tamar to "Bring the **meat** into the chamber" [[2 Samuel 13:10]], completing his ruse to isolate her.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of **biryâh**:
* `{{H1262}}` **bârâh**: This is the primitive root from which **biryâh** is derived. It means **to feed** or **to select**. It appears in Amnon's request for Tamar to "give me **meat**" [[2 Samuel 13:5]] and is used grimly to describe children becoming **meat** for their mothers during the destruction of Jerusalem [[Lamentations 4:10]].
* `{{H3899}}` **lechem**: This word means **food**, especially **bread**, and is a more general term for sustenance. It is often used in the context of provision, such as God providing bread [[Deuteronomy 8:3]] or a person giving of his **bread** to the poor [[Proverbs 22:9]].
* `{{H6213}}` **ʻâsâh**: Meaning **to do or make**, this verb is directly paired with `{{H1279}}` to describe the action of preparing the food. David commands Tamar to "**dress**" the meat [[2 Samuel 13:7]], and the narrative notes that she "had **made**" the cakes [[2 Samuel 13:10]].
### Theological Significance
The thematic significance of `{{H1279}}` is tied directly to its narrative function within a single, tragic event.
* **Instrument of Deception:** The **meat** is not merely food but the central object in Amnon's manipulative scheme to assault his sister [[2 Samuel 13:5]].
* **Perversion of Care:** The act of preparing a meal, typically a sign of hospitality or familial duty, is twisted. Tamar's fulfillment of the request to make **meat** for her supposedly sick brother leads directly to her violation.
* **Specific and Personal:** Unlike the general term `lechem`, **biryâh** in this story refers to a particular, specially prepared meal. The repeated emphasis on making it "in my sight" underscores the personal and predatory nature of Amnon's request [[2 Samuel 13:5]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1279}}` `biryâh` is a highly specific term for **food** or **meat**. Its usage is exclusively limited to the account of Amnon and Tamar, where it is not just a meal but the instrument of a terrible deception. The word's significance is derived entirely from this dark context, illustrating how a simple object like a prepared meal can be central to a story of manipulation and tragedy.
TRV