### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bᵉrîyach**, represented by `{{H1280}}`, is primarily defined as a **bolt** or **bar**. It appears 41 times across 37 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from a root meaning to flee, the word can also carry the meaning of a **fugitive**, linking the ideas of securing and escaping.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H1280}}` is used in two principal literal contexts. Firstly, it denotes the bars used to secure the gates of fortified cities, representing a key element of defense and security ([[1 Samuel 23:7]], [[1 Kings 4:13]]). Secondly, it refers to the structural bars, made of shittim wood, that held together the boards of the Tabernacle, ensuring its stability ([[Exodus 26:26]], [[Numbers 3:36]]). The word is also used metaphorically, as in the case of an offended brother whose contentions are compared to "the **bars** of a castle" [[Proverbs 18:19]], or in Jonah's poetic description of being trapped by the earth's **bars** [[Jonah 2:6]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the function and context of a **bar**:
* `{{H8179}}` **shaʻar** (gate): A bar is the mechanism for securing a gate. The two are frequently mentioned together as essential parts of a city's defenses [[Psalms 147:13]].
* `{{H1817}}` **deleth** (door): As a swinging valve or door, this term is often paired with the bar that locks it, whether for a city gate or a divine boundary [[Job 38:10]].
* `{{H2346}}` **chôwmâh** (wall): A wall of protection is the outermost layer of a city's security, with gates and bars serving as the access points that must be fortified [[Deuteronomy 3:5]].
* `{{H7175}}` **qeresh** (board): In the construction of the Tabernacle, these planks or slabs were held in place by the bars, illustrating the word's structural importance [[Exodus 36:31-33]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1280}}` centers on themes of security, judgment, and confinement.
* **Divine Sovereignty over Security:** God is portrayed as the one who ultimately controls security. He strengthens the **bars** to protect his people [[Psalms 147:13]] and also breaks the **bars** of iron to deliver them ([[Isaiah 45:2]], [[Psalms 107:16]]).
* **Symbol of Judgment:** The destruction of a city's bars is a sign of divine judgment and its resulting vulnerability. Nations like Babylon and Nineveh are depicted with broken or devoured **bars** when they fall ([[Jeremiah 51:30]], [[Nahum 3:13]]). A nation without **bars** is considered exposed ([[Jeremiah 49:31]], [[Ezekiel 38:11]]).
* **Metaphor for Entrapment:** The word extends beyond physical objects to represent powerful, confining forces. Jonah feels trapped by the earth's **bars** in the depths of the sea [[Jonah 2:6]], and human conflict can create barriers as strong as castle **bars** [[Proverbs 18:19]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1280}}` functions as both a literal and a metaphorical term for what secures or confines. From the physical **bars** that fortified cities and held the Tabernacle together, to the figurative **bars** of interpersonal strife and divine judgment, the word encapsulates the concepts of protection, vulnerability, and entrapment. Its dual meaning, including **fugitive** [[Isaiah 15:5]], underscores the tension between being locked in and the desire to break free.
TRV