English · KJV
H1298

בֶּרַע

Beraʻ /beh'-rah/ Ask about this word
Rootof uncertain derivation
MeaningBera, a Sodomitish king
KJV usageBera.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Beraʻ — 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 name Beraʻ, represented by H1298, identifies a Sodomitish king. Of uncertain derivation, this name appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible, tying the figure exclusively to a single event.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, Beraʻ H1298 is introduced as the king H4428 of Sodom H5467. His sole appearance occurs in the context of a conflict where he and other local kings "made war" H4421. This alliance included Beraʻ alongside Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and the king of Bela Genesis 14:2.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the world in which Beraʻ lived and ruled:

  • H1306 Birshaʻ (with wickedness): This is the name of the king of Gomorrah H6017 who is listed as an ally of Beraʻ in the war described in Genesis 14:2.
  • H5467 Çᵉdôm (burnt district): The city-state ruled by Beraʻ, identified as Sodom. Scripture later references its overthrow by the LORD Genesis 19:24.
  • H4428 melek (a king): This title is applied to Beraʻ and the other rulers in his coalition, designating their status as monarchs Genesis 14:2.
  • H4421 milchâmâh (a battle): This term defines the central event where Beraʻ is mentioned, the war that he and his allies participated in Genesis 14:2.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1298 is indirect, derived entirely from the king's association with his city.

  • Representation of Wickedness: As the king of Sodom H5467, Beraʻ is the leader of a city later described by its pride and iniquity, becoming a symbol of sin Ezekiel 16:49.
  • Participant in Earthly Conflict: The mention of Beraʻ is confined to his role in a human war H4421 among kings of the plain, highlighting a moment of worldly power struggles Genesis 14:2.
  • Association with Divine Judgment: Although Beraʻ is not mentioned during Sodom's destruction, his rule over the city connects him to its fate. Sodom H5467 and Gomorrah H6017 are remembered as places that the LORD overthrew Amos 4:11.

Summary

In summary, H1298 is the proper name Beraʻ, a figure whose identity is entirely contained within a single verse. As the king H4428 of Sodom H5467, he is a minor character in a worldly war H4421 Genesis 14:2. His lasting significance is not personal but positional, as the leader of a city that scripture uses as a powerful emblem of wickedness and divine overthrow.

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 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

  • בֶּרַע

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.

H4428 מֶלֶךְ from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. H5467 סְדֹם from an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt (i.e. volcanic or bituminous) district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea; S H4421 מִלְחָמָה from לָחַם (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare); battle, fight(-ing H1306 בִּרְשַׁע probably from רֶשַׁע with a prepositional prefix; with wickedness; Birsha, a king of Gomorrah; Birsha. H6017 עֲמֹרָה from עָמַר; a (ruined) heap; Amorah, a place in Palestine; Gomorrah.

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

1 verse, all in Genesis — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.