### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **bᵉsôwrâh**, represented by `{{H1309}}`, signifies **glad tidings**. It appears 6 times in 6 unique verses. Feminine from the verb meaning to announce good news, this term also carries the specific implication of a **reward for good news** or **reward for tidings**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H1309}}` is used to describe significant news, often delivered to a king or person of authority. When a watchman identifies a messenger as a "good man," the king anticipates he "cometh with good **tidings**" [[2 Samuel 18:27]]. The word can also refer to the news itself, as when a lone runner is spotted, and the king declares "there is **tidings** in his mouth" [[2 Samuel 18:25]]. The urgency of sharing such news is highlighted in [[2 Kings 7:9]], where men who discover a blessing declare, "this day is a day of good **tidings**," and resolve to immediately tell the king's household. The concept of payment for news is explicit in David's account of a man who expected a reward for reporting Saul's death, a **reward for his tidings** [[2 Samuel 4:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of bringing news:
* `{{H1319}}` **bâsar**: This is the primitive root verb, meaning to announce glad news or **tidings**. It is used in prophetic contexts to describe preaching good tidings of peace and salvation [[Isaiah 52:7]] and showing forth the salvation of the LORD [[Psalms 96:2]].
* `{{H2896}}` **ṭôwb**: As an adjective, this word means **good** in the widest sense. It is directly associated with `{{H1309}}` in the phrase "good **tidings**" [[2 Samuel 18:27]] and is used to describe what the LORD requires of humanity [[Micah 6:8]].
* `{{H5046}}` **nâgad**: This verb means to announce, declare, report, or **tell**. It is the action taken by those possessing good tidings who decide to go and **tell** the king's household [[2 Kings 7:9]].
* `{{H559}}` **ʼâmar**: A common verb meaning to **say** or speak. It is the fundamental action of verbal communication used to deliver the tidings, as when the king **said** that a runner must have tidings [[2 Samuel 18:25]].
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{H1309}}` establishes several important concepts related to the transmission of information.
* **The Rewarded Messenger:** The word's definition and usage establish a direct link between the message and a potential reward for the one who carries it. In [[2 Samuel 4:10]], a man brings news expecting a reward, demonstrating that being a bearer of tidings was not merely a report but a transactional event.
* **Urgency of Good News:** The account in [[2 Kings 7:9]] illustrates a moral compulsion to share transformative news. The speakers conclude, "We do not well: this day is a day of good **tidings**, and we hold our peace," suggesting that withholding such information is a transgression.
* **The Message-Bearer's State:** The context often implies that the news must be complete or ready. Joab asks Ahimaaz why he would run, "seeing that thou hast no **tidings** ready?" [[2 Samuel 18:22]], indicating that the message must be fit for delivery.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1309}}` is a focused term that encapsulates more than just information. It denotes significant, positive news that has tangible consequences for both the recipient and the messenger. It consistently appears in contexts of high stakes—royal courts and military outcomes—and carries the weight of urgency and expected reward. This concrete noun provides a foundation for the broader theological action of its related verb, **bâsar** `{{H1319}}`, which is to preach or announce the ultimate good news of God's salvation.
TRV