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.
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.
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.
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.
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