The Hebrew word Bᵉʼêrâʼ, represented by H878, is defined as a well. It is used in the Bible as the name of an Israelite, Beera. This term is highly specific, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entirety of the scriptures.
The single appearance of H878 occurs within a genealogical record in the book of Chronicles. In this context, Beera is listed as an individual Israelite alongside several others. The verse serves to establish a lineage, listing "Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera" 1 Chronicles 7:37. The sole purpose of this usage is to name a person within a family line.
The individuals listed alongside Beera in 1 Chronicles 7:37 provide the immediate context for this name:
- H1221 Betser: Defined as an inaccessible spot, it is used for a place in Palestine and as the name of an Israelite, Bezer.
- H1936 Hôwd: This name, Hod, is used to identify an Israelite.
- H8037 Shammâʼ: Meaning desolation, it is the name of an Israelite, Shamma.
- H8030 Shilshâh: From a root meaning triplication, this is the name of an Israelite, Shilshah.
- H3506 Yithrân: Meaning excellent, Ithran is the name of both an Edomite and an Israelite.
Given its singular use as a proper name, the direct theological significance of H878 is limited. Its importance is primarily historical and genealogical.
- Genealogical Record: The primary function of Beera is to contribute to the detailed ancestral lists recorded in Chronicles, preserving the lineage of Israel.
- Name's Meaning: While the name itself means "a well," the biblical text does not draw any further connection or theological parallel from this definition in its sole appearance. Its significance remains tied to the identity of the person named.
In summary, H878 is the proper name Beera, derived from the Hebrew word for "a well." Its solitary mention in the Bible is in a genealogical list in 1 Chronicles 7:37. The name serves a specific, historical purpose: to identify one individual within the recorded lineage of the Israelites, rather than to convey a broader theological concept.
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