Hebrew verb · H1254
בָּרָא
barabaw-raw'
to create; to fatten
55 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: bârâʼ
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H1254is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 14 of 39Old Testament books
- 53spellings
- 2meanings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · H1254
(absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes)
The King James renders it: choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat).
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
bara is rendered "to create; to fatten". It stands 55 times in the Hebrew text, across fourteen books.
- Twenty-one of the uses stand in Isaiah, more than in any other book.
- The lexicon lists two meanings for it, beginning with "to create".
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- The Greek text spells it fifty-three different ways.
The first use
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1בָּרָ֣א
The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.
Where the word stands
What the word means
The word carries two meanings: to create, and to fatten.
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
| Meaning | Tagged as | Where |
|---|---|---|
| to createStrong's entry A | Tagged aslisted under the table | WhereGenesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. |
| to fattenStrong's entry B | Tagged aslisted under the table | Wherein the ledger below |
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- about to create4
- created4
- he created4
- I created4
- and creates2
- and he created2
- are created you2
- make2
- they have been created2
- and created1
- and he will create1
- and they were created1
and 26 more, 55 uses in all
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
| Word | Written | Meaning | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| בָּרַח | barach | to flee | Uses63 |
| בָּרָד | barad | hail | Uses29 |
| בָּרָק | baraq | to use lightning | Uses21 |
| בָּרַר | barar | to purify | Uses18 |
| בָּר | bar | grain | Uses14 |
| בָּרִיא | bari | fat | Uses13 |
| בָּרָה | barah | to eat | Uses6 |
| בָּרֹד | barod | spotted | Uses4 |
| בָּרִיחַ | bariach | fleeing | Uses4 |
| בָּרֶקֶת | bareqeth | gem | Uses3 |
| בָּרַד | barad | to hail | Uses1 |
| בָּרַק | baraq | to flash | Uses1 |
and 1 more on the stem.
All 55, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
53 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- בָּרָ֣א2
- בָּרָ֥א2
- בְּהִבָּֽרְאָ֑ם1
- בוֹרֵ֛א1
- בוֹרֵ֑א1
- בוֹרֵ֧א1
- בּוֹרֵא֙1
- בּוֹרֵ֤א1
- בּוֹרֵ֥א1
- בּוֹרֵ֨א1
- בּוֹרֵ֖א1
- בּ֣וֹרְאֶ֔יךָ1
and 41 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singular8HVqp3ms
- verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular7HVqrmsa
- verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singular4HVqp1cs
- conjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular3HC/Vqrmsa
- Hc/Vqw3ms2Hc/Vqw3ms
- verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), infinitive (“to…”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singular2HVNcc/Sp2ms
- verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common plural2HVNp3cp
- verb · intensive (piel), command · 2nd person masculine singular2HVpv2ms
- verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular2HVqp1cs/Sp3ms
- verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person feminine singular2HVqp3ms/Sp3fs
- verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singular2HVqrmsc/Sp2ms
- conjunction (“and”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common plural1HC/VNp3cp
Genesis
eleven uses
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
- בָּרָ֣אbara'verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he created
So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good.
- וַיִּבְרָ֣אvaiyivra'Hc/Vqw3mstagged: and he created
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
- וַיִּבְרָ֨אvaiyivra'Hc/Vqw3mstagged: and he created
- בָּרָ֣אbara'verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he created
- בָּרָ֥אbara'verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he created
Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.
- בָּרָ֥אbara'verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he had created
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made them.
- בְּהִבָּֽרְאָ֑םbehibareampreposition + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), infinitive (“to…”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: when were created they
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in His own likeness.
- בְּרֹ֤אbero'verb · simple (qal), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: created
Male and female He created them, and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.”
- בְּרָאָ֑םberaamverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: he created them
- הִבָּֽרְאָֽם׃ סhibareamverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), infinitive (“to…”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: were created they
So the LORD said, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.”
- בָּרָ֙אתִי֙barativerb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: I created
Exodus
one use
And the LORD said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will perform wonders that have never been done in any nation in all the world. All the people among whom you live will see the LORD’s work, for it is an awesome thing that I am doing with you.
- נִבְרְא֥וּnivreuverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they have been created
Numbers
one use
But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.”
- יִבְרָ֣אyivra'verb · simple (qal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he will create
Deuteronomy
one use
Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened or been reported?
- בָּרָ֨אbara'verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he created
Joshua
two uses
Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”
- וּבֵרֵאתָ֤uveretaHc/Vpq2mstagged: and you will cut down
because the hill country will be yours as well. It is a forest; clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours. Although the Canaanites have iron chariots and although they are strong, you can drive them out.”
- וּבֵ֣רֵאת֔וֹuveretoHc/Vpq2ms/Sp3mstagged: and you will cut down it
1 Samuel
one use
Why then do you kick at My sacrifice and offering that I have prescribed for My dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than Me by fattening yourselves with the best of all the offerings of My people Israel.’
- לְהַבְרִֽיאֲכֶ֗םlehavriakhempreposition + verb · causative (hiphil), infinitive (“to…”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine pluraltagged: by fattening yourselves
2 Samuel
one use
The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
- בָרָ֥אvara'verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he ate
Psalms
six uses
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
- בְּרָא־bera'-verb · simple (qal), command · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: create
North and south You created; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.
- בְרָאתָ֑םveratamverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 2nd person masculine singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: you created them
Remember the briefness of my lifespan! For what futility You have created all men!
- בָּרָ֥אתָbarataverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: have you created
Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
- נִ֝בְרָ֗אnivra'verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), participle · masculine singulartagged: be created
When You send Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth.
- יִבָּרֵא֑וּןyibareunverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), yiqtol (imperfect) · 3rd person masculine plural + paragogic nuntagged: they are created
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He gave the command and they were created.
- וְנִבְרָֽאוּ׃venivrauconjunction (“and”) + verb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: and they were created
Ecclesiastes
one use
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”
- בּ֣וֹרְאֶ֔יךָboreikhaverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: creators your
Isaiah
twenty-one uses
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy,
- וּבָרָ֣אuvara'Hc/Vqq3mstagged: and he will create
Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
- בָרָ֣אvara'verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: did he create
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.
- בּוֹרֵא֙bore'verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: created
so that all may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this and the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
- בְּרָאָֽהּ׃ פberaahverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: he has created it
This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it:
- בּוֹרֵ֤אbore'verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: created
Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
- בֹּרַאֲךָ֣boraakhaverb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: created you
everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”
- בְּרָאתִ֑יוberativverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: I created him
I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, and your King.”
- בּוֹרֵ֥אbore'verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: creator of
I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.
- וּבוֹרֵ֣אuvore'conjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and creates
- וּב֣וֹרֵאuvore'conjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and creates
Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout and righteousness spring up with it; I, the LORD, have created it.
- בְּרָאתִֽיו׃ סberativverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: I have created it
It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I ordained all their host.
- בָרָ֑אתִיvarativerb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: I created
For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.
- בּוֹרֵ֨אbore'verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: created
- בְרָאָ֖הּveraahverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singular + pronoun suffix · 3rd person feminine singulartagged: he created it
They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot claim, ‘I already knew them!’
- נִבְרְאוּ֙nivreuverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person common pluraltagged: they have been created
Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc.
- בָּרָ֣אתִיbarativerb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: I created
- בָּרָ֥אתִיbarativerb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 1st person common singulartagged: I created
bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.”
- בּוֹרֵ֖אbore'verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: about to create
For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
- בוֹרֵ֛אvore'verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: about to create
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight.
- בוֹרֵ֑אvore'verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: about to create
- בוֹרֵ֧אvore'verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: about to create
Jeremiah
one use
How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land—a woman will shelter a man.”
- בָרָ֨אvara'verb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: he has created
Ezekiel
six uses
“Now you, son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same land. And make a signpost where the road branches off to each city.
- בָּרֵ֔אbare'verb · intensive (piel), command · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: make
- בָּרֵֽא׃bare'verb · intensive (piel), command · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: make
Return the sword to its sheath! In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
- נִבְרֵ֛אתnivretverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), qatal (perfect) · 2nd person feminine singulartagged: you were created
The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords. They will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.
- וּבָרֵ֥אuvare'conjunction (“and”) + verb · intensive (piel), infinitive (“to…”)tagged: and they will cut down
You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold, prepared on the day of your creation.
- הִבָּרַאֲךָ֖hibaraakhaverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), infinitive (“to…”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: are created you
From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways—until wickedness was found in you.
- הִבָּֽרְאָ֑ךְhibareakhverb · passive or reflexive (niphal), infinitive (“to…”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: are created you
Amos
one use
For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.”
- וּבֹרֵ֣אuvore'conjunction (“and”) + verb · simple (qal), participle · masculine singulartagged: and created
Malachi
one use
Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
- בְּרָאָ֑נוּberaanuverb · simple (qal), qatal (perfect) · 3rd person masculine singular + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine pluraltagged: did he create us
Where it leads
Studies that open this word1
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.
