בָּחַר
Transliteration
bāḥar
Pronunciation
baw-khar'
Part of Speech
verb
Root Word (Etymology)
A primitive root
Dictionary Aids

TWOT Reference: 231

Strong’s Definitions

בָּחַר bâchar, baw-khar'; a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select:—acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.


KJV Translation Count — Total: 172x

The KJV translates Strong's H977 in the following manner: choose (77x), chosen (77x), choice (6x), choose...out (5x), acceptable (1x), appoint (1x), excellent (1x), chosen men (1x), rather (1x), require (1x), not translated.

KJV Translation Count — Total: 172x
The KJV translates Strong's H977 in the following manner: choose (77x), chosen (77x), choice (6x), choose...out (5x), acceptable (1x), appoint (1x), excellent (1x), chosen men (1x), rather (1x), require (1x), not translated.
  1. to choose, elect, decide for

    1. (Qal) to choose

    2. (Niphal) to be chosen

    3. (Pual) to be chosen, selected

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
בָּחַר bâchar, baw-khar'; a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select:—acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.
STRONGS H977: Abbreviations
בָּחַר verb choose (compare Aramaic בְּחַר, Syriac || בחן, Assyrian bêru (√ באר :3) DlPr 76) —
Qal Perfect בָּחַר Deuteronomy 7:6 + 66 times; יִבְחַר Isaiah 41:24 + 60 times; אֶבֲחַר Job 29:25 (Baer); Imperative בְּחַר Exodus 17:9 + 5 times; Infinitive absolute בָּחוֺר 1 Samuel 2:28; Isaiah 7:15, 16; Infinitive construct suffix בָּחֳרִי Ezekiel 20:5; Participle בֹּחֵר 1 Samuel 20:30; Zechariah 3:2; passive בָּחוּר Exodus 14:7 + 18 times; —
1. with בְּ
b. man's choice, of ways Proverbs 3:31; Isaiah 66:3; good things Isaiah 7:15, 16; life Deuteronomy 30:19; gods Judges 10:14; Isaiah 41:24; God's pleasure Isaiah 56:4; Isaiah 65:12; Isaiah 66:4.
2. with אֲשֶׁר (alone, for אשׁר בחר ב׳):
a. divine choice, Israel Isaiah 41:8 יַעֲקֹב אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתִּיךָ, Isaiah 43:10; the people 1 Kings 3:8; Psalm 33:12; men Numbers 16:7 (P) Psalm 65:5; king 2 Samuel 16:18; 1 Kings 11:34; place of sacrifice Deuteronomy 12:14, 26; Deuteronomy 15:20; Deuteronomy 17:10; Deuteronomy 31:11 (D) Joshua 9:27 (P), especially לָשׂוּם שְׁמוֺ שָׁם Deuteronomy 12:5, 21; Deuteronomy 14:24, לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֺ שָׁם Deuteronomy 12:11; Deuteronomy 14:23; Deuteronomy 16:2, 6, 11; Nehemiah 1:9; the city 1 Kings 8:48 (= 2 Chronicles 6:38), לשׂום שׁמי שׁם 1 Kings 11:36; 1 Kings 14:21 (= 2 Chronicles 12:13); Jerusalem 1 Kings 11:13; 2 Kings 21:7 (= 2 Chronicles 33:7) 2 Kings 23:27; fast Isaiah 58:5, 6; way Psalm 25:12.
b. man's choice, place to dwell in Deuteronomy 23:7; gardens Isaiah 1:29; king 1 Samuel 12:13; wives Genesis 6:2 (J); what to do 2 Samuel 15:15.
3. with accusative & לְ, choose some one or something for:
a. divine choice, of Levi 1 Samuel 2:28; Jacob Psalm 135:4; Psalm 135:5; inheritance Psalm 47:5.
4. with accusative and מִן, choose, select from 2 Samuel 10:9 (= 1 Chronicles 19:10).
5. accusative
a. divine choice, temple 2 Chronicles 7:16; Judah Psalm 78:68; servant Isaiah 41:9; Isaiah 49:7.
6. with עַל, כי על זה בחרת מעני for this thou hast chosen rather than affliction Job 36:21; with accusative and על pregnantly כל אשׁר תבחר עלי all that thou choosest (to lay) upon me 2 Samuel 19:39.
7. with לְ of accusative 1 Samuel 20:30 (many MSS. have בְּ; but We Dr read חָבֵר companion). The participle בָּחוּר chosen, of a ruler Psalm 89:20, warrior Jeremiah 49:19 (= Jeremiah 50:44); as cedars Songs 5:15; collective רכב בחור chosen chariots Exodus 14:7 (E); אישׁ בחור chosen men, warriors Judges 20:15, 16, 34; 1 Samuel 24:3; 2 Chronicles 13:3, 17, for which בָּחוּר alone 1 Kings 12:21 2 Chronicles 11:1; 25:5; בחורי ישׂראל 1 Samuel 26:2; Psalm 78:31; 2 Samuel 10:9 בחורי בישׂראל (|| 1 Chronicles 19:10 בחור בישׂראל, doubtless the true reading, as 2 Samuel 6:1).
8. test, try (Aramaic = בחן) בְּחַרְתִּיךָ בְּכוּר עֹ֑נִי Isaiah 48:10 I have tested thee in the furnace of affliction Ges Hi Ew De Che Dr, but chosen Rab Calv AV. Niph. נִבְחַר Jeremiah 8:3; Participle נִבְחָר Proverbs 8:10 + 5 times; — to be chosen.
a. absolute chosen, choice Proverbs 8:10, 19; Proverbs 10:20.
b. construct מִן, וְנִבְחַר מות מחיים death will be chosen rather than life Jeremiah 8:3; choicer than Proverbs 16:16; Proverbs 22:1; נבחר ליהוה מזבח choicer (more acceptable) to Yahweh than peace-offering Proverbs 21:3.
Pu. יְבֻחַר chosen, selected Ecclesiastes 9:4 (יְחֻבַּר Qr).
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
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BLB Scripture Index of Brown-Driver-Briggs

Genesis

Genesis 6:2; Genesis 13:11

Exodus

Exodus 14:7; Exodus 14:7; Exodus 17:9; Exodus 17:9

Leviticus

1

Numbers

Numbers 16:5; Numbers 16:7

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 4:37; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 7:7; Deuteronomy 10:15; Deuteronomy 12:5; Deuteronomy 12:11; Deuteronomy 12:14; Deuteronomy 12:18; Deuteronomy 12:21; Deuteronomy 12:26; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 14:23; Deuteronomy 14:24; Deuteronomy 14:25; Deuteronomy 15:20; Deuteronomy 16:2; Deuteronomy 16:6; Deuteronomy 16:7; Deuteronomy 16:11; Deuteronomy 16:15; Deuteronomy 17:8; Deuteronomy 17:10; Deuteronomy 17:15; Deuteronomy 18:5; Deuteronomy 21:5; Deuteronomy 23:7; Deuteronomy 30:19; Deuteronomy 31:11

Joshua

Joshua 8:3; Joshua 9:27; Joshua 24:15; Joshua 24:22

Judges

Judges 5:8; Judges 10:14; Judges 20:15; Judges 20:16; Judges 20:34

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 2:28; 1 Samuel 8:18; 1 Samuel 10:24; 1 Samuel 12:13; 1 Samuel 13:12; 1 Samuel 16:8; 1 Samuel 16:9; 1 Samuel 16:10; 1 Samuel 17:40; 1 Samuel 20:30; 1 Samuel 20:30; 1 Samuel 24:3; 1 Samuel 26:2

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 6:1; 2 Samuel 6:21; 2 Samuel 10:9; 2 Samuel 10:9; 2 Samuel 15:15; 2 Samuel 16:18; 2 Samuel 17:1; 2 Samuel 19:39; 2 Samuel 24:12

1 Kings

1 Kings 3:8; 1 Kings 8:16; 1 Kings 8:16; 1 Kings 8:44; 1 Kings 8:48; 1 Kings 11:13; 1 Kings 11:32; 1 Kings 11:34; 1 Kings 11:36; 1 Kings 12:21; 1 Kings 14:21; 1 Kings 18:23; 1 Kings 18:25

2 Kings

2 Kings 21:7; 2 Kings 23:27

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 15:2; 1 Chronicles 19:10; 1 Chronicles 19:10; 1 Chronicles 21:20; 1 Chronicles 28:4; 1 Chronicles 28:4; 1 Chronicles 28:5; 1 Chronicles 29:1

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 6:5; 2 Chronicles 6:5; 2 Chronicles 6:6; 2 Chronicles 6:6; 2 Chronicles 6:34; 2 Chronicles 6:38; 2 Chronicles 7:12; 2 Chronicles 7:16; 2 Chronicles 11:1; 2 Chronicles 12:13; 2 Chronicles 13:3; 2 Chronicles 13:17; 2 Chronicles 25:5; 2 Chronicles 29:11; 2 Chronicles 33:7

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1:9; Nehemiah 9:7

Job

Job 7:15; Job 9:14; Job 15:5; Job 29:25; Job 29:25; Job 34:4; Job 34:33; Job 36:21

Psalms

Psalms 25:12; Psalms 33:12; Psalms 47:5; Psalms 65:5; Psalms 78:31; Psalms 78:67; Psalms 78:68; Psalms 78:70; Psalms 89:20; Psalms 105:26; Psalms 119:30; Psalms 119:173; Psalms 132:13; Psalms 135:4; Psalms 135:5

Proverbs

Proverbs 1:29; Proverbs 3:31; Proverbs 8:10; Proverbs 8:10; Proverbs 8:19; Proverbs 10:20; Proverbs 16:16; Proverbs 21:3; Proverbs 22:1

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 9:4

Song of Songs

Song of Songs 5:15

Isaiah

Isaiah 1:29; Isaiah 7:15; Isaiah 7:15; Isaiah 7:16; Isaiah 7:16; Isaiah 14:1; Isaiah 40:20; Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 41:9; Isaiah 41:24; Isaiah 41:24; Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 44:1; Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 48:10; Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 56:4; Isaiah 58:5; Isaiah 58:6; Isaiah 65:12; Isaiah 66:3; Isaiah 66:4; Isaiah 66:4

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 8:3; Jeremiah 8:3; Jeremiah 33:24; Jeremiah 49:19; Jeremiah 50:44

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 20:5; Ezekiel 20:5

Haggai

Haggai 2:23

Zechariah

Zechariah 1:17; Zechariah 3:2; Zechariah 3:2