בְּאֵר (be.er)
be.er
well
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 32 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun be’er refers to a dug well or pit, distinguishing itself from natural surface springs by requiring human effort to access its water. In the ancient Near East, this was a vital resource for survival, which explains why the word appears frequently in Genesis and Numbers during narratives of travel and settlement. It describes both functional water sources, such as the wells Isaac re-dug after Abraham’s time (Genesis 26:18–22), and literal pits used for storage or imprisonment.
While often translated simply as "well," the term carries a broader semantic range that includes deep holes or cisterns. This duality is evident in poetic literature, where psalmists use be’er metaphorically to describe a place of distress or danger, asking God to rescue them from the depths (Psalm 55:23; 69:15). The word also serves as a proper noun for specific locations, such as the desert station in Numbers 21:16, where the Israelites dug their own well.
Its etymology connects it to the verb ba’ar, meaning to make clear or explain. This root suggests that a be’er is not just a hole in the ground but a source of clarity and life made visible through digging. The physical act of excavation mirrors the theological idea of seeking understanding, turning hidden depths into accessible sustenance for those who find them.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word be'er describes a well that requires digging to access water. In the ancient world, this was not just a hole in the ground but a source of life and clarity. The act of excavation mirrors our own spiritual journey, where we often need to dig deep to find sustenance when resources seem dry.
When Isaac re-dug his father’s wells, he faced conflict but also found peace in Rehoboth, a place God made room for us. This reminds us that seeking God’s provision is an active process. Even in difficult seasons, we can trust that He provides the water we need for our journey.
May you find rest in the knowledge that your Creator is near, offering living water to those who seek Him with sincerity and patience.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 32 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ well12×
- a well9×
- a well of3×
- [the] well of2×
- the/ wells1×
- pits of1×
- own well/ your1×
- from/ the/ well1×
- and/ [is] a well1×
- [was] pits1×
- [the] wells of1×
- [is] the/ well1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּאֵ֣ר5×
- הַ/בְּאֵ֖ר3×
- הַ/בְּאֵ֔ר3×
- הַ/בְּאֵֽר\׃2×
- בְּאֵ֖ר2×
- בְאֵ֑ר2×
- מֵֽ/הַ/בְּאֵ֔ר1×
- לַ/בְּאֵ֔ר1×
- וּ/בְאֵ֥ר1×
- הַ/בְּאֵרֹ֗ת1×
- הַ/בְּאֵר֙1×
- הַ/בְּאֵ֥ר1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 21:19
God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink.
God opens Hagar’s eyes to see a well she had previously missed, showing His care in moments of despair.
-
Genesis 26:22
He left that place, and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. So he called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now Yahweh has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
Isaac names the well Rehoboth after God makes room for him, marking a turning point from conflict to peace.
-
Numbers 21:17
Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, well! Sing to it,
Israel sings to the well, acknowledging it as a gift provided through the leadership of princes and nobles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word be'er mean?
How is be'er different from other words for water sources?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (32 verses across 7 books)
Genesis 19 verses
Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who…
Genesis 16:14Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
Genesis 21:19God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink.
Genesis 21:25Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
Genesis 21:30He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.”
Genesis 24:11He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out…
Genesis 24:20She hurried, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.
Genesis 26:15Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped,…
Genesis 26:18Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had…
Genesis 26:19Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of flowing water.
Genesis 26:20The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well…
Genesis 26:21They dug another well, and they argued over that, also. So he called its name Sitnah.
Genesis 26:22He left that place, and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. So he called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now…
Genesis 26:25He built an altar there, and called on Yahweh’s name, and pitched his tent there. There Isaac’s servants dug a well.
Genesis 26:32The same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have…
Genesis 29:2He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they…
Genesis 29:3There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the…
Genesis 29:8They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then…
Genesis 29:10When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob…