בָּחַר (ba.char)
ba.char
to choose
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 153 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb baḥar means to choose, elect, or decide for something. It appears 153 times in Scripture, with a heavy concentration in Deuteronomy and Isaiah. The word carries the sense of selecting one option over others, often highlighting divine preference. In the Qal stem, it describes active choosing; in the Niphal and Pual stems, it indicates being chosen or selected by another.
A key nuance lies in its root idea: to try or examine before deciding. Gesenius notes this implies a process of testing, like rubbing an object on a touchstone to verify its quality. This suggests that biblical choice is not arbitrary but based on discernment. For instance, God says in Isaiah 48:10, "I have proved you in the furnace of affliction," using baḥar to describe refining through trial before selection.
Translators often render baḥar as "choose" or "elect," but the underlying concept involves approval and preference. It is used for both human decisions, such as selecting a king (1 Samuel 16:8), and divine acts, like choosing Jerusalem (Psalm 132:13). The word underscores intentionality in selection, whether by people or by God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read that God chose Israel, it can feel like a distant historical fact. Yet this verb carries a deep sense of intentional care. It implies that selection is not random but rooted in love and specific purpose. The text reminds us that divine choice often comes with the promise of presence, inviting us into a relationship defined by belonging rather than merit.
In our own lives, we frequently face decisions about what to prioritize or who to trust. This word encourages us to look for the place where God’s name dwells—the center of His will. Whether in community or personal devotion, seeking that chosen place helps align our hearts with His peace and direction.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 153 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he will choose26×
- he has chosen14×
- I have chosen14×
- and/ he chose13×
- you have chosen11×
- chosen11×
- chosen [man]5×
- choose5×
- he had chosen4×
- he chose4×
- and/ I have chosen4×
- I chose4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִבְחַ֛ר5×
- בָּחַ֣ר5×
- יִבְחַר֙4×
- יִבְחַ֥ר4×
- יִבְחַ֣ר4×
- בָּח֖וּר4×
- בָּֽחַר\־4×
- וַ/יִּבְחַר\־3×
- בָּחוּר֙3×
- בָּחַ֣רְתִּי3×
- בָּחַ֙רְתִּי֙3×
- בְּחַרְתֶּ֖ם3×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. Yahweh your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.
This verse grounds the act of choosing in God's love rather than Israel's size, showing that election is an act of grace.
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Deuteronomy 12:5
But to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, you shall seek his habitation, and you shall come there.
Here the focus shifts to a specific location where God chooses to put His name, directing worship toward a central point of unity.
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Deuteronomy 14:2
For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.
The repetition of being chosen as a 'people for his own possession' reinforces the identity and value given to the community.