בֵּית בִּרְאִי (bet bir.i)

bet bir.i

Beth-biri

H1011 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 1 verses

N:N--L

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 1 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: N:N--L

Word Overview

Beth-biri is a proper noun referring to a specific location within the tribal territory of Simeon, mentioned only once in the Hebrew Bible at 1 Chronicles 4:31. The name translates roughly to "house of a creative one," suggesting a local landmark or settlement associated with that description.

The entry appears in lists of Simeonite cities, likely marking a boundary or community site. Some textual traditions link it to Beth-lebaoth, a place in Judah, though scholars note this may reflect a scribal variation or confusion between similar-sounding locations rather than a single shared identity.

Its rarity means the word carries no broad theological symbolism; instead, it serves as a geographic marker in Chronicles’ genealogical and territorial records. The name’s etymology hints at how ancient Israelites named places after perceived divine attributes or local features, grounding their history in specific, named spaces.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

When you read through the long lists of names in 1 Chronicles 4, it is easy to feel like they are just background noise. Yet this verse reminds us that God knows every corner of His people’s history. The name Beth-biri points to a specific place where families lived and thrived under God’s provision.

These ancient settlements were not forgotten. By recording them, Scripture shows that your life and your community matter to God just as much as the lives of those who came before you. He is faithful to remember every detail of His story, including yours.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.

and/ in/ Beth1×
Biri1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

וּ/בְ/בֵ֥ית1×
בִּרְאִ֖י1×

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Beth-biri mean?

The name translates roughly to 'house of a creative one' or 'house of the craftsman.' It likely referred to a local settlement known for this attribute or associated with a specific family line.

Where is Beth-biri located?

It was situated within the tribal territory of Simeon. The text lists it alongside other cities like Shaaraim, marking the boundaries of their inheritance in the land of Canaan.

Why is this place mentioned only once?

It appears solely in 1 Chronicles 4:31 as part of a genealogical and territorial record. Its inclusion helps map the history of the tribe of Simeon before the establishment of the united monarchy under David.

Every Occurrence (1 verses across 1 books)

I Chronicles 1 verse

I Chronicles 4:31

at Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, at Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until David’s reign.