בֹּ֫קֶר (bo.qer)
bo.qer
morning
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 168 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun boqer refers to the morning, specifically the break of day or dawn. It marks the transition from night to daylight, appearing frequently in Genesis and Exodus to signal the start of a new day or the fulfillment of an event. The word is concrete and temporal, often used to anchor narratives in time, such as when Abraham rises early to continue his journey (Genesis 22:3) or when Moses prepares to meet Pharaoh (Exodus 8:20).
Boqer carries a secondary sense of "morrow" or the next day, functioning almost like an adverb for immediacy. In legal and narrative contexts, phrases like "by morning" set deadlines or mark the end of a period of waiting. It also appears in poetic literature to symbolize hope after distress, as seen in Psalm 30:6, where joy arrives with the dawn following a night of weeping.
The term derives from a root meaning to break forth or separate, reflecting the way light breaks through darkness. This etymology underscores its role as a marker of new beginnings. Translators typically render it simply as "morning," though the Hebrew sense includes the specific moment of sunrise rather than the entire forenoon.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word boqer marks the specific moment light breaks through darkness, signaling a clear transition from night to day. In Scripture, this is not just a time marker but a reliable pattern of God’s faithfulness. Each morning brings a fresh start, offering space for new decisions and renewed hope.
When Abraham rose early in Genesis 22:3, he did not wait for comfort; he moved forward in obedience despite the uncertainty ahead. This example shows that faith often requires action at dawn, trusting that God is present in the new day even when the path is unclear.
You can find peace in this rhythm. Just as the sun rises without fail, God’s promises remain steady through every season. Let each morning be a quiet reminder that you are not alone in the dark, and that light always returns to guide your steps.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 168 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in the/ morning89×
- morning33×
- the/ morning31×
- to the/ morning8×
- and/ in the/ morning5×
- to the/ mornings3×
- from/ the/ morning3×
- for the/ morning2×
- [the] morning2×
- to/ mornings1×
- this/ morning1×
- of the/ morning1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/בֹּ֔קֶר16×
- בַ/בֹּ֔קֶר14×
- בַּ/בֹּ֗קֶר8×
- הַ/בֹּ֔קֶר7×
- בַּ/בֹּ֣קֶר7×
- בֹ֖קֶר7×
- בַ/בֹּ֙קֶר֙7×
- הַ/בֹּ֖קֶר6×
- בֹּֽקֶר\׃6×
- בֹּ֔קֶר6×
- בַּ/בֹּ֑קֶר6×
- הַ/בֹּֽקֶר\׃5×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 22:3
Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him.
Abraham’s early rising demonstrates immediate obedience to God’s difficult command, anchoring the narrative in decisive action.
-
Genesis 1:5
God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.
This verse establishes boqer as part of the foundational order of creation, marking the completion of the first day and setting a pattern for time itself.
-
Exodus 14:27
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. Yahweh overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea.
The appearance of morning signals the end of Pharaoh’s pursuit and the beginning of Israel’s deliverance, showing God’s timing in rescue.
-
Genesis 28:18
Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top.
Jacob’s early rising marks a moment of personal devotion after his dream at Bethel, highlighting morning as a time for responding to God’s presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does boqer mean in the Bible?
How is boqer different from shachar?
Why is morning significant in Genesis?
Does boqer appear in the New Testament?
Every Occurrence (168 verses across 28 books)
Genesis 18 verses
God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Genesis 1:8God called the expanse “sky”. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.
Genesis 1:13There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
Genesis 1:19There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
Genesis 1:23There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
Genesis 1:31God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth…
Genesis 19:27Abraham went up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Yahweh.
Genesis 20:8Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were…
Genesis 21:14Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her…
Genesis 22:3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son.…
Genesis 24:54They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said,…
Genesis 26:31They rose up some time in the morning, and swore an oath to one another. Isaac sent them away, and they departed from…
Genesis 28:18Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and…
Genesis 29:25In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for…
Genesis 40:6Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw them, and saw that they were sad.
Genesis 41:8In the morning, his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told…
Genesis 44:3As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.
Genesis 49:27“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the plunder.”