בָּרָא (ba.ra)

The Hebrew verb bara means to create, shape, or form something new. In the Old Testament, it is used exclusively with God as the subject. This distinguishes it from other words for making things, emphasizing that bara describes a divine act of bringing into existence what did not exist before. The sources note its use in Genesis for the creation of heaven and earth, as well as for the formation of individual humans.

Beyond physical origins, bara also applies to new circumstances, transformations, and miracles. For instance, Isaiah uses it to describe God creating a new way in the wilderness (Isaiah 43:19). The Niphal passive form appears when Scripture speaks of things being created by God, such as a clean heart in Psalm 51:10. This usage highlights that true renewal is an act of divine power rather than human effort.

While the primary meaning relates to creation, lexical data also notes a secondary sense related to being fat or plump, seen in passages like 1 Samuel 2:29 where Eli’s sons are accused of fattening themselves. However, this usage is rare compared to the theological weight of God as Creator. The word consistently points to God’s unique ability to initiate life and bring about radical change.