בָּרֹד (ba.rod)
ba.rod
spotted
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word barod describes something that is spotted or marked with distinct patches. It appears only four times in the Old Testament, serving as a precise visual descriptor rather than an abstract concept. The term focuses on the physical appearance of an object covered in irregular spots.
This word is used to describe the coat of Jacob’s flocks in Genesis 30:35-42, where Laban removes all the striped and spotted animals from his herd. It also appears in Zechariah 11:16, referring to a worthless shepherd who does not care for the flock. In both contexts, the spotting is a visible trait that distinguishes the subject from others.
The term highlights how physical characteristics were used to identify ownership or status in ancient pastoral life. By specifying spotted animals, the text emphasizes the tangible nature of Jacob’s bargain with Laban. The word remains grounded in concrete observation, pointing to the visual reality of the narrative without adding metaphorical weight beyond its descriptive function.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word barod simply means spotted or marked with patches. In ancient times, these visible marks helped shepherds identify their own animals among mixed herds. This concrete detail grounds the story of Jacob and Laban in real life, showing how God used ordinary economic agreements to protect His people.
When we read about spotted goats, we see a God who notices specific details. He cares about the small things that seem insignificant to others but matter deeply to Him. This assurance extends to every part of our lives, reminding us that nothing is too small for His attention.
In Zechariah, the same word describes horses in a vision, pointing to God’s sovereignty over all nations. Whether dealing with family disputes or global events, the Creator remains involved. We can trust that He sees what we see and cares about the specifics of our daily walk.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ mottled2×
- dappled1×
- and/ the/ dappled [horses]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בְרֻדִּֽים\׃1×
- וּ/בְרֻדִּ֑ים1×
- וְ/הַ֨/בְּרֻדִּ֔ים1×
- בְּרֻדִּ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 31:10
During mating season, I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the male goats which leaped on the flock were streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
This verse uses barod to describe the speckled goats Jacob saw in his dream, linking the physical marking to God’s direct intervention in his favor.
-
Zechariah 6:3
In the third chariot were white horses. In the fourth chariot were dappled horses, all of them powerful.
Here the word describes dappled horses in a prophetic vision, showing how the term extends beyond livestock to symbolize divine power moving across the earth.