בָּרַח (ba.rach)
ba.rach
to flee
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 57 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb barach primarily means to flee or run away, capturing the sudden, urgent movement of escaping danger. It appears frequently in narrative sections of Genesis and Samuel, describing figures like Jacob fleeing from Laban (Genesis 31:21) or David escaping from Saul (1 Samuel 19:18). The word conveys a physical act of haste driven by fear or necessity, rather than a passive withdrawal.
Interestingly, the root also carries the literal sense of "passing through" or breaking across, similar to how a bar might slide through a slot. This imagery helps explain its use for arrows reaching their target (Exodus 26:28) and its figurative meaning of putting enemies to flight. The action is decisive and directional, emphasizing the speed required to break free from a threatening situation.
Translators typically render barach as "flee," "run away," or "put to flight." The distinction between the active fleeing of the victim and the causing of flight in the enemy remains clear through context. This verb anchors many biblical stories of survival, highlighting the human instinct to seek safety when confronted with overwhelming power.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels overwhelming, the instinct to run is natural. The Hebrew word barach captures this urgent movement away from danger. It appears often in stories where people faced threats they could not fight alone. Jacob ran from his brother’s anger. David fled from a king who wanted him dead. These are not tales of cowardice, but of survival and trust that God would protect them.
Yet the narrative does not end with running. After Jacob fled from Esau, God met him at Bethel and renewed His promise. Moses fled Egypt, only to find his purpose in Midian. The act of fleeing was a step toward safety, but God’s presence was the true refuge. We do not need to face every storm head-on. Sometimes stepping back is wisdom.
This word reminds us that seeking safety is not a failure of faith. It is a human response to real danger. God meets us in our retreats as well as in our battles. He guides us through the paths we take when we are afraid, leading us toward peace and restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 57 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he fled11×
- he had fled5×
- flee4×
- and/ they fled4×
- to/ flee3×
- he fled3×
- [was] fleeing3×
- he will flee2×
- will he flee1×
- will I flee1×
- when/ fleeing/ you1×
- when/ fled/ he1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יִּבְרַ֖ח5×
- וַ/יִּבְרַ֤ח3×
- בָּרַ֔ח3×
- בְּרַח\־3×
- לִ/בְרֹ֣חַ2×
- וַ/יִּבְרַ֥ח2×
- וַ/יִּבְרַ֣ח2×
- בָרַ֖ח2×
- מַבְרִ֕חַ1×
- לִ/בְרֹ֙חַ֙1×
- לִ/בְרֹ֔חַ1×
- יַבְרִ֣יחַ1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 16:8
He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.”
Hagar uses this word to describe her desperate escape from harsh treatment, showing how the term conveys urgent physical flight from personal suffering.
-
Genesis 35:7
He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
This verse links the act of fleeing with a subsequent divine revelation, illustrating how God often meets people in the aftermath of their escape.
-
Exodus 2:15
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.
Moses flees Pharaoh’s wrath, marking a pivotal transition in his life from prince to shepherd before his call at the burning bush.
-
I Samuel 19:18
Now David fled and escaped, and came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and lived in Naioth.
David’s flight here is not just physical escape but a movement toward spiritual community and guidance under Samuel’s care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does barach mean in the Bible?
Is fleeing considered a sin in Scripture?
How is barach different from other words for running?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (57 verses across 19 books)
Genesis 9 verses
But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt…
Genesis 16:8He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face…
Genesis 27:43Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran.
Genesis 31:20Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away.
Genesis 31:21So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.
Genesis 31:22Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
Genesis 31:27Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with…
Genesis 35:1God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you…
Genesis 35:7He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the…