בְּרִיאָה (be.ri.ah)
be.ri.ah
creation
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun beri’ah refers to a creation or a created thing, often with a specific emphasis on something preternatural and unparalleled. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Numbers 16:30. Here, Moses uses it to describe the extraordinary nature of the judgment that will follow the rebellion of Korah.
In this context, the word carries the weight of a marvel or a new thing. It is not used for ordinary acts of making, but for events that stand out as unique divine interventions. The term highlights God’s power to bring about realities that defy normal human experience, marking them as distinctly His work.
Translators typically render this word as "creation" or "new thing." Its singular usage in Scripture gives it a concentrated theological focus. It points to moments where God acts in ways that are unmistakably new and beyond the scope of natural processes, serving as a sign of His sovereign authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word beri'ah appears just once in the Hebrew Bible, marking a moment where God intervenes in history with something entirely new. In Numbers 16:30, Moses uses it to describe a judgment so distinct that it defies ordinary explanation. This rare term reminds us that God is not bound by natural limits or human expectations.
For your faith, this means you can trust in a God who brings about realities beyond our understanding. When life feels stagnant or confusing, remember that He alone initiates truly new things. His power to act uniquely assures us that no situation is beyond His reach.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a creation1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּרִיאָ֞ה1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 16:30
But if Yahweh makes a new thing, and the ground opens its mouth, and swallows them up with all that belong to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall understand that these men have despised Yahweh.”
Moses uses this term to describe the ground opening up as a unique divine sign confirming his authority.