בְּרֵכָה (be.re.khah)
be.re.khah
(Shelah) Pool
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun berēkā refers to a pool or pond, specifically one that is dug out or constructed rather than formed by natural springs. In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears thirteen times, primarily in historical and prophetic books such as 2 Samuel, Nehemiah, and Isaiah. It describes a man-made reservoir designed to collect and store water, serving a practical purpose for daily life and agriculture.
A key distinction in its usage is its frequent pairing with the noun shelach (Shelah), which denotes a channel or conduit. This combination illustrates how ancient communities managed water resources: the shelach directed flow into the berēkā, where it was held for later use. For instance, Nehemiah 2:14 mentions passing by the King’s Pool and the Shelah Pool, highlighting these as specific, named infrastructure sites in Jerusalem rather than generic bodies of water.
The term carries significant historical weight when describing the city’s defenses and provisions. In Isaiah 7:3, the prophet Ahaz is instructed to meet King Tiglath-pileser at the end of the conduit of the upper pool of the Pool of the Washer. This location was not merely a water source but a strategic point near the city wall, indicating that these pools were central to both the physical survival and the political landscape of ancient Judah.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word berēkā refers to a dug-out pool or reservoir, distinct from natural springs. In ancient Judah, these structures were vital for survival, storing water during dry seasons and serving as strategic points near city walls. They represent human effort to prepare for future needs, reflecting a practical wisdom that valued foresight and resource management.
Scripture uses these pools in various contexts, from royal infrastructure projects to sites of significant historical events. Sometimes they symbolize divine provision, while other times they highlight the consequences of neglecting spiritual reliance. For instance, Isaiah notes how people made reservoirs but failed to look to God who provided the rain, reminding us that our preparations are empty without faith in the Source.
When you encounter this word, consider how you store your own resources—time, energy, and trust. Just as these pools held water for the city’s survival, your heart can be a reservoir for grace and wisdom. May you find peace in knowing that God provides not only for your immediate needs but also for the long-term stability of your life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ pool10×
- [the] pool of4×
- pools of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/בְּרֵכָ֣ה4×
- הַ/בְּרֵכָה֙3×
- הַ/בְּרֵכָ֖ה3×
- בְּרֵכַ֥ת1×
- בְּרֵכַ֤ת1×
- בְּרֵכַ֣ת1×
- בְּרֵכַ֖ת1×
- בְּרֵכ֣וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 2:14
Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king’s pool, but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass.
This verse identifies the King's Pool as a specific, named location in Jerusalem that Nehemiah inspected, highlighting its role as a key piece of urban infrastructure.
-
Isaiah 7:3
Then Yahweh said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway of the fuller’s field.
The prophet is sent to meet Ahaz at the upper pool, showing how these water sources served as strategic meeting points near the city defenses.
-
Isaiah 22:11
You also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you didn’t look to him who had done this, neither did you have respect for him who planned it long ago.
This passage critiques the people for building reservoirs between walls but failing to look to God who planned their salvation, linking physical preparation with spiritual dependence.
-
II Kings 20:20
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
Hezekiah’s engineering feat of making a pool and conduit is recorded as evidence of his strength and dedication to securing Jerusalem's water supply.