מִבְחָר (miv.char)
miv.char
best
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mivḥār denotes something selected as the finest or most valuable. It refers to a choice portion, often implying that an item has been set apart from others because of its superior quality. In Genesis 49:3, Reuben is described as being like this "choice" fruit of strength, highlighting his status as the firstborn and the premier son.
This word appears eight times in the Hebrew Bible, with a notable concentration in Isaiah and Jeremiah. It frequently describes God’s own people or land as His special possession, emphasizing that they are not merely average but have been picked out for distinction. The term carries a sense of exclusivity, marking what is deemed worthy of preference over the common.
Its root connects to the verb bāḥar, meaning to choose or pick out. This etymological link reinforces the idea that value is determined by selection. When Scripture calls something mivḥār, it asserts that its worth was recognized and affirmed through a deliberate act of choosing, setting it apart for a specific purpose.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word points to something selected as the finest or most valuable. It is not just good; it is the result of a deliberate choice. When Scripture uses this term, it highlights that worth comes from being picked out for a specific purpose. This applies to people, land, and even vows offered to God.
In Genesis 23:6, Abraham is invited to bury his dead in the best tombs available. This shows that value is recognized by those who see beyond the ordinary. It reminds us that what we offer or receive can be set apart for something greater than daily use.
God often uses this concept to describe His people as His special possession. You are not an afterthought but a chosen part of His plan. This selection brings responsibility and honor, inviting you to live in a way that reflects the care taken in your choosing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] choicest of4×
- and/ [the] choicest of2×
- in/ [the] choicest of1×
- choicest ones/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִבְחַ֣ר3×
- וּ/מִבְחַ֥ר2×
- מִבְחָרָ֔י/ו1×
- מִבְחַר\־1×
- בְּ/מִבְחַ֣ר1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 23:6
“Hear us, my lord. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb. Bury your dead.”
This verse shows the word applied to physical property, indicating that Abraham's status warranted access to the finest burial sites available.
-
Deuteronomy 12:11
then it shall happen that to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to Yahweh.
Here the term qualifies vows, emphasizing that offerings brought to God's chosen place must be of superior quality and intention.
-
Isaiah 37:24
By your servants, you have defied the Lord, and have said, “With the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon. I will cut down its tall cedars and its choice cypress trees. I will enter into its farthest height, the forest of its fruitful field.
The Assyrian king boasts of cutting down choice trees, using the word to highlight the premium value he places on Lebanon's resources.
-
Jeremiah 48:15
Moab is laid waste, and they have gone up into his cities, and his chosen young men have gone down to the slaughter,” says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies.
This verse tragically applies the term to Moab's young men, showing that even the most select and valuable parts of a nation can face judgment.