LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
WORD STUDY ON ארר בבר
WRITTEN FOR DR. DAVID PETTUS IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE COURSE
OTCL 505 HEBREW TOOLS
BY
JENNIFER LOUISE JOHNSON
ID# L23671693
DECEMBER 04, 2011
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
General Definition of ארר בבר
According to the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, ארר בבר is a verb and
holds the basic definition of “to shape, create, or fashion, always of divine activity.”1 Fitting
within this definition are four categories that ארר בבר is used in: object of heaven and earth; the
individual man; new conditions and circumstances; and of transformation.
Usage of the verb ארר בבר
The usage of the verb ארר בבר falls into four basic categories: of heaven and earth, of
individual man, of new conditions and circumstances, and of transformations.2 It should be
noted that bara’ is used almost exclusively with reference to God being the creator, or doing the
creating.
1. Of heaven and earth
The verb bara’ is most commonly used to refer to God’s role in creating the universe and
creation. Everything that God created at the beginning of time was perfect, and he found it
good. This category can further be divided down into three specific subcategories.
A. Creation of the Cosmos
The opening verse in the Bible states that “In the beginning God created (bara’) the heavens and
the earth.”3 From this point on, all of creation is attributed to the work of God’s hand, not a
cosmic explosion that the evolutionists hold to. Other occurrences of bara’ that refer to the
1 Brown, F., S. Driver, and C. Briggs. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson Publishers, 2010, page 135.
2 Blue Letter Bible-Lexicon http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
strongs=H1254&t=NIV&page=1
3 NIV: Genesis 1:1
creation of the Cosmos include: Genesis 1:1; 2:3,4; Psalm 89:12; Isaiah 40:26,28; and Isaiah
42:5
B. Forces of Nature
Bara’ is also used to describe events, or forces of nature. Isaiah 45:7 refers to God
creating the light and darkness, while also creating disaster. Amos 4:13 refers to God creating
the wind, sunrise, and sunset.
C. Humans and Other created beings
The last instance regarding bara’ referring to God’s creation of the world lies in his creation
of mankind and the animals that populate the earth. In Genesis 1:21,27; 5:1-2; and 6:7, God’s
creation of the sea creatures, winged birds, man, and female is recorded. Psalm 89:47 refers to
God creating all men.
2. Of individual man
3. Of new conditions and circumstances
4. Of transformation
5.
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