Lexical Summary bar: grain, wheat Original Word: בָּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance corn, wheat Or bar {bar}; from barar (in the sense of winnowing); grain of any kind (even while standing in the field); by extens. The open country -- corn, wheat. see HEBREW barar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom barar Definition grain, corn NASB Translation grain (11), wheat (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs III. בַּר noun masculine grain, corn (compare Arabic  wheat, grain of wheat), Psalm 72:16; Amos 5:11; Amos 8:5,6; בָּר Genesis 41:35,49; Genesis 42:3,25; Genesis 45:23 (E) Psalm 65:14; Proverbs 11:26; Jeremiah 23:28; Joel 2:24. בָּר noun masculine field (Biblical Aramaic בָּרָא, Syriac ברר (√ of following; Biblical Hebrew ברר, בָּר Job 39:4). Topical Lexicon Harvest and Preservation in the Joseph Narrative Genesis records the first cluster of occurrences, all set in Egypt’s granaries. “So Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea” (Genesis 41:49). The stored grain—collected during the seven years of plenty—became the divinely–appointed means of preserving both the covenant family and the surrounding nations (Genesis 41:35; 42:3, 25; 45:23). The narrative displays wise stewardship, anticipatory planning, and God’s sovereignty in turning an agricultural commodity into an instrument of redemptive history. Grain as a Sign of Covenant Blessing The Psalter celebrates the fertility of the earth as a visible token of the LORD’s favor. “The valleys decked with grain… shout in triumph; indeed, they sing” (Psalm 65:13). Likewise, the royal prayer of Psalm 72 looks for messianic days when “there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it wave atop the hills” (Psalm 72:16). Abundant harvest is not mere agrarian prosperity but an emblem of shalom—physical, social, and spiritual well-being under the reign of God. Ethical Obligations in Commerce Wisdom literature links grain to social responsibility: “The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it” (Proverbs 11:26). Generous distribution honors God and neighbor; withholding necessities invites communal reproach. The prophets intensify the warning. Amos condemns economic exploitation: “You trample on the poor and exact a burden of grain from him” (Amos 5:11) and exposes deceitful merchandising: “We will reduce the measure, raise the price, and cheat with dishonest scales” (Amos 8:5). Hoarding, price manipulation, and selling adulterated chaff (Amos 8:6) violate covenant ethics and provoke divine judgment. Prophetic Imagery: Grain as Truth and Judgment Jeremiah contrasts authentic revelation with empty deception: “For what does straw have in common with grain? declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:28). The image separates nourishing truth from worthless filler, calling preachers to fidelity. Joel employs the same commodity to picture restoration after locust devastation: “The threshing floors will be filled with grain” (Joel 2:24), assuring hearers that repentance leads to tangible renewal. Expected Eschatological Restoration Future-oriented passages (Psalm 72; Joel 2) join agricultural plenty with messianic rule and Spirit-poured awakening. The picture anticipates a consummated kingdom where famine, injustice, and deceit give way to overflowing storehouses and righteous commerce. Spiritual and Christological Insights Grain sustains life and prefigures deeper realities: the true Bread of Heaven (John 6:32-35) and the grain of wheat that must die to bear much fruit (John 12:24). Joseph’s granaries foreshadow Christ’s saving provision; Jeremiah’s distinction between grain and straw anticipates the discerning Word made flesh; Amos’s indictment warns against any gospel-peddling that commodifies souls. Applications for Contemporary Ministry • Steward resources wisely, planning for both present needs and future crises, confident in God’s providence. Bar thus threads through Scripture as sustenance, symbol, and signpost, continually directing the people of God to the Provider, the righteousness of His kingdom, and the promise of an unending feast. Forms and Transliterations בַּ֖ר בַּ֨ר ׀ בַּר֙ בַבָּ֑ר בָ֑ר בָ֞ר בָּ֑ר בָּ֖ר בָּ֛ר בָּ֣ר בָּ֭ר בָּר֒ בבר בר הַבָּ֖ר הבר ḇab·bār ḇabbār bar bār ḇār hab·bār habBar habbār vabBar varLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 41:35 HEB: הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְיִצְבְּרוּ־ בָ֞ר תַּ֧חַת יַד־ NAS: and store up the grain for food KJV: and lay up corn under the hand INT: of these and store the grain under authority Genesis 41:49 Genesis 42:3 Genesis 42:25 Genesis 45:23 Job 39:4 Psalm 65:13 Psalm 72:16 Proverbs 11:26 Jeremiah 23:28 Joel 2:24 Amos 5:11 Amos 8:5 Amos 8:6 14 Occurrences |
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, Arabic 
open country, land) — יִרְבּוּ בַבָּר they grow up in the open field