Lexical Summary Bered: Bered Original Word: בֶּרֶד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Bered From barad; hail; Bered, the name of a place south of Palestine, also of an Israelite -- Bered. see HEBREW barad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as barad Definition a place near Kadesh, also an Ephraimite NASB Translation Bered (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֶּ֫רֶד 1. proper name, of a location בָּ֑רֶד Genesis 16:14 near Kadesh. 2. proper name, masculine בֶּ֫רֶד an Ephraimite 1 Chronicles 7:20. Topical Lexicon Overview Bered appears twice in the Old Testament: once as a geographical marker near the well Beer-lahai-roi (Genesis 16:14) and once as a male descendant in the tribe of Ephraim (1 Chronicles 7:20). Though briefly mentioned, these references frame Bered within two key biblical themes—God’s compassionate oversight in the wilderness and His providential ordering of covenant lineage. Biblical Occurrences 1. Genesis 16:14 – “Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi. It is located between Kadesh and Bered.” Geographical Setting Bered is paired with Kadesh in the account of Hagar’s flight from Sarai. The location lies along the southern borders of Canaan, close to the Wilderness of Shur (Genesis 16:7). Ancient trade routes between Egypt and Canaan ran through this arid expanse, making Bered a landmark for travelers. The proximity to Beer-lahai-roi (“the well of the Living One who sees me”) underscores God’s provision of water and life in an inhospitable region. In later patriarchal narratives (Genesis 24:62; 25:11) Beer-lahai-roi becomes associated with Isaac’s dwelling, linking Bered indirectly to the promised line. Genealogical Significance In the Ephraimite genealogy, Bered belongs to the third generation after Ephraim: Ephraim → Shuthelah → Bered → Tahath. This list, preserved in 1 Chronicles 7, validates tribal inheritance and land allotments recorded in Joshua 16–17. By naming Bered, Scripture testifies to the historical rootedness of Israel’s clans and the continuity of God’s covenant promises from the patriarchs to the settlement period. Such genealogies also guard the messianic lineage, demonstrating God’s meticulous care over family lines that ultimately converge in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1; Luke 3). Theological Themes 1. Divine Seeing and Hearing in Desolation Hagar’s desperate circumstance unfolds “between Kadesh and Bered,” where the Lord meets and reassures her (Genesis 16:7–13). Bered thereby stands as a silent witness to God’s attentiveness to the marginalized. The well Beer-lahai-roi becomes a sacrament of divine compassion, reminding believers that no wilderness is hidden from His gaze (Psalm 139:7–10). 2. Covenant Fidelity Through Generations The appearance of Bered in the Ephraimite line reinforces that God’s redemptive plan advances through ordinary families. Each named individual, though obscure by human standards, is indispensable in the unfolding story. This underlines Paul’s assertion that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). Lessons for Ministry Today • Pastoral care to the outcast: Hagar’s encounter near Bered offers a paradigm for ministering to those who feel unseen. God initiated, spoke gently, and provided tangible relief; so must His people. Related Scriptures Genesis 16:7–13 – The angel’s encounter with Hagar Genesis 24:62; 25:11 – Isaac at Beer-lahai-roi Joshua 16:1–5 – Tribal territory of Ephraim Psalm 107:4–9 – God satisfies the thirsty in deserts Romans 9:6–13 – God’s sovereign choice in lineage Summary Though mentioned only twice, Bered binds together wilderness mercy and covenant lineage. Its brief appearances call readers to trust the God who both sees individual suffering and sovereignly stewards redemptive history. Forms and Transliterations בָּֽרֶד׃ ברד׃ וּבֶ֤רֶד וברד bā·reḏ Bared bāreḏ ū·ḇe·reḏ ūḇereḏ uVeredLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 16:14 HEB: קָדֵ֖שׁ וּבֵ֥ין בָּֽרֶד׃ NAS: it is between Kadesh and Bered. KJV: behold, [it is] between Kadesh and Bered. INT: Kadesh is between and Bered 1 Chronicles 7:20 2 Occurrences |
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