Lexical Summary barach: To flee, to escape, to run away Original Word: בָּרַח Strong's Exhaustive Concordance chase away; drive away, fain, flee away, put to flight, make haste, reach, run away, shootA primitive root; to bolt, i.e. Figuratively, to flee suddenly -- chase (away); drive away, fain, flee (away), put to flight, make haste, reach, run away, shoot. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to go through, flee NASB Translation drives his away (1), drove him away (1), fled (34), flee (11), flee away (1), fleeing (4), flees (2), gone away (1), hurry (1), pass through (2), put to flight (2), ran away (2), surely try to flee (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בָּרַח verb go through, flee (compare German durchgehen (Arabic  go away, withdraw, flee) — Qal Perfect בָּרַח Genesis 31:22 9t., בָּֽרְחוּ Job 9:25, בָּרָ֑חוּ Isaiah 22:3; Imperfect יִבְרַח Job 20:24, יִבְרָ֑ח Job 27:22; Nehemiah 6:11, וַיִּבְרַח Genesis 31:21 13t.; 3 feminine singular וַתִּבְרַח Genesis 16:6, אֶבְרָ֑ח Psalm 139:7, יִבְרְחוּ Jeremiah 52:7, וַיִּבְרְחוּ 2 Samuel 4:3 4t., נִבְרָחָ֑ה 2 Samuel 15:14; Imperative בְּרַח Genesis 27:43 3t., בִּרְחוּ Isaiah 48:20; Infinitive absolute בָּרוֺחַ Job 27:22; construct בְּרֹחַ 1 Samuel 23:6 3t., בִּרוֺחַ Jonah 1:3; suffix בָּרְחִי 1 Kings 2:7, בָּרְחֲךָ Genesis 31:5, בָּרְחוֺ Genesis 35:7 2t.; — 1 go or pass though, of bar, וַיַּעַשׂ אֶתהַֿבְּרִיחַלִ֗֗֗בְרֹחַ Exodus 36:33 (P). 2 flee Genesis 31:20; Genesis 21:21; Genesis 31:22 (E) Exodus 14:5 (J) Judges 9:21; 1 Samuel 19:12,18; 1 Samuel 22:17; 2 Samuel 13:34,37,38 (strike out Dr compare We) 2 Samuel 15:14; Isaiah 22:3; Jeremiah 4:29; Jeremiah 26:21; Jeremiah 39:4; Jeremiah 52:7; Nehemiah 6:11; figurative of days fleeing away Job 9:25; of man, like a shadow Job 14:2; with מִן flee from a place 1 Samuel 20:1; 2 Samuel 19:10; 9+ מֵעַל person) Isaiah 48:20, a weapon Job 20:24; a person, with מֵאֵת 1 Kings 11:23, usually with מִמְּנֵי Genesis 16:6,8; Genesis 31:27; Genesis 35:1,7; Exodus 2:15 (all J E) Judges 11:3; 2 Samuel 21:11; 1 Kings 2:7; 1 Kings 12:2 2Chronicles 10:2; Psalm 3:1; Psalm 57:1 (titles) Psalm 139:7; Jonah 1:10; ׳מִיַּד י figurative Job 27:22; flee to, with accusative place 1 Samuel 27:4; 1 Kings 11:40; Hosea 12:13; with place & לְ Nehemiah 13:10; with place & ָ ה locative Jonah 1:3; Jonah 4:2; 2 Samuel 4:3; with place & אֶלֿ Numbers 24:11; Amos 7:12; with אֶלֿ & person 1 Samuel 23:6; Genesis 27:43 (J) 1 Kings 2:39; 1 Kings 11:40; אַחֲרֵי & person 1 Samuel 22:20; flee, followed by infinitive 1 Kings 11:17; Daniel 10:7. 3 flee = hasten, come quickly Songs 8:14. Hiph`il Perfect הִבְרִיחוּ 1 Chronicles 8:13; Imperfect יַבְרִיחַ Proverbs 19:26; suffix יַבְרִיחֶנּוּ Job 41:20, וָאַבְרִחֵהוּ Nehemiah 13:28, וַיַּבְרִיחוּ 1 Chronicles 12:15; Participle מַבְרִחַ Exodus 26:28; — 1 pass through literal Exodus 26:28 (P) compare Qal. 2. cause to flee, put to flight, animal Job 41:20, men 1 Chronicles 8:18; 1 Chronicles 12:16; drive away Proverbs 19:16; Nehemiah 13:28 (followed by מֵעָלַי). Topical Lexicon Thematic Overview The verb בָּרַח (Strong’s Hebrew 1272) portrays rapid withdrawal in the face of real or perceived peril. Its approximately sixty-five appearances span patriarchal stories, the Exodus, conquest reports, royal chronicles, wisdom poetry, and the prophets. In every period the word exposes the tension between human fear and divine sovereignty: people flee, but the Lord rules over every flight. Patterns of Human Fear and Flight 1. Family Conflict: Jacob’s double escape—from Esau (Genesis 27:43) and later from Laban (Genesis 31:20-27)—highlights flight as a survival instinct among the patriarchs. Divine Intervention and Protection Fleeing never thwarts the Lord’s purposes. Pharaoh’s charioteers cried, “Let us flee…for the LORD is fighting for them” (Exodus 14:25). In the Psalms, “those who hate Him flee His presence” (Psalm 68:1). The righteous find refuge because the Lord turns the tables on oppressors, forcing them into the same frantic retreat they intended for God’s people. Fleeing as a Divine Judgment Prophets often forecast a day when no strategy can secure escape. “Escape will elude the swift” (Amos 2:14); “Though they dig into Sheol, from there My hand will take them” (Amos 9:2-4). Judgment makes every avenue of flight futile unless accompanied by repentance. The collapse of Babylon illustrates this tension: “Flee from Babylon; each of you, save your life” (Jeremiah 51:6). Judgment on the empire doubles as mercy toward the remnant who heed the summons. Prophetic and Eschatological Resonance Zechariah’s call, “Flee from the land of the north” (Zechariah 2:6), anticipates end-time separation from worldly systems. Isaiah similarly asks, “Where will you run for help?” (Isaiah 10:3), pressing hearers toward trust in the coming Messiah rather than frantic self-rescue. The prophetic pattern culminates in the New Testament exhortation, “Flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14), preserving the moral thrust of בָּרַח across covenants. Examples in Historical Narratives • Patriarchal Era: Genesis 35:1 records God’s command to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there,” effectively ending his season of running and initiating renewal. Wisdom Literature and Spiritual Application Job speaks of a violent storm that “hurls itself against him…and he flees” (Job 27:22), picturing the inescapability of divine governance. Proverbs warns that the wicked “flee though no one pursues” (Proverbs 28:1), contrasting guilty conscience with the courage of the righteous. These maxims convert historical episodes into perennial truths for discipleship. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Sovereign Control: Human flight, whether righteous or sinful, always unfolds under God’s jurisdiction. Pastors can reassure believers that no circumstance forces them beyond divine reach. Christological and New Covenant Perspective Although בָּרַח never describes Jesus Himself, the Gospels record moments in which crowds sought to seize Him but “He passed through their midst” (Luke 4:30), echoing sovereign escape motifs. At Olivet He instructs disciples to “flee to the mountains” when desolation nears (Matthew 24:16), combining prudent flight with prophetic expectation. Believers await the day when flight ceases because evil itself is banished (Revelation 21:1-4). Pastoral Reflections The recurring pulse of בָּרַח reminds modern readers that life in a fallen world includes seasons of retreat. Whether believers are escaping temptation, persecution, or impending judgment on a culture, Scripture offers precedent, promises, and principles for every flight. The faithful may run, but they never run alone. Forms and Transliterations אֶבְרָֽח׃ אברח׃ בְּ֝בָרְח֗וֹ בְּבָרְח֖וֹ בְּבָרְח֥וֹ בְּבָרְחֲךָ֔ בְּבָרְחִ֕י בְּרַ֣ח ׀ בְּרַח־ בִּ֠בְרֹחַ בִּרְח֣וּ בָּֽ֝רְח֗וּ בָּר֥וֹחַ בָּרַ֔ח בָּרַ֖ח בָּרַ֗ח בָּרַ֜ח בָּרַ֥ח בָּרָֽחוּ׃ בָרַ֖ח בָרַ֥ח בֹּרַ֙חַת֙ בֹּרַֽחַת׃ בֹרֵ֔חַ בֹרֵ֖חַ בֹרֵ֣חַ בברח בברחו בברחי בברחך ברוח ברח ברח־ ברחו ברחו׃ ברחת ברחת׃ הִבְרִ֖יחוּ הבריחו וְנִבְרָ֔חָה וַֽ֠יִּבְרְחוּ וַֽיִּבְרְח֖וּ וַיִּבְרְח֤וּ וַיִּבְרְח֥וּ וַיִּבְרְח֧וּ וַיִּבְרַ֖ח וַיִּבְרַ֣ח וַיִּבְרַ֤ח וַיִּבְרַ֥ח וַיַּבְרִ֙יחוּ֙ וַתִּבְרַ֖ח וָאַבְרִיחֵ֖הוּ ואבריחהו ויברח ויברחו ויבריחו ונברחה ותברח יִ֭בְרַח יִבְרְחוּ֩ יִבְרָ֔ח יִבְרָֽח׃ יַבְרִ֣יחַ יַבְרִיחֶ֥נּוּ יברח יברח׃ יברחו יבריח יבריחנו לִבְרֹ֔חַ לִבְרֹ֙חַ֙ לִבְרֹ֣חַ לברח מַבְרִ֕חַ מברח ’eḇ·rāḥ ’eḇrāḥ bā·rā·ḥū bā·raḥ ḇā·raḥ bā·rə·ḥū bā·rō·w·aḥ baRach baRachu bāraḥ ḇāraḥ bārāḥū bareChu bārəḥū baRoach bārōwaḥ bə·ḇā·rə·ḥă·ḵā bə·ḇā·rə·ḥî bə·ḇā·rə·ḥōw bə·raḥ bə·raḥ- bəḇārəḥăḵā bəḇārəḥî bəḇārəḥōw berach bəraḥ bəraḥ- bevarechaCha bevareChi bevareCho biḇ·rō·aḥ biḇrōaḥ bir·ḥū birChu birḥū Bivroach bō·ra·ḥaṯ ḇō·rê·aḥ boRachat bōraḥaṯ ḇōrêaḥ evRach hiḇ·rî·ḥū hiḇrîḥū hivRichu liḇ·rō·aḥ liḇrōaḥ livRoach maḇ·ri·aḥ maḇriaḥ mavRiach vaavriChehu vaiyavRichu vaiyivRach vaiyivreChu vaRach vattivRach venivRachah voReach wā’aḇrîḥêhū wā·’aḇ·rî·ḥê·hū wat·tiḇ·raḥ wattiḇraḥ way·yaḇ·rî·ḥū way·yiḇ·raḥ way·yiḇ·rə·ḥū wayyaḇrîḥū wayyiḇraḥ wayyiḇrəḥū wə·niḇ·rā·ḥāh wəniḇrāḥāh yaḇ·rî·aḥ yaḇ·rî·ḥen·nū yaḇrîaḥ yaḇrîḥennū yavRiach yavriChennu yiḇ·raḥ yiḇ·rāḥ yiḇ·rə·ḥū yiḇraḥ yiḇrāḥ yiḇrəḥū yivRach yivreChuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 16:6 HEB: וַתְּעַנֶּ֣הָ שָׂרַ֔י וַתִּבְרַ֖ח מִפָּנֶֽיהָ׃ NAS: treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. KJV: dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. INT: treated Sarai fled her presence Genesis 16:8 Genesis 27:43 Genesis 31:20 Genesis 31:21 Genesis 31:22 Genesis 31:27 Genesis 35:1 Genesis 35:7 Exodus 2:15 Exodus 14:5 Exodus 26:28 Exodus 36:33 Numbers 24:11 Judges 9:21 Judges 11:3 1 Samuel 19:12 1 Samuel 19:18 1 Samuel 20:1 1 Samuel 21:11 1 Samuel 22:17 1 Samuel 22:20 1 Samuel 23:6 1 Samuel 27:4 2 Samuel 4:3 65 Occurrences |
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