Lexical Summary beriah: Beriah Original Word: בְּרִיאָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance new thing Feminine from bara'; a creation, i.e. A novelty -- new thing. see HEBREW bara' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bara Definition a creation, thing created NASB Translation entirely new thing (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בְּרִיאָה noun feminine a creation, thing created, as preternatural, unparalleled; accusative of congnate meaning with verb ׳אִםבֿ ׳יִבְרָא י Numbers 16:30, compare בָּרָא Qal 3, Niph`al 3. Topical Lexicon Canonical Placement and Contextבְּרִיאָה appears solely in Numbers 16:30, within the narrative of Korah’s rebellion. Moses warns that if the rebels die a natural death, his divine mandate might rightly be questioned. “But if the LORD brings about something entirely new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up… then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt” (Numbers 16:30). The term translated “something entirely new” or “a new creation” captures the sudden, unprecedented character of God’s impending judgment. Singular Usage and Emphatic Force Because the word surfaces only once, its force is heightened. Scripture occasionally reserves rare vocabulary for watershed moments (compare the unique “gopher wood” of Genesis 6:14 or “Maranatha” of 1 Corinthians 16:22). Here, בְּרִיאָה underscores that the impending event is not merely providential but creative—God will intervene with the same originality He exercised in Genesis 1, but this time to vindicate His holiness in judgment. Historical Setting Korah, Dathan, and Abiram led two hundred fifty chiefs in challenging the divinely appointed leadership of Moses and Aaron. Israel stood on the brink of entering Canaan, yet internal rebellion now threatened covenant order. Moses’ appeal to a “new creation” signals that ordinary providence would not suffice; only a dramatic rupture within nature itself could silence the mutiny and re-affirm Yahweh’s sovereign choice. Theological Significance 1. Divine Creatorship in Judgment The word ties God’s creative prerogative directly to His judicial authority. The same Lord who fashions life can just as freely reconfigure the elements of creation to defend His glory (cf. Psalm 104:30; Isaiah 45:7). 2. Holiness and Separation Korah’s party sought to erase distinctions between priest and layman. By unleashing a “new creation,” God re-established the proper boundaries of holiness, foreshadowing later warnings against profaning sacred offices (2 Chronicles 26:16-21; Hebrews 5:4). 3. Validation of Revelation Moses does not engineer the phenomenon; he predicts it. The fulfillment authenticates his prophetic status and the reliability of the Mosaic revelation that forms the foundation for the rest of Scripture. Echoes across the Canon Although the noun occurs only once, its conceptual field reverberates widely: • Genesis 1–2: The opening portrayal of creation lays the groundwork for later “new creation” moments—flood, exodus, resurrection, and eschaton. Ministry Applications 1. Church Discipline and Purity Just as God decisively defended His appointed order, congregations must uphold biblical leadership and doctrine. Discipline, rightly applied, protects the testimony of the gospel (1 Timothy 5:19-21). 2. Confidence in Divine Intervention Modern servants of Christ face cultural and ecclesiastical rebellion. The account reminds believers that God possesses unlimited means—including extraordinary ones—to preserve His purposes. 3. Preaching Christ from Numbers 16 The “new creation” judgment that consumed Korah’s camp anticipates the greater judgment borne by Christ on the cross and the greater vindication of His resurrection. Proclaiming this text can highlight both the fear of the Lord and the hope of salvation. Doctrinal Reflections • Sovereignty: God is free to suspend or reorder natural processes to achieve moral ends. Practical Exhortation Believers should cultivate reverence for God’s holiness, submit to His appointed structures, and trust His capacity to create unforeseen deliverances. The church that remembers בְּרִיאָה will neither trivialize sin nor despair under opposition, knowing that the Author of creation remains Lord over history. Related Terms for Further Study • בָּרָא (to create) – Genesis 1:1, Psalm 51:10 Summary בְּרִיאָה, though rare, shines a bright light on the God who can summon unprecedented acts to safeguard His redemptive plan. The “new creation” swallowing Korah’s rebellion stands as both warning and comfort: warning to the proud who challenge God’s order, comfort to the faithful assured that the Creator will ultimately establish a universe where rebellion is forever past. Forms and Transliterations בְּרִיאָ֞ה בריאה bə·rî·’āh bərî’āh beriAhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 16:30 HEB: וְאִם־ בְּרִיאָ֞ה יִבְרָ֣א יְהוָ֗ה NAS: brings about an entirely new thing and the ground KJV: make a new thing, and the earth INT: if an entirely brings the LORD 1 Occurrence |
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