Lexical Summary besorah: Good news, glad tidings Original Word: בְּשׂוֹרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance reward for tidings Or (shortened) bsorah {bes-o-raw'}; feminine from basar; glad tidings; by implication, reward for good news -- reward for tidings. see HEBREW basar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom basar Definition tidings NASB Translation carry news (1), news (4), reward (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs בְּשׂרָה noun feminine tidings (compare Arabic  see BaNB 61; Sabean בשרן DHMZMG 1876, 672), 2 Samuel 4:10 3t.; בְּשׂוֺרָה 2 Samuel 18:25,27 — 1 good tidings 1 Kings 7:9. 2 tidings, news 2 Samuel 18:20,25; with טובה 2 Samuel 18:27. 3 reward for good tidings 2 Samuel 4:10; 2 Samuel 18:22. Topical Lexicon Concept Overviewבְּשׂוֹרָה (besorah) denotes the announcement of “good news,” especially a report of rescue, victory, or divine intervention. The word consistently frames a decisive turning point in Israel’s narrative, when darkness is pierced by unexpected deliverance. Each occurrence emphasizes not merely information but the moral responsibility to relay it. Old Testament Occurrences 1. 2 Samuel 4:10 – David recalls the Amalekite who claimed, “Look, Saul is dead,” thinking he brought good news, yet was judged for exploiting tragedy. Here the term exposes motives: true good news must accord with God’s righteousness, not personal gain. 2. 2 Samuel 18:20-27 – Four uses cluster around the defeat of Absalom. Joab will not let the inexperienced soldier bear the tidings because, he says, “You are not the man to take the good news today” (18:20). When the solitary runner approaches, the king concludes, “he bears good news” (18:25), and of Ahimaaz he says, “he is a good man, and he comes with good news” (18:27). These verses underscore two principles: the urgency of proclaiming victory and the solemn cost of carrying news that will pierce a father’s heart. 3. 2 Kings 7:9 – Four leprous men discover the deserted Aramean camp and exclaim, “Today is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent” (7:9). Their conviction that silence would invite guilt highlights the ethical imperative to proclaim salvation. Historical Setting The six references arise in turbulent eras: the transition from Saul to David, Absalom’s rebellion, and Samaria’s siege. In each case the good news arrives amid national crisis, reversing hopeless circumstances. The messenger crosses enemy lines, city walls, or battlefields to deliver a word that shapes royal decisions and public morale. Theological Significance 1. Divine Sovereignty – Good news follows God’s hidden work. Whether defeating the Philistines, thwarting treachery, or scattering the Arameans, Yahweh engineers the outcome before the messenger speaks. 2. Moral Accountability – David’s execution of the Amalekite (2 Samuel 4:10) and the lepers’ self-indictment (2 Kings 7:9) teach that good news mishandled invites judgment. The bearer’s attitude must mirror the news itself. 3. Foreshadowing the Gospel – Besorah lays conceptual groundwork for the New Testament εὐαγγέλιον. Victory over hostile forces, liberation of the oppressed, and the duty to announce it anticipate the proclamation of Christ’s resurrection. Messianic Echoes The pattern of unexpected deliverance shared publicly mirrors Isaiah’s later vision: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news” (Isaiah 52:7). Though Isaiah employs a verbal form, the thematic link is unmistakable—salvation accomplished by God, broadcast by faithful heralds, reaching Zion and the nations. The Old Testament besorah thus becomes a prophetic shadow of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Practical Ministry Applications • Urgency of Proclamation – Like the lepers outside Samaria, believers who have encountered the decisive act of God must not “keep silent.” • Integrity of the Messenger – Ahimaaz’s reputation (“he is a good man”) reminds servants of Christ that character authenticates message. • Sensitivity in Delivery – Joab’s hesitation and David’s grief show that good news may still carry painful elements; gospel ministry must unite truth with pastoral wisdom. • Reward and Cost – Joab warns that a messenger may receive “no reward” (2 Samuel 18:22). New-covenant heralds likewise seek reward from the Lord, not from human applause. Intertextual Links Judges 9:7-15; Isaiah 40:9; Nahum 1:15; Luke 2:10-11; Romans 10:14-15. These texts expand the motif of good news from localized victories to cosmic salvation. Summary בְּשׂוֹרָה threads through Israel’s account as the trumpet blast of divine deliverance. Its six appearances reveal a consistent theology: God acts, people are rescued, and someone must speak. This Old Testament fabric is later fulfilled in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where the ultimate good news—victory over sin and death—is entrusted to the church with the same solemn, joyful urgency. Forms and Transliterations בְּשֹׂרָ֣ה בְּשֹׂרָ֤ה בְּשֹׂרָֽה׃ בְּשׂוֹרָ֣ה בְּשׂוֹרָ֥ה בשורה בשרה בשרה׃ bə·śō·rāh bə·śō·w·rāh besoRah bəśōrāh bəśōwrāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 4:10 HEB: לְתִתִּי־ ל֖וֹ בְּשֹׂרָֽה׃ NAS: which was the reward I gave KJV: who [thought] that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: INT: which gave was the reward 2 Samuel 18:20 2 Samuel 18:22 2 Samuel 18:25 2 Samuel 18:27 2 Kings 7:9 6 Occurrences |
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