1334. bathar

Lexicon

bathar: To cut, to divide, to cleave

Original Word: בָּתַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: bathar
Pronunciation: bah-thar
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-thar')
Definition: To cut, to divide, to cleave
Meaning: to chop up

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

divide

A primitive root, to chop up -- divide.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to cut in two
NASB Translation
cut (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[בָּתַר] verb cut in two (Arabic cut off prematurely; extirpate by cutting) —

Qal Perfect בָּתָ֑ר Genesis 15:10;

Pi`el Imperfect וַיְבַתֵּר Genesis 15:10 id.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1244: διαμερίζω (diamerizō) • to divide, distribute
• G3694: ὀπίσω (opisō) • behind, after (not a direct translation but related in the sense of following or dividing paths)
• G4255: πρᾶσις (prasis) • a sale, selling (related in the sense of dividing goods for sale)

These Greek entries provide a broader understanding of division and distribution, reflecting similar themes of separation and allocation found in the Hebrew בָּתַר.

Usage: The verb בָּתַר (bāṯar) is used in the context of cutting or dividing, often referring to the physical act of chopping or slicing into pieces. It is typically used in a literal sense, describing the division of objects or materials.

Context: The Hebrew verb בָּתַר (bāṯar) appears in the Old Testament with the primary meaning of cutting or dividing. It is a primitive root that conveys the action of chopping or slicing into parts. This term is notably used in Genesis 15:10, where Abram divides the animals as part of a covenant ritual: "So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half." (BSB). The act of dividing the animals was a significant part of ancient covenant-making practices, symbolizing the seriousness and binding nature of the agreement. The use of בָּתַר in this context underscores the solemnity and gravity of the covenant between God and Abram. The term is not frequently used in the Hebrew Bible, which highlights its specific and deliberate application in covenantal contexts.

Forms and Transliterations

בָתָֽר׃ בתר׃ וַיְבַתֵּ֤ר ויבתר ḇā·ṯār ḇāṯār vaTar vayvatTer way·ḇat·têr wayḇattêr

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 15:10
HEB: כָּל־ אֵ֗לֶּה וַיְבַתֵּ֤ר אֹתָם֙ בַּתָּ֔וֶךְ
NAS: these to Him and cut them in two,
KJV: And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst,
INT: all these and cut two and laid

Genesis 15:10
HEB: הַצִפֹּ֖ר לֹ֥א בָתָֽר׃
NAS: the other; but he did not cut the birds.
KJV: another: but the birds divided he not.
INT: the birds did not cut

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1334
2 Occurrences

ḇā·ṯār — 1 Occ.
way·ḇat·têr — 1 Occ.