884. Beer Sheba

Lexical Summary

Beer Sheba: Beer Sheba

Original Word: בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: B'er Sheba`
Pronunciation: beh-ayr' sheh'-vah
Phonetic Spelling: (be-ayr' sheh'-bah)
KJV: Beer-shebah
NASB: Beersheba
Word Origin: [from H875 (בְּאֵר - well) and H7651 (שֶׁבַע שִׁבעָה - seven) (in the sense of H7650 (שָׁבַע - swore))]

1. well of an oath
2. Beer-Sheba, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Beer-shebah

From 'er and sheba' (in the sense of shaba'); well of an oath; Beer-Sheba, a place in Palestine -- Beer-shebah.

see HEBREW 'er

see HEBREW sheba'

see HEBREW shaba'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from beer and sheba
Definition
"well of seven," a place in the Negev
NASB Translation
Beersheba (34).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בְּאֵר שֶׁ֫בַע proper name, of a location Beersheba (well of seven, explained Genesis 21:30,31 as place of swearing by seven lambs, or, well of oath, see שְׁבֻעָה; compare same meaning otherwise derived Genesis 26:33) — בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע Genesis 26:33 13t., בְּאֵרשֶֿׁבַע Joshua 19:2; בְּאֵר שָׁ֑בַע Genesis 21:14 18t.; בְּאֵ֫רָה שֶׁבַע (ָ  ה locative) Genesis 46:1 — south from Hebron, according to Onomasticon approximately 20 miles Lag^{Onom. 103, 234, 2nd ed. 138, 248}; modern Bîr-es-Seba, 12 hours from Hebron Rob^{BR i. 204 f.} Survey^{iii. 394} Genesis 21:14,31,32,33; Genesis 22:19 (twice in verse); Genesis 26:23,33; Genesis 28:10; Genesis 46:1,5; Joshua 15:28; Joshua 19:2; Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 3:20; 1 Samuel 8:2; 2 Samuel 17:11; 2 Samuel 24:7; 1 Kings 19:3; 2 Kings 12:2; 2 Kings 23:8; Amos 5:5; 1 Chronicles 4:28; 2Chronicles 19:4; 24:1; Nehemiah 11:27,30; in phrase ׳מִדָּן וְעַדבּֿ from Dan to Beersheba (i.e. all the territory of Israel, see דָּן) Amos 8:14; Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 3:20; 2 Samuel 3:10; 2 Samuel 17:11; 2 Samuel 24:2,15; 1 Kings 5:5, & (only Chronicles) מִבְּאֵר שֶׁבַע וְעַדדָּֿן from Beersheba to Dan 1 Chronicles 21:2; 2Chronicles 30:5.

Topical Lexicon

Location and Geographic Setting

Situated in the semi-arid Negev about 44 miles (70 km) southwest of Jerusalem, Beersheba lies at the juncture of the hill country and the desert. Its artesian wells make it the last reliable water source before the true wilderness, establishing the city as both a gateway to the south and a strategic staging post for travel and trade.

Patriarchal Foundations

• The name first appears when Abraham and Abimelech “made a covenant at Beersheba” (Genesis 21:32). Abraham then “planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God” (Genesis 21:33), marking the site as one of public worship.
• Isaac later revisited the town, receiving identical covenant promises (Genesis 26:23-25) and reopening his father’s well, which he also called Shibah; “therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day” (Genesis 26:33).
• Jacob departed from and returned to Beersheba at key turning points: fleeing toward Haran (Genesis 28:10) and, decades later, offering sacrifices before descending to Egypt, where “God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob!’” (Genesis 46:2-4). Thus the site frames the patriarchs’ sojourns and covenant confirmations.

Covenantal Significance

Beersheba means either “Well of the Oath” or “Well of Seven,” both recalling the binding oath between Abraham and Abimelech sealed by seven ewe lambs (Genesis 21:28-31). The well thus became a physical testimony that God’s sworn promises would not fail, prefiguring later covenants ratified by sacrifice and memorial.

Tribal Inheritance and Frontier Town

The town is allotted to both Judah (Joshua 15:28) and Simeon (Joshua 19:2), standing on the shared boundary. By the time of the united monarchy, it had become the proverbial southern limit of Israel: “So from Dan to Beersheba all Israel understood that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD” (1 Samuel 3:20). The phrase recurs nine times, underscoring national unity under divine rule.

Religious and Cultic Associations

• Elijah, fleeing Jezebel, “went a day’s journey into the wilderness” from Beersheba (1 Kings 19:3-4), linking the town to themes of prophetic withdrawal and renewal.
• Later reforming kings “went out among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD” (2 Chronicles 19:4).
• Yet apostasy also took root: Amos warns, “Do not seek Beersheba” (Amos 5:5) and pronounces woe on those who swear “As surely as your god lives, O Beersheba!” (Amos 8:14). The site becomes a symbol of both authentic and corrupted worship, illustrating the danger of formalism without faith.

Historical References after the Exile

Nehemiah records Judean resettlement “from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom” (Nehemiah 11:30). The restored community reclaimed the ancient frontier, testifying that God’s covenant purposes survived exile.

Typological and Redemptive Themes

1. Well and Water: Life-giving water in a barren land anticipates the living water Christ offers (John 4:10-14).
2. Oath and Covenant: The sevenfold oath looks forward to the perfect, unbreakable “better covenant” mediated by Jesus (Hebrews 8:6).
3. Boundary and Full Possession: “From Dan to Beersheba” foreshadows the promised worldwide dominion of Messiah (Psalm 72:8).

Practical Ministry Applications

• Covenant Faithfulness: Like Abraham, believers mark life’s milestones with worship and witness to God’s reliability.
• Generational Continuity: Isaac and Jacob’s encounters show the importance of passing down the faith and reopening ancestral “wells.”
• Spiritual Boundaries: The town’s frontier position calls leaders to guard doctrinal and moral frontiers in the congregation.
• Revival and Reform: From Jehoshaphat’s reforms to Amos’s rebuke, Beersheba reminds the church that genuine worship must displace syncretism.

Key Passages for Study

Genesis 21:14-34; 22:19; 26:23-33; 28:10; 46:1-5

Joshua 15:28; 19:2

Judges 20:1

1 Samuel 3:20; 8:2

2 Samuel 24:2

1 Kings 19:3

2 Chronicles 19:4

Amos 5:5; 8:14

Forms and Transliterations

שֶׁ֔בַע שֶׁ֖בַע שֶׁ֙בַע֙ שֶׁ֣בַע שֶׁ֥בַע שָּׁ֑בַע שָֽׁבַע׃ שָׁ֑בַע שבע שבע׃ šā·ḇa‘ šāḇa‘ še·ḇa‘ šeḇa‘ Shava Sheva

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 21:14
HEB: בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃
NAS: about in the wilderness of Beersheba.
KJV: in the wilderness of Beersheba.
INT: and wandered the wilderness of Beersheba

Genesis 21:31
HEB: הַה֖וּא בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע כִּ֛י שָׁ֥ם
NAS: that place Beersheba, because
KJV: that place Beersheba; because there they sware
INT: place he Beersheba because there

Genesis 21:32
HEB: בְרִ֖ית בִּבְאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיָּ֣קָם אֲבִימֶ֗לֶךְ
NAS: a covenant at Beersheba; and Abimelech
KJV: a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech
INT: made A covenant Beersheba arose and Abimelech

Genesis 21:33
HEB: אֶ֖שֶׁל בִּבְאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיִּ֨קְרָא־ שָׁ֔ם
NAS: a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there
KJV: a grove in Beersheba, and called
INT: planted A tamarisk Beersheba called and there

Genesis 22:19
HEB: אֶל־ בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב אַבְרָהָ֖ם
NAS: together to Beersheba; and Abraham
KJV: together to Beersheba; and Abraham
INT: together about Beersheba lived and Abraham

Genesis 22:19
HEB: אַבְרָהָ֖ם בִּבְאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃ פ
NAS: and Abraham lived at Beersheba.
KJV: and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
INT: lived and Abraham Beersheba

Genesis 26:23
HEB: מִשָּׁ֖ם בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃
NAS: up from there to Beersheba.
KJV: And he went up from thence to Beersheba.
INT: went there to Beersheba

Genesis 26:33
HEB: הָעִיר֙ בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם
NAS: of the city is Beersheba to this
KJV: of the city [is] Beersheba unto this day.
INT: the name of the city is Beersheba against day

Genesis 28:10
HEB: יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ חָרָֽנָה׃
NAS: departed from Beersheba and went
KJV: went out from Beersheba, and went
INT: departed Jacob Beersheba and went Haran

Genesis 46:1
HEB: וַיָּבֹ֖א בְּאֵ֣רָה שָּׁ֑בַע וַיִּזְבַּ֣ח זְבָחִ֔ים
NAS: that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered
KJV: with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered
INT: after came to Beersheba and offered sacrifices

Genesis 46:5
HEB: יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיִּשְׂא֨וּ בְנֵֽי־
NAS: arose from Beersheba; and the sons
KJV: rose up from Beersheba: and the sons
INT: arose Jacob Beersheba carried and the sons

Joshua 15:28
HEB: שׁוּעָ֛ל וּבְאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע וּבִזְיוֹתְיָֽה׃
NAS: and Hazar-shual and Beersheba and Biziothiah,
KJV: And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,
INT: and Hazar-shual and Beersheba and Biziothiah

Joshua 19:2
HEB: בְּנַֽחֲלָתָ֑ם בְּאֵֽר־ שֶׁ֥בַע וְשֶׁ֖בַע וּמוֹלָדָֽה׃
NAS: as their inheritance Beersheba or Sheba
KJV: And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, or Sheba,
INT: like as their inheritance Beersheba Sheba and Moladah

Judges 20:1
HEB: וְעַד־ בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע וְאֶ֖רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֑ד
NAS: from Dan to Beersheba, including the land
KJV: from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land
INT: Dan against to Beersheba the land of Gilead

1 Samuel 3:20
HEB: וְעַד־ בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע כִּ֚י נֶאֱמָ֣ן
NAS: from Dan even to Beersheba knew
KJV: from Dan even to Beersheba knew
INT: Dan against to Beersheba for was confirmed

1 Samuel 8:2
HEB: שֹׁפְטִ֖ים בִּבְאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃
NAS: [they] were judging in Beersheba.
KJV: [they were] judges in Beersheba.
INT: Abijah were judging Beersheba

2 Samuel 3:10
HEB: וְעַד־ בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃
NAS: Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
KJV: from Dan even to Beersheba.
INT: Dan against to Beersheba

2 Samuel 17:11
HEB: וְעַד־ בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע כַּח֥וֹל אֲשֶׁר־
NAS: to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand
KJV: unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand
INT: Dan against to Beersheba as the sand after

2 Samuel 24:2
HEB: וְעַד־ בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע וּפִקְד֖וּ אֶת־
NAS: from Dan to Beersheba, and register
KJV: from Dan even to Beersheba, and number
INT: Dan against to Beersheba and register the people

2 Samuel 24:7
HEB: יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃
NAS: of Judah, [to] Beersheba.
KJV: of Judah, [even] to Beersheba.
INT: the south of Judah Beersheba

2 Samuel 24:15
HEB: וְעַד־ בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף
NAS: from Dan to Beersheba died.
KJV: from Dan even to Beersheba seventy
INT: Dan until to Beersheba and seventy thousand

1 Kings 4:25
HEB: וְעַד־ בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י
NAS: from Dan even to Beersheba, all
KJV: from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days
INT: Dan against to Beersheba all the days

1 Kings 19:3
HEB: וַיָּבֹ֕א בְּאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע אֲשֶׁ֣ר לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה
NAS: and came to Beersheba, which
KJV: and came to Beersheba, which [belongeth] to Judah,
INT: his life and came to Beersheba which to Judah

2 Kings 12:1
HEB: צִבְיָ֖ה מִבְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃
NAS: name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
KJV: name [was] Zibiah of Beersheba.
INT: and his mother's was Zibiah of Beersheba

2 Kings 23:8
HEB: עַד־ בְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וְנָתַ֞ץ אֶת־
NAS: from Geba to Beersheba; and he broke down
KJV: from Geba to Beersheba, and brake down
INT: Geba against to Beersheba broke places

34 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 884
34 Occurrences

šā·ḇa‘ — 19 Occ.
še·ḇa‘ — 15 Occ.