929. behemah

Lexicon

behemah: Beast, Animal, Cattle

Original Word: בְּהֵמָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: bhemah
Pronunciation: beh-hay-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (be-hay-maw')
Definition: Beast, Animal, Cattle
Meaning: a dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

beast, cattle

From an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) -- beast, cattle.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a beast, animal, cattle
NASB Translation
animal (33), animals (27), beast (44), beasts (31), cattle (49), cattle* (1), herd (1), kinds of cattle (1), mount (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בְּהֵמָה₁₈₇ noun feminine beast, animal, cattle (Arabic ) — ׳בּ Genesis 1:24 137t.; construct בֶּהֱמַת Numbers 3:41 (twice in verse) + 10 t.; suffix בְּהֶמְתְּךָ Leviticus 19:19 4t.; בְּהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ Exodus 20:10 4t.; בְּהֶמְתּוֺ Genesis 36:6; Proverbs 12:10; plural absolute בְּהֵמוֺת Deuteronomy 32:24 6t. + Psalm 73:22 (see below); construct בַּהֲמוֺת Psalm 8:8 5t.; — beast, & collective beasts (Genesis 8:1 + very often)

1 of living creatures other than man (אָדָם) Genesis 8:1; Exodus 8:13; Exodus 8:14; Exodus 9:9,10,22; Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 18:23 (twice in verse) (where ׳בּ is male, so Leviticus 20:16) Deuteronomy 27:21; Psalm 36:7 etc.; ׳מֵאָדָם וְעַד בּ (׳בּ including all the larger animals) Exodus 9:25; Exodus 12:12; Psalm 135:8; Jeremiah 50:3 etc.; as inferior to man Job 18:3; Psalm 49:13; Psalm 49:21, so also Ecclesiastes 3:18,19 (twice in verse); Ecclesiastes 3:21; opposed to also birds & reptiles Genesis 6:7; Genesis 7:23; Genesis 8:17 compare Ezekiel 44:31 etc.; also to fishes 1 Kings 5:13; Job 12:7 compare Job 12:8, Psalm 8:9; Zephaniah 1:3.

2 opposed to also to wild beasts חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ, הַשָּׂדֶה ׳ח Genesis 1:24,25,26; Genesis 2:20; Genesis 3:14; Genesis 7:14,21; Genesis 9:10; Psalm 50:10; Psalm 148:10; Isaiah 46:1 etc.; especially therefore cattle, as owned and used by man, Genesis 47:18 (׳מִקְנֵה הַבּ) Exodus 20:10 = Deuteronomy 5:14; Leviticus 19:19; Leviticus 26:22; Numbers 3:41 (twice in verse); Numbers 3:45 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 2:35; Deuteronomy 11:15; Jonah 4:11; Zechariah 2:8; Zechariah 8:10; Zechariah 14:15; Ezra 1:4,6; Nehemiah 9:37; Nehemiah 10:37 etc.; in one (late) passage of animal for riding (horse ? mule ?) Nehemiah 2:12 (twice in verse); Nehemiah 2:14.

3 rarely of wild beasts, especially carnivora, יַעַר ׳בּ Micah 5:7; הָאָרֶץ ׳בּ Deuteronomy 28:26; Isaiah 18:6 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 7:33; Jeremiah 15:3; Jeremiah 16:4; Jeremiah 19:7; Jeremiah 34:20; הַשָּׂדֶה ׳בּ 1 Samuel 17:44; alone, Proverbs 30:30; שֶׁןבְּֿהֵמוֺת Deuteronomy 32:24; ׳שֹׁד בּ Habakkuk 2:17. — On בְּהֵמוֺת Psalm 73:22 compare below

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be mute or dumb.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2342: θηρίον (therion) • A wild beast, often used in the New Testament to refer to animals in a general sense or metaphorically.
• G2934: κτ

Usage: The term "behemah" is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to animals, particularly large quadrupeds. It is often used to distinguish between domesticated animals and wild beasts, and it can refer to cattle, livestock, or beasts in general.

Context: The Hebrew word "behemah" appears frequently in the Old Testament, often in contexts that discuss the relationship between humans and animals, the natural order, and God's creation. It is used to describe animals that are part of the agricultural and pastoral life of ancient Israel, such as cattle and sheep, which were essential for sustenance and economic stability.

In Genesis 1:24, God commands the earth to bring forth living creatures, including "behemah," highlighting their role in the created order: "And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, crawling creatures, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.' And it was so." (BSB)

The term is also used in the context of sacrificial laws and dietary regulations, as seen in Leviticus 11:2: "Say to the Israelites, 'Of all the beasts of the earth, these are the creatures that you may eat.'" (BSB) Here, "behemah" refers to animals that are considered clean and suitable for consumption.

In the wisdom literature, "behemah" is used metaphorically to illustrate human behavior or to draw lessons from the animal kingdom. For example, in Job 12:7-10, Job points to the animals as witnesses to God's wisdom and power: "But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind." (BSB)

The use of "behemah" underscores the interconnectedness of all living creatures under God's sovereignty and the importance of animals in the biblical narrative.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּ֝הֵמ֗וֹת בְּבֶהֱמַ֖ת בְּבַהֲמ֣וֹת בְּהֵמ֖וֹת בְּהֵמָ֑ה בְּהֵמָ֔ה בְּהֵמָ֖ה בְּהֵמָ֗ה בְּהֵמָ֛ה בְּהֵמָ֞ה בְּהֵמָ֣ה בְּהֵמָ֥ה בְּהֵמָֽה׃ בְּהֵמָה֙ בְּהֵמוֹת֙ בְּהֶמְתְּךָ֙ בְּהֶמְתְּכֶ֔ם בְּהֶמְתֵּ֑נוּ בְּהֶמְתֶּ֗ךָ בְּהֶמְתָּ֑ם בְּהֶמְתָּ֔הּ בְּהֶמְתָּ֔ם בְּהֶמְתָּ֖הּ בְּהֶמְתָּ֧ם בְּהֶמְתּ֑וֹ בְּהֶמְתּ֗וֹ בְהֵמ֣וֹת בְהֵמָ֖ה בְהֵמָ֗ה בְהֵמָ֛ה בְהֵמוֹת֙ בְהֶמְתְּךָ֛ בְהֶמְתְּךָ֥ בְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ בְהַמְתְּךָ֖ בִּבְהֵמָ֔ה בִּבְהֵמָ֖ה בִּבְהֵמָ֣ה בֶּהֱמַ֣ת בֶּהֱמַ֥ת בַּבְּהֵמָ֑ה בַּבְּהֵמָ֛ה בַּבְּהֵמָ֣ה בַּבְּהֵמָ֤ה בַּהֲמ֣וֹת בַּהֲמ֥וֹת בבהמה בבהמות בבהמת בהמה בהמה׃ בהמות בהמת בהמתה בהמתו בהמתך בהמתכם בהמתם בהמתנו הַ֨בְּהֵמָ֔ה הַבְּהֵמָ֑ה הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה הַבְּהֵמָ֛ה הַבְּהֵמָ֡ה הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה הַבְּהֵמָ֤ה הַבְּהֵמָ֥ה הַבְּהֵמָה֙ הבהמה וְהַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וְהַבְּהֵמָ֜ה וְלִ֨בְהֶמְתְּךָ֔ וְלַבְּהֵמָ֑ה וְלַבְּהֵמָ֖ה וְלַבְּהֵמָֽה׃ וּ֝בְהֶמְתָּ֗ם וּֽבְהֶמְתְּכֶֽם׃ וּֽלְבֶהֱמַ֖ת וּבְהֵמָ֑ה וּבְהֵמָ֔ה וּבְהֵמָ֖ה וּבְהֵמָ֗ה וּבְהֵמָֽה׃ וּבְהֵמָה֙ וּבְהֶמְתֵּ֔ינוּ וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔֗ךָ וּבְהֶמְתָּ֖הּ וּבִבְהֵמָ֑ה וּבִבְהֶמְתֵּ֙נוּ֙ וּבִבְהֶמְתֶּֽךָ׃ וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה וּבַבְּהֵמָ֖ה וּבַבְּהֵמָ֛ה וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה׃ וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּלְבֶהֱמַ֣ת וּלְבֶהֱמַ֥ת ובבהמה ובבהמה׃ ובבהמתך׃ ובבהמתנו ובהמה ובהמה׃ ובהמתה ובהמתינו ובהמתך ובהמתכם׃ ובהמתם והבהמה ולבהמה ולבהמה׃ ולבהמת ולבהמתך כַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹת כַּבְּהֵמָה֙ כַבְּהֵמָ֑ה כבהמה כבהמות לִבְהֵמָ֣ה לִבְהֶמְתֵּֽנוּ׃ לִבְהֶמְתֶּ֑ךָ לִבְהֶמְתָּם֙ לַבְּהֵמָ֖ה לַבְּהֵמָ֗ה לבהמה לבהמתך לבהמתם לבהמתנו׃ מִבַּהֲמ֣וֹת מֵהַבְּהֵמָֽה׃ מבהמות מהבהמה׃ ba·hă·mō·wṯ bab·bə·hê·māh babbeheMah babbəhêmāh bahaMot bahămōwṯ bə·ḇa·hă·mō·wṯ bə·ḇe·hĕ·maṯ ḇə·ham·tə·ḵā bə·hê·māh ḇə·hê·māh be·hĕ·maṯ bə·hê·mō·wṯ ḇə·hê·mō·wṯ bə·hem·tāh bə·hem·tām bə·hem·te·ḵā bə·hem·tə·ḵā ḇə·hem·te·ḵā ḇə·hem·tə·ḵā bə·hem·tə·ḵem bə·hem·tê·nū bə·hem·tōw bəḇahămōwṯ bəḇehĕmaṯ ḇəhamtəḵā beheMah bəhêmāh ḇəhêmāh beheMat behĕmaṯ behemOt bəhêmōwṯ ḇəhêmōwṯ behemTah bəhemtāh behemTam bəhemtām behemteCha behemteChem bəhemteḵā bəhemtəḵā ḇəhemteḵā ḇəhemtəḵā bəhemtəḵem behemTenu bəhemtênū behemTo bəhemtōw bevahaMot beveheMat biḇ·hê·māh biḇhêmāh bivheMah chabbeheMah hab·bə·hê·māh habbeheMah habbəhêmāh kab·bə·hê·māh ḵab·bə·hê·māh kab·bə·hê·mō·wṯ kabbeheMah kabbəhêmāh ḵabbəhêmāh kabbeheMot kabbəhêmōwṯ lab·bə·hê·māh labbeheMah labbəhêmāh liḇ·hê·māh liḇ·hem·tām liḇ·hem·te·ḵā liḇ·hem·tê·nū liḇhêmāh liḇhemtām liḇhemteḵā liḇhemtênū livheMah livhemTam livhemTecha livhemTenu mê·hab·bə·hê·māh mehabbeheMah mêhabbəhêmāh mib·ba·hă·mō·wṯ mibbahaMot mibbahămōwṯ ū·ḇab·bə·hê·māh ū·ḇə·hê·māh ū·ḇə·hem·tāh ū·ḇə·hem·tām ū·ḇə·hem·te·ḵā ū·ḇə·hem·tə·ḵem ū·ḇə·hem·tê·nū ū·ḇiḇ·hê·māh ū·ḇiḇ·hem·te·ḵā ū·ḇiḇ·hem·tê·nū ū·lə·ḇe·hĕ·maṯ ūḇabbəhêmāh ūḇəhêmāh ūḇəhemtāh ūḇəhemtām ūḇəhemteḵā ūḇəhemtəḵem ūḇəhemtênū ūḇiḇhêmāh ūḇiḇhemteḵā ūḇiḇhemtênū ūləḇehĕmaṯ uleveheMat uvabbeheMah uveheMah uvehemTah uvehemTam uvehemTecha UvehemteChem uvehemTeinu uvivheMah uvivhemTecha uvivhemTenu vehabbeheMah vehamteCha veheMah veheMot vehemTecha velabbeheMah veLivhemtecha wə·hab·bə·hê·māh wə·lab·bə·hê·māh wə·liḇ·hem·tə·ḵā wəhabbəhêmāh wəlabbəhêmāh wəliḇhemtəḵā

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 1:24
HEB: חַיָּה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ בְּהֵמָ֥ה וָרֶ֛מֶשׂ וְחַֽיְתוֹ־
NAS: after their kind: cattle and creeping things
KJV: after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing,
INT: living their kind cattle and creeping living

Genesis 1:25
HEB: לְמִינָ֗הּ וְאֶת־ הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ וְאֵ֛ת
NAS: after their kind, and the cattle after their kind,
KJV: after his kind, and cattle after their kind,
INT: of the earth their kind and the cattle their kind and everything

Genesis 1:26
HEB: וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבְכָל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ
NAS: of the sky and over the cattle and over all
KJV: of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth,
INT: the birds of the sky the cattle all the earth

Genesis 2:20
HEB: שֵׁמ֗וֹת לְכָל־ הַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּלְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
NAS: to all the cattle, and to the birds
KJV: names to all cattle, and to the fowl
INT: names to all the cattle the birds of the sky

Genesis 3:14
HEB: אַתָּה֙ מִכָּל־ הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וּמִכֹּ֖ל חַיַּ֣ת
NAS: all cattle, And more than
KJV: this, thou [art] cursed above all cattle, and above every beast
INT: thou all cattle every beast

Genesis 6:7
HEB: מֵֽאָדָם֙ עַד־ בְּהֵמָ֔ה עַד־ רֶ֖מֶשׂ
NAS: from man to animals to creeping things
KJV: and beast, and the creeping thing,
INT: man and to animals against to creeping

Genesis 6:20
HEB: לְמִינֵ֗הוּ וּמִן־ הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ מִכֹּ֛ל
NAS: after their kind, and of the animals after their kind,
KJV: after their kind, and of cattle after their kind,
INT: their kind and of the animals their kind of every

Genesis 7:2
HEB: מִכֹּ֣ל ׀ הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה הַטְּהוֹרָ֗ה תִּֽקַּח־
NAS: clean animal by sevens,
KJV: Of every clean beast thou shalt take
INT: of every animal clean shall take

Genesis 7:2
HEB: וְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וּמִן־ הַבְּהֵמָ֡ה אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹ֣א
NAS: and his female; and of the animals that are not clean
KJV: and his female: and of beasts that [are] not clean
INT: and his female and of the animals after are not

Genesis 7:8
HEB: מִן־ הַבְּהֵמָה֙ הַטְּהוֹרָ֔ה וּמִן־
NAS: Of clean animals and animals
KJV: Of clean beasts, and of beasts
INT: at animals of clean at

Genesis 7:8
HEB: הַטְּהוֹרָ֔ה וּמִן־ הַ֨בְּהֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵינֶ֖נָּה
NAS: animals and animals that are not clean
KJV: beasts, and of beasts that [are] not clean,
INT: of clean at and animals that are not

Genesis 7:14
HEB: לְמִינָ֗הּ וְכָל־ הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ וְכָל־
NAS: and all the cattle after their kind,
KJV: after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind,
INT: kind and all the cattle their kind and every

Genesis 7:21
HEB: הָאָ֗רֶץ בָּע֤וֹף וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבַ֣חַיָּ֔ה וּבְכָל־
NAS: birds and cattle and beasts
KJV: both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast,
INT: the earth birds and cattle beast and every

Genesis 7:23
HEB: מֵאָדָ֤ם עַד־ בְּהֵמָה֙ עַד־ רֶ֙מֶשׂ֙
NAS: from man to animals to creeping things
KJV: both man, and cattle, and the creeping things,
INT: man against to animals against to creeping

Genesis 8:1
HEB: וְאֶת־ כָּל־ הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ
NAS: and all the cattle that were with him in the ark;
KJV: and every living thing, and all the cattle that [was] with him in the ark:
INT: thing and all the cattle after in

Genesis 8:17
HEB: בָּשָׂ֗ר בָּע֧וֹף וּבַבְּהֵמָ֛ה וּבְכָל־ הָרֶ֛מֶשׂ
NAS: that is with you, birds and animals and every
KJV: [both] of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing
INT: flesh birds and animals and every creeping

Genesis 8:20
HEB: וַיִּקַּ֞ח מִכֹּ֣ל ׀ הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה הַטְּהוֹרָ֗ה וּמִכֹּל֙
NAS: clean animal and of every
KJV: of every clean beast, and of every clean
INT: and took of every animal clean every

Genesis 9:10
HEB: אִתְּכֶ֔ם בָּע֧וֹף בַּבְּהֵמָ֛ה וּֽבְכָל־ חַיַּ֥ת
NAS: that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every
KJV: that [is] with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast
INT: for the birds the cattle and every living

Genesis 34:23
HEB: וְקִנְיָנָם֙ וְכָל־ בְּהֶמְתָּ֔ם הֲל֥וֹא לָ֖נוּ
NAS: and all their animals be ours? Only
KJV: and their substance and every beast of theirs [be] ours? only let us consent
INT: and their property and all their animals not like

Genesis 36:6
HEB: וְאֶת־ כָּל־ בְּהֶמְתּ֗וֹ וְאֵת֙ כָּל־
NAS: and all his cattle and all
KJV: and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance,
INT: and his livestock and all his cattle and all his goods

Genesis 47:18
HEB: הַכֶּ֔סֶף וּמִקְנֵ֥ה הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה אֶל־ אֲדֹנִ֑י
KJV: our herds of cattle; there is not ought left
INT: our money our herds of cattle about are my lord's

Exodus 8:17
HEB: הַכִּנָּ֔ם בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה כָּל־ עֲפַ֥ר
NAS: on man and beast. All
KJV: in man, and in beast; all the dust
INT: were gnats man and beast All the dust

Exodus 8:18
HEB: הַכִּנָּ֔ם בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה׃
NAS: on man and beast.
KJV: upon man, and upon beast.
INT: were gnats man and beast

Exodus 9:9
HEB: הָאָדָ֜ם וְעַל־ הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה לִשְׁחִ֥ין פֹּרֵ֛חַ
NAS: on man and beast through all
KJV: upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land
INT: man over and beast boils breaking

Exodus 9:10
HEB: פֹּרֵ֕חַ בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה׃
NAS: out with sores on man and beast.
KJV: upon man, and upon beast.
INT: breaking man and beast

190 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 929
190 Occurrences

bab·bə·hê·māh — 6 Occ.
ba·hă·mō·wṯ — 4 Occ.
bə·hê·māh — 38 Occ.
be·hĕ·maṯ — 4 Occ.
bə·hê·mō·wṯ — 4 Occ.
bə·hem·tāh — 2 Occ.
bə·hem·tām — 3 Occ.
bə·hem·tə·ḵā — 2 Occ.
bə·hem·tə·ḵem — 1 Occ.
bə·hem·tê·nū — 1 Occ.
bə·hem·tōw — 2 Occ.
bə·ḇa·hă·mō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
bə·ḇe·hĕ·maṯ — 1 Occ.
biḇ·hê·māh — 4 Occ.
ḵab·bə·hê·māh — 1 Occ.
hab·bə·hê·māh — 43 Occ.
kab·bə·hê·māh — 1 Occ.
kab·bə·hê·mō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
lab·bə·hê·māh — 2 Occ.
liḇ·hê·māh — 1 Occ.
liḇ·hem·tām — 1 Occ.
liḇ·hem·te·ḵā — 1 Occ.
liḇ·hem·tê·nū — 1 Occ.
mê·hab·bə·hê·māh — 1 Occ.
mib·ba·hă·mō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
ū·lə·ḇe·hĕ·maṯ — 7 Occ.
ū·ḇab·bə·hê·māh — 12 Occ.
ū·ḇə·hê·māh — 17 Occ.
ū·ḇə·hem·tāh — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·hem·tām — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·hem·te·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·hem·tə·ḵem — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·hem·tê·nū — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇiḇ·hê·māh — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇiḇ·hem·te·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇiḇ·hem·tê·nū — 1 Occ.
wə·hab·bə·hê·māh — 5 Occ.
ḇə·ham·tə·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ḇə·hê·māh — 3 Occ.
ḇə·hê·mō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
ḇə·hem·te·ḵā — 3 Occ.
wə·lab·bə·hê·māh — 3 Occ.
wə·liḇ·hem·tə·ḵā — 1 Occ.