Definition and Meaning:
Beerlahairoi, also spelled Beer-lahai-roi, is a significant location mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. The name Beerlahairoi is traditionally understood to mean "Well of the Living One who sees me" or "Well of the Living One who sees." This name reflects the divine encounter and the profound spiritual experience associated with this site.

Biblical References:
Beerlahairoi is first mentioned in the Book of Genesis in the context of Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarai (later Sarah), the wife of Abram (later Abraham). After fleeing from Sarai due to mistreatment, Hagar encounters the Angel of the Lord by a spring in the wilderness. This spring is identified as Beerlahairoi. The Angel of the Lord comforts Hagar, instructs her to return to Sarai, and promises that her descendants will be too numerous to count. In response to this divine encounter, Hagar names the well Beerlahairoi, acknowledging the presence of God who sees her distress.

Genesis 16:13-14 states:
"So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: 'You are the God who sees me,' for she said, 'Here I have seen the One who sees me!' Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi. It is located between Kadesh and Bered."

Beerlahairoi is also mentioned later in Genesis as a dwelling place of Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. After the death of his father Abraham, Isaac settles near Beerlahairoi, indicating its continued significance in the patriarchal narratives.

Genesis 24:62 notes:
"Now Isaac had just returned from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev."

Geographical Location:
Beerlahairoi is situated in the Negev region, a desert area in the southern part of ancient Canaan. The specific location is described as being between Kadesh and Bered, though its exact modern-day location remains uncertain. The Negev's arid environment underscores the importance of wells and water sources, making Beerlahairoi a vital landmark for travelers and inhabitants of the region.

Theological Significance:
Beerlahairoi holds deep theological significance as a place of divine revelation and comfort. The encounter between Hagar and the Angel of the Lord at this well highlights God's compassion and care for the marginalized and oppressed. Hagar's experience at Beerlahairoi serves as a testament to God's omniscience and His ability to see and respond to human suffering.

The name Beerlahairoi itself encapsulates the theme of divine presence and vision. It serves as a reminder that God is not distant or indifferent but is actively involved in the lives of His people, seeing and understanding their struggles. This theme resonates throughout the biblical narrative, emphasizing God's faithfulness and His intimate knowledge of His creation.

Cultural and Historical Context:
In the ancient Near Eastern context, wells were crucial for survival, providing water in arid regions. They often became gathering places and landmarks, playing significant roles in the social and economic life of the community. The naming of wells, such as Beerlahairoi, often reflected significant events or divine encounters, marking them as sacred spaces.

Beerlahairoi's association with Hagar, an Egyptian servant, also highlights the inclusive nature of God's covenantal promises. Despite her status as an outsider, Hagar receives a divine promise concerning her offspring, foreshadowing the broader scope of God's redemptive plan that extends beyond ethnic and social boundaries.

Conclusion:
Beerlahairoi remains a powerful symbol of God's attentive care and His ability to see and intervene in the lives of individuals. Its mention in the patriarchal narratives underscores the continuity of God's promises and His unwavering presence with His people throughout their journeys.Beerlahairoi

(a well of the living), a living spring, Authorized Version, fountain, comp. (Jeremiah 6:7) between Kadesh and Bered, in the wilderness. (Genesis 24:62)

I.e., "the well of him that liveth and seeth me," or, as some render it, "the well of the vision of life", the well where the Lord met with Hagar (Genesis 16:7-14). Isaac dwelt beside this well (24:62; 25:11). It has been identified with `Ain Muweileh, or Moilahhi, south-west of Beersheba, and about 12 miles W. from Kadesh-barnea. BEER-LAHAI-ROI

be-er-la-hi'-roi, be-er-la-hi-ro'-i (be'er lachai ro'i, "well of the Living One that seeth me"): "A fountain of water in the wilderness," "the fountain in the way to Shur" (Genesis 16:7-14). It was the scene of Hagar's theophany, and here Isaac dwelt for some time (Genesis 16:7; Genesis 24:62; Genesis 25:11). The site is in The Negeb between Kadesh and Bered (Genesis 16:14). Rowland identifies the well with the modern `Ain Moilaihhi, circa 50 miles South of Beersheba and 12 miles West of `Ain Kadis. Cheyne thinks that Hagar's native country, to which she was fleeing and from which she took a wife for Ishmael, was not Egypt (mitsrayim), but a north Arabian district called by the Assyrians Mucri (Encyclopedia Biblica).

S. F. Hunter

Beerlahairoi (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Beerlahairoi (1 Occurrence). Genesis 16:14 Wherefore the
well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. (KJV). ...
/b/beerlahairoi.htm - 8k

Beer-lahai-roi (3 Occurrences)
Beer-lahai-roi. Beerlahairoi, Beer-lahai-roi. Beer-la'hai-roi . Easton's Bible
Dictionary ... (ASV DBY JPS NAS). Beerlahairoi, Beer-lahai-roi. Beer-la'hai-roi ...
/b/beer-lahai-roi.htm - 8k

Be-e'ri (2 Occurrences)
Be-e'ri. Beeri, Be-e'ri. Beerlahairoi . Multi-Version Concordance Be-e'ri
(2 Occurrences). ... (See RSV). Beeri, Be-e'ri. Beerlahairoi . Reference Bible.
/b/be-e'ri.htm - 7k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus