Beriah
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Etymology and Meaning
The name "Beriah" is of Hebrew origin, and it is generally understood to mean "in trouble" or "a gift." This name appears in the Old Testament and is associated with several individuals, each playing a distinct role in the biblical narrative.

1. Beriah, Son of Asher
Beriah is first mentioned as one of the sons of Asher, who was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, also known as Israel. Asher was the eighth son of Jacob, born to Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. Beriah is listed among the descendants of Asher in Genesis 46:17: "The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah." Beriah's lineage is further detailed in 1 Chronicles 7:30-31, where his sons Heber and Malchiel are mentioned. The tribe of Asher, including Beriah's descendants, was known for its prosperity and abundance, as reflected in Jacob's blessing in Genesis 49:20: "Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide royal delicacies."

2. Beriah, Son of Ephraim
Another Beriah is noted as a son of Ephraim, the son of Joseph. This Beriah is mentioned in the context of a tragic event. In 1 Chronicles 7:20-23, it is recorded that Ephraim's sons Ezer and Elead were killed by the men of Gath when they went down to seize their livestock. Ephraim mourned for them, and afterward, he had another son, whom he named Beriah, "because tragedy had come upon his house" (1 Chronicles 7:23). This naming reflects the sorrow and trouble that had befallen Ephraim's family.

3. Beriah, a Benjamite Leader
A third mention of Beriah is found in the genealogies of the tribe of Benjamin. In 1 Chronicles 8:13-16, Beriah is listed as a leader among the Benjamites who lived in Aijalon and drove out the inhabitants of Gath. This Beriah is noted for his military prowess and leadership, contributing to the defense and expansion of the Benjamite territory.

4. Beriah, a Levite
In 1 Chronicles 23:10-11, Beriah is mentioned as a Levite, a descendant of Levi through his son Shimei. This Beriah, along with his brother Jeush, did not have many sons, and therefore, they were counted as a single family unit in the Levitical genealogies. The Levites were set apart for religious duties and service in the tabernacle, and later the temple, playing a crucial role in the spiritual life of Israel.

Significance in Biblical Narrative
The individuals named Beriah in the Bible are associated with different tribes and roles, reflecting the diverse tapestry of Israel's history. From the sorrowful circumstances surrounding the birth of Ephraim's son to the leadership displayed by the Benjamite Beriah, each occurrence of the name highlights different aspects of Israel's journey and God's providence in their lives. The name Beriah, meaning "in trouble," often underscores the challenges faced by these individuals and their families, yet it also points to the resilience and continuity of God's people through adversity.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Beriah

in fellowship; in envy

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Beriah

(in evil, or a gift).

  1. A son of Asher. (Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:44,45)
  2. A son of Ephraim. (1 Chronicles 7:20-23)
  3. A Benjamite. (1 Chronicles 8:13,16)
  4. A Levite. (1 Chronicles 23:10,11)
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A gift, or in evil.

(1.) One of Asher's four sons, and father of Heber (Genesis 46:17).

(2.) A son of Ephraim (1 Chronicles 7:20-23), born after the slaughter of his brothers, and so called by his father "because it went evil with his house" at that time.

(3.) A Benjamite who with his brother Shema founded Ajalon and expelled the Gittites (1 Chronicles 8:13).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BERIAH; BERIITES

be-ri'-a, be-ri'-its (beri`ah, "in shouting," probably derived from a Hebrew root meaning "to make noise," or "in evil," from another Hebrew root):

(1) A son of Asher and father of Heber and Malchiel (Genesis 46:17 1 Chronicles 7:30, 31; the head of the family of the Beriites, Numbers 26:44).

(2) A son of Ephraim, called Beriah by his father because "it went evil with his house" (1 Chronicles 7:23).

(3) A descendant of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:13, 16).

(4) A Levite in the line of Gershon (1 Chronicles 23:10 f).

Strong's Hebrew
1283. Beriah -- four Israelites
... 1282, 1283. Beriah. 1284 . four Israelites. Transliteration: Beriah Phonetic
Spelling: (ber-ee'-aw) Short Definition: Beriah. ... NASB Word Usage Beriah (11). ...
/hebrew/1283.htm - 6k

1278. beriah -- a creation, thing created
... 1277, 1278. beriah. 1279 . a creation, thing created. Transliteration: beriah
Phonetic Spelling: (ber-ee-aw') Short Definition: thing. ... beriah. 1279 . ...
/hebrew/1278.htm - 6k

1284. Berii -- descendant of Beriah
... Berii. 1285 . descendant of Beriah. Transliteration: Berii Phonetic Spelling:
(ber-ee-ee') Short Definition: Beriites. Word Origin from Beriah Definition desc ...
/hebrew/1284.htm - 6k

Library

Chapter xlvi
... And the sons of Asher: Imnah and Ishvah and Ishvi and Beriah; and Serah was
their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlvi.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... Jacob's family that came into Egypt are not materially lightened by the statements
of our book, which, omitting the two sons of Pharez and of Beriah (Genesis 46 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

Thesaurus
Beriah (10 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BERIAH; BERIITES. ... (2) A son of Ephraim, called
Beriah by his father because "it went evil with his house" (1 Chronicles 7:23). ...
/b/beriah.htm - 10k

Beri'ah (10 Occurrences)
Beri'ah. Beriah, Beri'ah. Beriite . Multi-Version Concordance Beri'ah
(10 Occurrences). Genesis 46:17 And the sons of Asher: Imnah ...
/b/beri'ah.htm - 8k

Heber (13 Occurrences)
... Passing over. (1.) Son of Beriah and grandson of Asher (Genesis 46:17; 1
Chronicles 7:31, 32). ... The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. ...
/h/heber.htm - 12k

Jimnah (4 Occurrences)
... Genesis 46:17 And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and
Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel. ...
/j/jimnah.htm - 8k

Jishvi (4 Occurrences)
... Genesis 46:17 And the sons of Asher: Jimnah, and Jishvah, and Jishvi, and Beriah;
and Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. (DBY). ...
/j/jishvi.htm - 7k

Ishvi (4 Occurrences)
... Ishvi (4 Occurrences). Genesis 46:17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah,
and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. ...
/i/ishvi.htm - 8k

Imnah (4 Occurrences)
... Imnah (4 Occurrences). Genesis 46:17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah,
and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. ...
/i/imnah.htm - 8k

Mal'chi-el (3 Occurrences)
... Genesis 46:17 And the sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and
Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel. (See RSV). ...
/m/mal'chi-el.htm - 7k

Malkiel (3 Occurrences)
... Genesis 46:17 And the sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and
Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel. (See NIV). ...
/m/malkiel.htm - 7k

Jishvah (2 Occurrences)
... Genesis 46:17 And the sons of Asher: Jimnah, and Jishvah, and Jishvi, and Beriah;
and Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. (DBY). ...
/j/jishvah.htm - 6k

Resources
What can we learn from the tribe of Asher? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Asher in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Beriah (10 Occurrences)

Genesis 46:17
The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 26:44
The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Numbers 26:45
Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 7:23
He went in to his wife, and she conceived, and bore a son, and he named him Beriah, because it went evil with his house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 7:30
The sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 7:31
The sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 8:13
and Beriah, and Shema, who were heads of fathers' houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 8:16
and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 23:10
The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 23:11
Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah didn't have many sons; therefore they became a fathers' house in one reckoning.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Beriah

Beriah: A Benjamite

Beriah: Son of Asher

Beriah: Son of Ephraim

Beriah: Son of Shimei

Related Terms

Beriah (10 Occurrences)

Newness (2 Occurrences)

Beriites (1 Occurrence)

Beriite (1 Occurrence)

Messenger (235 Occurrences)

Beri: Son of Zophah
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