Lexical Definition
בְּאֵר אֵלִים Bᵉʼêr ʼÊlîym (be-ayr' ay-leem') Beer-elim N:N--L
from בְּאֵר and the plural of אֵל; well of heroes
Beer-elim.
- § Beer-elim = "well of God"
- Beer-Elim, a place in the Desert
1) a well in the south of Moab
Brown-Driver-Briggs
בְּאֵר noun feminineGen 26:21 well, pit, mostly Hexateuch, Genesis 23 t., Exodus 1 t., Numbers 5 t., 37 t. in all; Arabic 
, Aramaic בְּאֵרָא, בֵּיר, בֵּירָא, 
, Sabean באר DHMZMG. 1875, 608, Assyrian bêru, LyonSargon 61 (connection with above √ not clear; Lagl.c. spring of water, as coming to light, appearing; possible, although meaning in use rather well, than spring; see however, Gen 16:14 compare vGen 16:7; Gen 26:19; Num 21:17) — ׳בּ absolute Gen 21:30 +; construct Gen 21:19 +; suffix בְּאֵֶר֑ךָ Prov 5:15 Plural absolute בְּאֵרֹת Gen 26:15 construct id. Gen 26:18 compare בֶּאֱרֹת בֶּאֱרֹת חֵמָר Gen 14:10 —
1. a well, often as made by digging (חָפַר) Gen 21:25; Gen 21:30 (E), Gen 26:15; Gen 26:18; Gen 26:19; Gen 26:21; Gen 26:22; Gen 26:32 (all J), also in poetry Num 21:18 (+ כרה) see also vNum 21:16 vNum 21:17 (where the well addressed, in song, עֲלִי בְאֵר); also with כרה in prose Gen 26:25 also with no reference to its origin Gen 16:14 (J; || עַיִן vGen 16:7), Gen 29:2; Exod 2:15 (J) Num 20:17; Num 21:22 (E) 2Sam 17:18; 2Sam 17:21 בְּאֵר (ה)מַיִם Gen 21:19 (E) Gen 24:11 (J; || עַיִן vGen 24:13 vGen 24:16 vGen 24:43 vGen 24:45); (compare also Gen 21:25; Gen 26:18 above & especially vGen 26:19 בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים); water taken from it by drawing (שָׁאַב) Gen 24:11; Gen 24:20 flocks watered from it (הִשְׁקָה מִןֿ) Gen 29:2; Gen 29:3; Gen 29:8; Gen 29:10 (compare especially Exod 2:16 they drew, דלה, and filled the troughs); also מִתּוֺךְ בְּאֵרֶ֑ךָ .... שְׁתֵה מַיִם Prov 5:15 (|| בּוֺר); the opening called פִּי הַבְּאֵר Gen 29:2; Gen 29:3 (twice in verse); Gen 29:8; Gen 29:10 compare ׳פְּנֵי הַבּ 2Sam 17:19 (read probably פּי so ⅏ ᵑ7 ᵑ6 ᵑ9, compare Dr); figurative of fresh delights of woman beloved Song 4:15 מַעְיַן גַּנִּים בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים וְנוֺזְלִים מִןלְֿבָנוֺן.
2. pit (= בּוֺר); pits of bitumen Gen 14:10 (compare above); בְּאֵר שַׁחַת Ps 55:24* pit of (the) grave; compare Ps 69:16* וְאַלתֶּֿאְטַר עָלַי בְּאֵר פִּיהָ and let not (the) pit shut its mouth over me (|| מְצוּלָה); figurative of strange woman בְּאֵר צָרָה a narrow pit, out of which rescue is difficult Prov 23:27 (|| שׁוּחָה עֲמֻקָּה).
3. as proper name, of a location a. with ָ ה locative בְּאֵ֫רָה a station of Israel in desert Num 21:16, possibly = בְּאֵר אֵילִים Isa 15:8.
b. same form Judg 9:21, according to Euseb. LagOnom.238, 2nd ed. 250 8 miles north of Eleutheropolis; compare RobBR i. 452 who compare elBîreh, near Beth-shemesh.
בְּאֵר אֵילִים see בְּאֵר
3. a. above
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 14:10 · 16:7 · 16:14 · 21:19 · 21:25 · 21:30 · 24:11 · 24:13 · 24:16 · 24:20 · 24:43 · 24:45 · 26:15 · 26:18 · 26:19 · 26:21 · 26:22 · 26:25 · 26:32 · 29:2 · 29:3 · 29:8 · 29:10 |
| Exodus | 2:15 · 2:16 |
| Numbers | 20:17 · 21:16 · 21:17 · 21:18 · 21:22 |
| Judges | 9:21 |
| 2 Samuel | 17:18 · 17:19 · 17:21 |
| Psalms | 55:24* · 69:16* |
| Proverbs | 5:15 · 23:27 |
| Song of Solomon | 4:15 |
| Isaiah | 15:8 |
Profile
Beer-elim • Place mentioned in Isaiah's prophecy against Moab.
Beer-elim was a place mentioned in Isaiah's prophecy against Moab. (Isaiah 15:8)
- A location near Eneglaim עֵין עֶגְלַיִם only mentioned at Isa.15.8;
- only referred to as Beer-elim בְּאֵר אֵלִים.
Beer-elim is mentioned only once in the Bible, in Isaiah 15:8, as part of a prophecy against Moab. The name "Beer-elim" means "well of the mighty ones" or "well of the terebinths" in Hebrew.
In the prophecy, Isaiah describes the destruction and mourning that would come upon Moab, a nation located east of the Dead Sea. The passage states that "the cry of distress has gone around the territory of Moab; its wailing reaches to Eglaim, its wailing reaches to Beer-elim."
The exact location of Beer-elim is not specified in the Bible, but based on the context of the prophecy, it was likely a place within the territory of Moab. The mention of Beer-elim alongside Eglaim suggests that it may have been a significant town or landmark in the region.
The prophecy against Moab in Isaiah 15 is part of a larger series of oracles against various nations, highlighting God's judgment against those who oppose Him and His people. The reference to Beer-elim serves to emphasize the widespread nature of Moab's distress and the extent of the impending destruction.
All entries for Beer-elim: בְּאֵר אֵלִים