Lexical Definition

‎בָּחַר‎ bâchar (baw-khar') to choose ^H:V
a primitive root

acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.

• properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select

1) to choose, elect, decide for
1a) (Qal) to choose
1b) (Niphal) to be chosen
1c) (Pual) to be chosen, selected

See Greek: αἱρέομαι · αἱρετίζω · ἀρεστός · διακρίνω · δοκιμάζω · ἐκδέχομαι · ἐκλέγομαι · ἐκλεκτός · ἐξαιρέω · ἐπιθυμέω · ἐπιλέγομαι · ζηλόω · κοινωνέω · μέτοχος · πυρόω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎בָּחַר‎ verb choose (compare Aramaic ‎בְּחַר‎, Syriac || ‎בחן‎, Assyrian bêru (√ ‎באר‎):3 Dl^{Pr 76}) —

Qal Perfect ‎בָּחַר‎ Deut 7:6 + 66 t.; ‎יִבְחַר‎ Isa 41:24 + 60 t.; ‎אֶבֲחַר‎ Job 29:25 (Baer); Imperative ‎בְּחַר‎ Exod 17:9 + 5 t.; Infinitive absolute ‎בָּחוֺר‎ 1Sam 2:28; Isa 7:15; Isa 7:16 Infinitive construct suffix ‎בָּחֳרִי‎ Ezek 20:5 Participle ‎בֹּחֵר‎ 1Sam 20:30; Zech 3:2 passive ‎בָּחוּר‎ Exod 14:7 + 18 t.; —

1. with ‎בְּ‎
a. divine choice, of Abraham Neh 9:7 Israel Deut 7:7; Isa 44:1; Ezek 20:5 to become his people Deut 7:6; Deut 14:2 Jeshurun Isa 44:2 the seed of the patriarchs Deut 4:37; Deut 10:15 Levites Deut 18:5; Deut 21:5; 1Chr 15:2; 2Chr 29:11 Aaron Ps 105:26 Judah 1Chr 28:4 not Ephraim Ps 78:67 Levi and Judah Jer 33:24 the king Deut 17:15, especially David 1Sam 10:24; 1Sam 16:8; 1Sam 16:9; 1Sam 16:10; 2Sam 6:21; 1Kgs 8:16 (= 2Chr 6:6) 1Chr 28:4; 1Chr 28:5; 1Chr 29:1; 2Chr 6:5; Ps 78:70 others Num 16:5; Num 17:20* (P) Hag 2:23 place of sacrifice Deut 12:18; Deut 14:25; Deut 16:7; Deut 16:15; Deut 17:8; 2Chr 7:12 the city 1Kgs 8:16; 1Kgs 8:44 (= 2Chr 6:5; 2Chr 6:34) 1Kgs 11:32 Jerusalem 2Chr 6:6; Isa 14:1; Zech 1:17; Zech 2:16*; Zech 3:2 Zion Ps 132:13 delusions Isa 66:4.
b. man's choice, of ways Prov 3:31; Isa 66:3 good things Isa 7:15; Isa 7:16 life Deut 30:19 gods Judg 10:14; Isa 41:24 God's pleasure Isa 56:4; Isa 65:12; Isa 66:4.

2. with ‎אֲשֶׁר‎ (alone, for ‎׳‎‎אשׁר בחר ב‎):
a. divine choice, Israel Isa 41:8 ‎יַעֲקֹב אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתִּיךָ‎, Isa 43:10 the people 1Kgs 3:8; Ps 33:12 men Num 16:7 (P) Ps 65:5* king 2Sam 16:18; 1Kgs 11:34 place of sacrifice Deut 12:14; Deut 12:26; Deut 15:20; Deut 17:10; Deut 31:11 (D) Josh 9:27 (P), especially ‎לָשׂוּם שְׁמוֺ שָׁם‎ Deut 12:5; Deut 12:21; Deut 14:24, ‎לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֺ שָׁם‎ Deut 12:11; Deut 14:23; Deut 16:2; Deut 16:6; Deut 16:11; Neh 1:9 the city 1Kgs 8:48 (= 2Chr 6:38), ‎לשׂום שׁמי שׁם‎ 1Kgs 11:36; 1Kgs 14:21 (= 2Chr 12:13); Jerusalem 1Kgs 11:13; 2Kgs 21:7 (= 2Chr 33:7) 2Kgs 23:27 fast Isa 58:5; Isa 58:6 way Ps 25:12.
b. man's choice, place to dwell in Deut 23:7* gardens Isa 1:29 king 1Sam 12:13 wives Gen 6:2 (J); what to do 2Sam 15:15.

3. with accusative & ‎לְ‎, choose some one or something for:
a. divine choice, of Levi 1Sam 2:28 Jacob Ps 135:4; Ps 135:5 inheritance Ps 47:5*.
b. human choice persons Exod 17:9; Josh 24:15; Josh 24:22 (E) 1Sam 8:18; 1Sam 13:12; 2Sam 24:12 (= 1Chr 21:20); things Gen 13:11 (J) 1Sam 17:40; 1Kgs 18:23; 1Kgs 18:25; Job 34:4.

4. with accusative and ‎מִן‎, choose, select from 2Sam 10:9 (= 1Chr 19:10).

5. accusative
a. divine choice, temple 2Chr 7:16 Judah Ps 78:68 servant Isa 41:9; Isa 49:7.
b. man's choice, persons Exod 18:28 (E) Judg 5:8; Josh 8:3 (J) 2Sam 17:1 things Job 7:15; Job 9:14; Job 15:5; Job 29:25; Job 34:33; Ps 119:30; Ps 119:173; Prov 1:29; Isa 40:20.

6. with ‎עַל‎, ‎כי על זה בחרת מעני‎ for this thou hast chosen rather than affliction Job 36:21 with accusative and ‎על‎ pregnantly ‎כל אשׁר תבחר עלי‎ all that thou choosest (to lay) upon me 2Sam 19:39*.

7. with ‎לְ‎ of accusative 1Sam 20:30 (many MSS. have ‎בְּ‎; but ᵐ5 We Dr read ‎חָבֵר‎ companion). The participle ‎בָּחוּר‎ chosen, of a ruler Ps 89:20*, warrior Jer 49:19 (= Jer 50:44); as cedars Song 5:15 collective ‎רכב בחור‎ chosen chariots Exod 14:7 (E); ‎אישׁ בחור‎ chosen men, warriors Judg 20:15; Judg 20:16; Judg 20:34; 1Sam 24:3*; 2Chr 13:3; 2Chr 13:17, for which ‎בָּחוּר‎ alone 1Kgs 12:21 = 2Chr 11:1; 2Chr 25:5 ‎בחורי ישׂראל‎ 1Sam 26:2; Ps 78:31; 2Sam 10:9 ‎בחורי בישׂראל‎ (|| 1Chr 19:10 ‎בחור בישׂראל‎, doubtless the true reading, as 2Sam 6:1).

8. test, try (Aramaic = ‎בחן‎) ‎בְּחַרְתִּיךָ בְּכוּר עֹ֑נִי‎ Isa 48:10 I have tested thee in the furnace of affliction ᵑ6 ᵑ7 Ges Hi Ew De Che Dr, but chosen ᵑ9 Rab Calv AV. Niph`al ‎נִבְחַר‎ Jer 8:3 Participle ‎נִבְחָר‎ Prov 8:10 + 5 t.; — to be chosen.
a. absolute chosen, choice Prov 8:10; Prov 8:19; Prov 10:20.
b. construct ‎מִן‎, ‎וְנִבְחַר‎ ‎מות מחיים‎ death will be chosen rather than life Jer 8:3 choicer than Prov 16:16; Prov 22:1 ‎נבחר ליהוה מזבח‎ choicer (more acceptable) to Yahweh than peace-offering Prov 21:3. Pu`al ‎יְבֻחַר‎ chosen, selected Eccl 9:4 (‎יְחֻבַּר‎ Qr).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References