Lexical Definition
בִּרְשַׁע Birshaʻ (beer-shah') Birsha N:N-M-P
probably from רֶשַׁע with a prepositional prefix; with wickedness
Birsha.
- § Birsha = "with iniquity"
- Birsha, a king of Gomorrah
1) a king of Gomorrah
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| בִּרְשַׁ֖ע | Birsha | Gen.14.2 |
| Βαρσά | Birsha | LXX.Gen.14.2 |
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, only mentioned at Gen.14.2
Brown-Driver-Briggs
בִּרְשַׁע proper name, masculine (√ & meaning unknown) king of Gomorrha Gen 14:2. בֵּרֹתַי, בֵּרֹתִי, בֵּר֫וֺתָה see below בארות, p. 92.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 14:2 |
Profile
Male • Canaanite king • King of Gomorrah during Abraham's time
King living at the time of the Patriarchs
Birsha was the king of Gomorrah when Chedorlaomer and his allies invaded the region.
- A king in Canaan living at the time of the Patriarchs, only mentioned at Gen.14.2;
- only referred to as Birsha בִּרְשַׁע.
Birsha was the king of Gomorrah during the time of Abraham (Gen. 14:2). He was one of the five kings of the cities of the plain who rebelled against Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam, after serving him for twelve years. In response, Chedorlaomer and his allies invaded the region, defeating the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (Zoar) in the Valley of Siddim. The invaders seized the goods and food of Sodom and Gomorrah, and took captives, including Abraham's nephew Lot. This event prompted Abraham to mount a rescue mission, where he successfully defeated Chedorlaomer and his allies, freeing Lot and recovering the stolen goods (Gen. 14:13-16). The mention of Birsha as the king of Gomorrah provides historical context to the biblical narrative and highlights the political dynamics of the region during Abraham's time.
All entries for Birsha: בִּרְשַׁע