What does בָּרַר (bārar) mean in the Bible?
בָּרַר (bārar): Means to make pure or bright through examination; often involves separating inferior from superior elements.
Hebrew · H1305
בָּרַר
To clarify (i.e. brighten ), examine , select
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
בָּרַר H1305
Pronunciation bārar
What does בָּרַר (bārar) mean in the Bible?
בָּרַר (bārar): Means to make pure or bright through examination; often involves separating inferior from superior elements.
Full entry for בָּרַר (H1305) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1305?
The BSB source-word alignment has 18 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include choice (2), of those chosen (2), the pure (2), You show Yourself pure (2), And I will purge you (1).
Where does בָּרַר (bārar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 2 Samuel 22:27. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Chronicles (3), 2 Samuel (2), Daniel (2), Isaiah (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It choice 2× 1 Chronicles 7:40, Nehemiah 5:18
of those chosen 2× 1 Chronicles 9:22, 1 Chronicles 16:41
the pure 2× 2 Samuel 22:27, Psalms 18:26
You show Yourself pure 2× 2 Samuel 22:27, Psalms 18:26
And I will purge you 1× Ezekiel 20:38
like a polished 1× Isaiah 49:2
or to sift 1× Jeremiah 4:11
pure 1× Zephaniah 3:9
purified 1× Daniel 11:35
purify yourselves 1× Isaiah 52:11
Sharpen 1× Jeremiah 51:11
sincerely 1× Job 33:3
tests them 1× Ecclesiastes 3:18
will be purified 1× Daniel 12:10
Show sample aligned rows
2 Samuel 22:27 נָבָ֖ר to the pure Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 22:27 תִּתָּבָ֑ר to You show Yourself pure Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 1 Chronicles 7:40 בְּרוּרִים֙ to choice Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural 1 Chronicles 9:22 הַבְּרוּרִים֙ to of those chosen Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural 1 Chronicles 16:41 הַבְּרוּרִ֔ים to of those chosen Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural Nehemiah 5:18 בְּרֻר֤וֹת to choice Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine plural Job 33:3 בָּר֥וּר to sincerely Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular Psalms 18:26 נָבָ֥ר to the pure Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Psalms 18:26 תִּתְבָּרָ֑ר to You show Yourself pure Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Ecclesiastes 3:18 לְבָרָ֖ם to tests them Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row 2 Samuel 22:27
Aligned rows 18
Books represented 11
2 Samuel 2 1 Chronicles 3 Nehemiah 1 Job 1 Psalms 2 Ecclesiastes 1 Isaiah 2 Jeremiah 2 Ezekiel 1 Daniel 2 Zephaniah 1
Source forms
בָּר֥וּר 1x bā·rūr Job 33:3
בָּר֔וּר 1x bā·rūr Isaiah 49:2
בְרוּרָ֑ה 1x ḇə·rū·rāh Zephaniah 3:9
בְּרוּרִים֙ 1x bə·rū·rîm 1 Chronicles 7:40
בְּרֻר֤וֹת 1x bə·ru·rō·wṯ Nehemiah 5:18
הִבָּ֕רוּ 1x hib·bā·rū Isaiah 52:11
הָבֵ֣רוּ 1x hā·ḇê·rū Jeremiah 51:11
הַבְּרוּרִים֙ 1x hab·bə·rū·rîm 1 Chronicles 9:22
Parsing patterns
Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural 2x 1 Chronicles 9:22, 1 Chronicles 16:41
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 2x 2 Samuel 22:27, Psalms 18:26
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular 2x 2 Samuel 22:27, Psalms 18:26
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular 2x Job 33:3, Isaiah 49:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular 1x Ezekiel 20:38
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct 1x Daniel 11:35
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct 1x Jeremiah 4:11
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural 1x Ecclesiastes 3:18
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Means to make pure or bright through examination; often involves separating inferior from superior elements.
Source Gloss
to clarify (i.e. brighten ), examine , select
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Means to make pure or bright through examination; often involves separating inferior from superior elements.
to clarify (i.e. brighten), examine, select BDB: purify Usage: make bright, choice, chosen, cleanse (be clean), clearly, polished, (shew self) pure(-ify), purge (out).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 4 Aligned forms 12
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 3×
Participle passive 1Chr 7:40 · Isa 49:2 · Neh 5:18 3×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 4×
Participle active 2Sam 22:27 · Ps 18:27 2×
Imperfect 2Sam 22:27 1×
Sequential imperfect Isa 52:11 1×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 2×
Imperfect Dan 12:10 · Ps 18:27 2×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 1×
Sequential imperfect Jer 51:11 1×
Word Origins
בָּרַר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain