What does בָּשַׂר (bāšar) mean in the Bible?
בָּשַׂר (bāšar): To announce glad news; brings joyful tidings of salvation, victory, or divine deliverance throughout OT.
Hebrew · H1319
בָּשַׂר
Properly, to be fresh , i.e. full ( rosy , figuratively cheerful ); to announce (glad news)
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 theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
בָּשַׂרH1319
Pronunciationbāšar
What does בָּשַׂר (bāšar) mean in the Bible?
בָּשַׂר (bāšar): To announce glad news; brings joyful tidings of salvation, victory, or divine deliverance throughout OT.
Full entry for בָּשַׂר (H1319) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1319?
The BSB source-word alignment has 24 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include herald of good news (2), Proclaim (2), to proclaim the news (2), [do so] (1), a bearer of good news (1).
Where does בָּשַׂר (bāšar) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 1 Samuel 4:17. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Samuel (7), Isaiah (7), Psalms (3), 1 Chronicles (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 Itherald of good news2×Isaiah 40:9
Proclaim2×1 Chronicles 16:23, Psalms 96:2
to proclaim the news2×1 Samuel 31:9, 1 Chronicles 10:9
[do so]1×2 Samuel 18:20
a bearer of good news1×2 Samuel 4:10
a herald of good news1×Isaiah 41:27
and proclaiming1×Isaiah 60:6
brings good news1×2 Samuel 18:26
brought1×Jeremiah 20:15
hear the good news1×2 Samuel 18:31
I proclaim1×Psalms 40:9
news1×1 Kings 1:42
of one who brings good news1×Nahum 1:15
of those who bring good news1×Isaiah 52:7
of women proclaim [it]1×Psalms 68:11
proclaim [it]1×2 Samuel 1:20
the good news1×2 Samuel 18:19
The messenger1×1 Samuel 4:17
to preach good news1×Isaiah 61:1
who bring1×Isaiah 52:7
You may do1×2 Samuel 18:20
Show sample aligned rows
1 Samuel 4:17הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜רtoThe messengerArticle | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1 Samuel 31:9לְבַשֵּׂ֛רtoto proclaim the newsPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct2 Samuel 1:20תְּבַשְּׂר֖וּtoproclaim [it]Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural2 Samuel 4:10כִמְבַשֵּׂר֙toa bearer of good newsPreposition-k | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular2 Samuel 18:19וַאֲבַשְּׂרָ֖הtothe good newsConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular2 Samuel 18:20וּבִשַּׂרְתָּ֖toYou may doConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular2 Samuel 18:20תְבַשֵּׂ֔רto[do so]Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2 Samuel 18:26מְבַשֵּֽׂר׃tobrings good newsVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular2 Samuel 18:31יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙tohear the good newsVerb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Kings 1:42תְּבַשֵּֽׂר׃tonewsVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row1 Samuel 4:17
Aligned rows24
Books represented8
1 Samuel22 Samuel71 Kings11 Chronicles2Psalms3Isaiah7Jeremiah1Nahum1
Source forms
בַּשְּׂר֥וּ2xbaś·śə·rū1 Chronicles 16:23, Psalms 96:2
לְבַשֵּׂ֛ר2xlə·ḇaś·śêr1 Samuel 31:9, 1 Chronicles 10:9
מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר2xmə·ḇaś·śêrIsaiah 41:27, Isaiah 52:7
בִּשַּׂ֤ר1xbiś·śarJeremiah 20:15
בִּשַּׂ֤רְתִּי1xbiś·śar·tîPsalms 40:9
הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר1xham·ḇaś·śêr1 Samuel 4:17
הַֽ֝מְבַשְּׂר֗וֹת1xham·ḇaś·śə·rō·wṯPsalms 68:11
וַאֲבַשְּׂרָ֖ה1xwa·’ă·ḇaś·śə·rāh2 Samuel 18:19
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular5x2 Samuel 18:26, Isaiah 41:27, Isaiah 52:7, Nahum 1:15
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct3x1 Samuel 31:9, 1 Chronicles 10:9, Isaiah 61:1
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural2x1 Chronicles 16:23, Psalms 96:2
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2x2 Samuel 18:20, 1 Kings 1:42
Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular construct2xIsaiah 40:9
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine plural1xPsalms 68:11
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1x1 Samuel 4:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular1x2 Samuel 18:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To announce glad news; brings joyful tidings of salvation, victory, or divine deliverance throughout OT.
Strong'sH1319
Lexical occurrences24 versesWord forms2 forms16 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 52:7-10Source Gloss
properly, to be fresh , i.e. full ( rosy , figuratively cheerful ); to announce (glad news)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To announce glad news; brings joyful tidings of salvation, victory, or divine deliverance throughout OT.
properly, to be fresh, i.e. full (rosy, figuratively cheerful); to announce (glad news) BDB: bear tidings Usage: messenger, preach, publish, shew forth, (bear, bring, carry, preach, good, tell good) tidings.
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 groups2Aligned forms16
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action15×
Participle active2Sam 18:26 · Isa 40:9 · Isa 41:27 · Isa 52:7 · Nah 2:17×
Imperfect1Kgs 1:42 · 2Sam 18:20 · Isa 60:63×
Sequential imperfect1Chr 16:23 · Ps 96:22×
PerfectJer 20:15 · Ps 40:102×
Jussive2Sam 1:201×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others1×
Imperfect2Sam 18:311×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
announcing good news of peace, salvation, and God's reign to Zion
proclaiming good news to the poor, freedom to captives, and comfort to the afflicted
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 24 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
בָּשַׂר is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.