What does בָּשַׂר (bāšar) mean in the Bible?
Bāśar describes announcing tidings, with joy and salvation prominent in the selected Isaiah and psalm passages. Isaiah 52:7 celebrates the messenger who proclaims peace, salvation and God's reign to Zion.
Hebrew · H1319
בָּשַׂר
Bāśar describes announcing tidings, with joy and salvation prominent in the selected Isaiah and psalm passages. Isaiah 52:7 celebrates the messenger who proclaims peace, salvation and God's reign to Zion.
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בָּשַׂרH1319
Pronunciationbāšar
What does בָּשַׂר (bāšar) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
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).
What This Word Actually Means
Bāśar describes announcing tidings, with joy and salvation prominent in the selected Isaiah and psalm passages. Isaiah 52:7 celebrates the messenger who proclaims peace, salvation and God's reign to Zion. Isaiah 61:1 places good news to the poor within the speaker's anointed commission, and Psalm 96:2 directs daily proclamation of the Lord's salvation. The content and recipient explain why these announcements are good.
First Samuel 4:17 provides a sobering contrast: the messenger reports defeat, deaths and capture of the ark. The verbal identity does not make that report pleasant to Israel merely because a dictionary highlights glad tidings. Christian preaching can follow Luke 4 and Romans 10 in their explicit use of Isaiah, while retaining the difference between ordinary reporting and the gospel message. A messenger's activity is not enough to establish either truthful content or saving significance; the passage must identify what is announced.
Passage contextCanonical parallel
How the Bible Uses It
Isaiah's restoration announcements and the psalm's salvation proclamation contrast with a battlefield report of disaster. The range requires attention to the message, its audience and its scriptural setting before calling every occurrence gospel proclamation.
- Isa.52.7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
The announced peace and salvation culminate in God's reign over Zion. The surrounding comfort and redemption explain the messenger's welcome.
- Isa.61.1
The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
The anointed speaker's commission includes good news to the poor, binding broken hearts and liberation. The list specifies the announcement's purpose rather than generic cheerfulness.
- Ps.96.2
Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim His salvation day after day.
Proclaiming salvation accompanies singing and declaring the Lord's glory among nations. The call concerns God's works rather than a speaker's promotional success.
- 1Sam.4.17
The messenger answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”
The messenger tells Eli of defeat, deaths and the ark's capture. This direct use prevents assigning favorable content to every announcement under the verb.
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
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Communicate painful news truthfully and gently rather than demanding a positive tone that disguises loss.
- When teaching gospel proclamation, identify the actual message about Christ instead of equating enthusiasm with faithfulness.
Avoid claiming...
- Bāśar does not mean all reported news is pleasant; Eli's messenger announces a devastating defeat.
- The Hebrew verb alone does not guarantee the truth or saving content of every modern religious announcement.
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.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Isaiah 52 makes the messenger welcome because peace, salvation and God's reign are announced to Zion. The beautiful feet belong to an arrival bearing particular news, not to a method for making any speaker impressive. Psalm 96 similarly joins proclamation to God's salvation and glory, directing attention away from the messenger's acclaim.
The report to Eli shows the importance of that distinction. Defeat and the captured ark are tidings, but not good news to the hearer. Luke 4 explicitly places Isaiah's commissioned announcement in Jesus' reading and declaration of fulfillment, and Romans 10 quotes Isaiah while discussing sent preachers, hearing and faith. These supplied connections can ground Christian teaching. They should not be replaced by a claim that every Hebrew use already contains every element of the later apostolic proclamation.
Anchor passage
Isa.52.7
Doctrinal connections
- Isaiah 52:7-10 announces God's reign, comfort and redemption to Zion before the nations.
- Isaiah 61:1-3 links good news with commissioned care for the poor, captives and mourners.
- Psalm 96:1-5 joins salvation proclamation with worship and declaration of divine glory among nations.
- First Samuel 4:12-18 reports disaster and the captured ark, limiting an exclusively cheerful gloss.
- Luke 4:16-21 explicitly connects Jesus' reading of Isaiah with His declaration of fulfillment.
- Romans 10:14-17 quotes Isaiah while describing sent proclamation, hearing and faith in Christ.
Announcing tidings describes the activity, while good-news contexts identify favorable content. The messenger to Eli supplies a direct counterexample to universal cheerfulness; deriving theology from a proposed physical freshness image would bypass these actual uses.
From Old to New Testament
Luke 4:16-21 presents Jesus reading the Isaiah commission and declaring its fulfillment. Romans 10:14-17 quotes Isaiah's messenger language in an argument about preaching and faith. Those explicit textual connections support Christian proclamation without requiring every bāśar occurrence to mean the full apostolic gospel.
Passage contextCanonical parallel