Lexical Summary
bara': Create, shape, form
Original Word:בָּרָא
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:bara'
Pronunciation:baw-raw'
Phonetic Spelling:(baw-raw')
KJV: choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat)
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (absolutely) to create
2. (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
choose, create creator, cut down, dispatch, do, make fat
A primitive root; (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes) -- choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
53 (compare Arabic
probably loan-word,
form, fashion by cutting, shape out, pare a reed for writing, a stick for an arrow, but also
,
create; Phoenician CIS
i. 347incisor, a trade involving cutting; Assyrian
barû,
make,
create, COT
Gloss & Hpt KAT
2Gloss 1 but dubious; Sabean
found, build, DHM
ZMG 1883, 413, synonym ; Ba
ZA. 1888, 58, compare Assyrian
banû,
create,
beget, with change of liquid; Aramaic ,
,
create) —
PerfectGenesis 1:1 19t.;ImperfectGenesis 1:21,27;Numbers 16:30;InfinitiveGenesis 5:1;ImperativePsalm 51:12;ParticipleIsaiah 42:5 10t.; suffixIsaiah 43:1;Ecclesiastes 12:1; —shape, fashion, create, always of divine activity, with accusative of thing, seldom except in P and Isa2.
object heaven and earthGenesis 1:1;Genesis 2:3 (P)Isaiah 45:18 (twice in verse); mankindGenesis 1:27 (3 t. in verse);Genesis 5:1,2(P)Genesis 6:7 (J)Deuteronomy 4:32;Psalm 89:48;Isaiah 45:12; the host of heavenIsaiah 40:26; heavensIsaiah 42:5; ends of the earthIsaiah 40:28; north and southPsalm 89:13; windAmos 4:13; theGenesis 1:21 (P).
Malachi 2:10 ("" father)Ecclesiastes 12:1; the smith and the wasterIsaiah 54:16 (twice in verse); Israel as a nationIsaiah 43:15; JacobIsaiah 43:1; the seed of IsraelIsaiah 43:7.
: righteousness and salvationIsaiah 45:8; darkness and evilIsaiah 45:7; fruit of the lipsIsaiah 57:19; a new thing (a woman encompassing a man)Jeremiah 31:22; (swallowing up the Korahites)Numbers 16:30 (J); cloud and flame over ZionIsaiah 4:5.
: a clean heartPsalm 51:12 ("" ); new heaven and earthIsaiah 65:17 (in place of old); transformation of natureIsaiah 41:20; with double accusativetransform Jerusalem into rejoicingIsaiah 65:18.
Perfect2feminine singularEzekiel 21:35; 3pluralExodus 34:10 2t.;ImperfectPsalm 104:30;Infinitive suffixEzekiel 28:13;Ezekiel 28:15;Genesis 2:4;Genesis 5:2;ParticiplePsalm 102:19; —Pass.
be created: heaven and earthGenesis 2:4 (P); creaturesPsalm 104:30; mankindGenesis 5:2 (P); heavensPsalm 148:5.
:in the place where thou wast created (i.e. native land)Ezekiel 21:35;day when thou wast created (king of Tyre)Ezekiel 28:13,15 (comparePsalm 2:7);Psalm 102:19 (""Psalm 22:32).
Exodus 34:10 (J); new things,Isaiah 48:6.
PerfectJoshua 17:15;Joshua 17:18;Infinitive absoluteEzekiel 21:24 (twice in verse);Ezekiel 23:47; —
cut down: a forestJoshua 17:15,18 (J);Ezekiel 23:47.
cut out: hand, as an indexEzekiel 21:24 (twice in verse).
II. [] (Arabic
be free of a thing, sound, healthy; see ) —
Infinitive1 Samuel 2:29to make yourselves fat.
Topical Lexicon
Foundation in Genesis“Bara” opens Scripture: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The verb appears three times inGenesis 1 (verses 1, 21, 27), marking pivotal creative acts—matter itself, living creatures of the sea and sky, and humankind. After the six-day account, “God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all the work of creation that He had done” (Genesis 2:3).Genesis 5:1-2, 6:7, and 14:19 keep reminding the reader that humanity is the work of God alone, rooting all subsequent anthropology, morality, and stewardship in divine authorship.
Divine Exclusivity of Creation
Unlike “asah” (to make or do) and “yatsar” (to form), “bara” never takes a human subject.Numbers 16:30 warns of a “new thing” God might create to vindicate His holiness, and1 Samuel 2:29 retains the same theological boundary: creation belongs to God’s prerogative. Isaiah amplifies this theme:
• “I, the LORD, am the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens… I have created you” (Isaiah 43:1, 7).
• “I form the light and create darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity” (Isaiah 45:7).
• “For thus says the LORD—He who created the heavens, He is God… He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited” (Isaiah 45:18).
These verses locate sovereignty, providence, and even the mystery of permitted adversity within the creator-creature distinction.
Creation Ex Nihilo
While the Old Testament does not philosophically define “nothingness,” the repetitive use of “bara” inGenesis 1 paired with later reflections such asPsalm 33:6-9 implies that creation came into existence by divine decree alone.Isaiah 40:26 summons Israel to look at the stars and remember that their ordered host exists by God’s creative command. The doctrine undergirds worship, repentance, and confidence in covenant promises.
Human Participation and Distinction
Psalm 51:10 petitions, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Here “bara” moves from cosmic origins to personal renewal, revealing that only God can regenerate the human heart.Ezekiel 36:26 echoes the promise, though using a cognate: the new covenant reality is an act of divine creation within people. Because human beings cannot “bara,” all spiritual transformation remains grace-grounded.
Redemptive and Eschatological Creation
Isaiah expands the verb into future hope:
• “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17).
• “For I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people a delight” (Isaiah 65:18).
Jeremiah 31:22’s “new thing” hints at messianic fulfillment, and the post-exilic community heard assurance inIsaiah 43:19, “See, I am doing a new thing.” Revelation later adopts the language, showing continuity between Testaments: the God who once created will consummate creation in newness.
Liturgical and Devotional Implications
Old Testament worship often recalls “bara” to invoke reverence (Psalm 148:5), thanksgiving (Psalm 102:18), and hope amid exile (Isaiah 54:16-17). Congregational confession—whether in David’s psalm or Nehemiah’s prayer—leans on the conviction that the Creator can also re-create covenant faithfulness within His people.
Theological and Doctrinal Significance
1. Doctrine of God: “Bara” establishes absolute sovereignty, self-existence, and freedom.
2. Doctrine of Man: Humanity bears God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and is accountable to the One who created.
3. Doctrine of Sin and Salvation: Only the Creator can overcome the chaos of sin (Psalm 51:10;Isaiah 43:25).
4. Eschatology: Future restoration is cast as a creative act (Isaiah 65:17;Malachi 2:10 allusion).
5. Christology (implicit in the Old Testament):John 1 andColossians 1 ground Jesus Christ’s person and work in the same creative action, reinforcing the unity of Scripture.
Usage Summary by Canonical Section
Pentateuch: 13 occurrences—primarily Genesis, with juridical echo inNumbers 16:30.
Historical Books: 1 occurrence (1 Samuel 2:29, textual variant).
Wisdom Literature: 6 occurrences—Psalms 51:10, 89:12, 102:18, 104:30, 148:5,Proverbs 8:22.
Prophets: about 35 occurrences—concentrated in Isaiah (over twenty), plusJeremiah 31:22,Ezekiel 21:30,Amos 4:13, and others. Each prophetic use ties current events to the Creator’s unchanging authority.
Practical Application for Ministry
• Preaching: Anchor calls to repentance and faith in the God who not only initiated creation but can fashion new hearts.
• Counseling: Offer hope of transformation based on divine creative power, not human resolve.
• Missions: Affirm that all peoples possess dignity because they are “created” (Isaiah 43:7) and are objects of redemption.
• Apologetics: Defend biblical worldview against materialistic or pantheistic narratives by spotlighting the unique, personal Creator revealed in “bara.”
Because “bara” frames the Bible’s opening line and resonates through judgment, redemption, and consummation, awareness of its breadth enriches every ministry endeavor that proclaims “the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 40:28).
Forms and Transliterations
בְּהִבָּֽרְאָ֑ם בְּרָאָ֑ם בְּרָאָ֑נוּ בְּרָאָֽהּ׃ בְּרָא־ בְּרָאתִ֑יו בְּרָאתִֽיו׃ בְּרֹ֤א בְרָאָ֖הּ בְרָאתָ֑ם בָּרֵ֔א בָּרֵֽא׃ בָּרָ֙אתִי֙ בָּרָ֣א בָּרָ֣אתִי בָּרָ֥א בָּרָ֥אתִי בָּרָ֥אתָ בָּרָ֨א בָרָ֑אתִי בָרָ֣א בָרָ֥א בָרָ֨א בֹּרַאֲךָ֣ בּ֣וֹרְאֶ֔יךָ בּוֹרֵ֖א בּוֹרֵ֤א בּוֹרֵ֥א בּוֹרֵ֨א בּוֹרֵא֙ בהבראם בוֹרֵ֑א בוֹרֵ֛א בוֹרֵ֧א בורא בוראיך ברא ברא־ ברא׃ בראה בראה׃ בראך בראם בראנו בראת בראתי בראתיו בראתיו׃ בראתם הִבָּֽרְאָ֑ךְ הִבָּֽרְאָֽם׃ הִבָּרַאֲךָ֖ הבראך הבראם׃ וְנִבְרָֽאוּ׃ וַיִּבְרָ֣א וַיִּבְרָ֨א וּב֣וֹרֵא וּבֵ֣רֵאת֔וֹ וּבֵרֵאתָ֤ וּבָרֵ֥א וּבָרָ֣א וּבֹרֵ֣א וּבוֹרֵ֣א ובורא וברא ובראת ובראתו ויברא ונבראו׃ יִבְרָ֣א יִבָּרֵא֑וּן יברא יבראון לְהַבְרִֽיאֲכֶ֗ם להבריאכם נִ֝בְרָ֗א נִבְרְא֥וּ נִבְרְאוּ֙ נִבְרֵ֛את נברא נבראו נבראת bā·rā ḇā·rā bā·rā·ṯā bā·rā·ṯî ḇā·rā·ṯî bā·rê baRa bārā ḇārā baRata bārāṯā baRati bārāṯî ḇārāṯî baRe bārê bə·hib·bā·rə·’ām bə·rā- bə·rā·’ā·nū bə·rā·’āh ḇə·rā·’āh bə·rā·’ām ḇə·rā·ṯām bə·rā·ṯîw bə·rō bəhibbārə’ām behibbareAm bera bərā- bərā’āh ḇərā’āh bərā’ām bərā’ānū beraAh beraAm beraAnu ḇərāṯām beraTiv bərāṯîw beRo bərō bō·ra·’ă·ḵā bō·w·rê ḇō·w·rê bō·wr·’e·ḵā bōra’ăḵā boraaCha boRe borEicha bōwr’eḵā bōwrê ḇōwrê hib·bā·ra·’ă·ḵā hib·bā·rə·’āḵ hib·bā·rə·’ām hibbāra’ăḵā hibbaraaCha hibbārə’āḵ hibbārə’ām hibbareAch hibBareAm lə·haḇ·rî·’ă·ḵem ləhaḇrî’ăḵem lehavriaChem niḇ·rā niḇ·rə·’ū niḇ·rêṯ niḇrā niḇrə’ū niḇrêṯ nivRa nivRet nivreU ū·ḇā·rā ū·ḇā·rê ū·ḇê·rê·ṯā ū·ḇê·rê·ṯōw ū·ḇō·rê ū·ḇō·w·rê ūḇārā ūḇārê ūḇêrêṯā ūḇêrêṯōw ūḇōrê ūḇōwrê uvaRa uvaRe uvereTa uVereTo uvoRe vaiyivRa vaRa vaRati venivRau veraAh veraTam voRe way·yiḇ·rā wayyiḇrā wə·niḇ·rā·’ū wəniḇrā’ū yib·bā·rê·’ūn yiḇ·rā yibbārê’ūn yibbareUn yiḇrā yivRa
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