בֶּ֫צֶר

From the study of 1 Chronicles 7:37

Range of meaning

As a personal name, 'Bezer.' The related common noun betser means precious ore, gold ore (Job 22:24–25). The root b-ts-r has to do with cutting off or making inaccessible, which produces words for fortified cities (mivtsar) and for grape-harvesting (batsar). So the name evokes something like 'precious ore' or 'stronghold.'

Against the English

All English versions simply transliterate the name, which is correct. A name like this carried meaning for its first hearers, but English readers lose that.

Used elsewhere in the period

Bezer is also a Reubenite city of refuge east of the Jordan (Deut 4:43; Josh 20:8; 21:36; 1 Chr 6:78). The Moabite king Mesha's inscription (about 840 BC) also says he 'built Bezer,' which shows the name was used for places across the region.

From the study of Joshua 21:36

Range of meaning

A place name, probably related to the root b-ṣ-r, 'to make inaccessible, to fortify'. So 'stronghold' or 'fortress'.

Against the English

All versions transliterate it as 'Bezer'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deuteronomy 4:43 and Joshua 20:8 call it a city of refuge 'in the wilderness, on the tableland, for the Reubenites'. 1 Chronicles 6:78 names it in the parallel list. The Moabite king Mesha's inscription (about 840 BC, line 27) says: 'I built Bezer, for it was in ruins', so Moab later took it over. Its exact site is uncertain. Umm el-ʿAmad, northeast of Madaba, is one proposal.