† I. בָּרָא53 vb. shape, create (cf. Arabic بَرَى, form, fashion by cutting, shape out, pare a reed for writing, a stick for an arrow; بَرَأَ, create (loan-word); Ph. הברא CISi. 347 incisor, a trade involving cutting; Assyrian barû, make, create, COTGloss & Hpt KAT2 Gloss 1 but dub.; Sab. ברא found, build, DHMZMG 1883, 413, synon. בנה; BaZA 1888, 58, comp. Assyrian banû, create, beget, with change of liquid; Aramaic בְּרָא, ܒܪܳܐ, create)—
Qal Pf. Gn 1:1 + 19 times; Impf. יִבְרָא Gn 1:21, 27 Nu 16:30; Inf. בְּרֹא Gn 5:1; Imv. בְּרָא ψ 51:12; Pt. בּוֹרֵא Is 42:5 + 10 times; sf. בֹּרַאֲךָ Is 43:1; בּוֹרְאֶיךָ Ec 12:1;—shape, fashion, create, always of divine activity, with acc. rei, seldom except in P and Is 2. 1. obj. heaven and earth Gn 1:1; 2:3 (P) Is 45:18, 18; mankind Gn 1:27(×3); 5:1, 2 (P) 6:7 (J) Dt 4:32 ψ 89:48 Is 45:12; the host of heaven Is 40:26; heavens Is 42:5; ends of the earth Is 40:28; north and south ψ 89:13; wind Am 4:13; the תנינים Gn 1:21 (P). 2. the individual man Mal 2:10 (‖ father) Ec 12:1; the smith and the waster Is 54:16(×2) Israel as a nation Is 43:15; Jacob Is 43:1; the seed of Israel Is 43:7. 3. new conditions and circumstances: righteousness and salvation Is 45:8; darkness and evil Is 45:7; fruit of the lips Is 57:19; a new thing חֲדָשָׁה (a woman encompassing a man) Je 31:22; בְּרִיאָה (swallowing up the Korahites) Nu 16:30 (J); cloud and flame over Zion Is 4:5. 4. of transformations: a clean heart ψ 51:12 (‖ חִדֵּשׁ; new heaven and earth Is 65:17 (in place of old); transformation of nature Is 41:20; with double acc. בורא ירושׁלם גילה transform Jerusalem into rejoicing Is 65:18.
Niph. Pf. 2 fs. נִבְרֵאתְ Ez 21:35; 3 pl. נִבְרְאוּ Ex 34:10 + 2 times; Impf. יִבָּרֵא֑וּן ψ 104:30; Inf. sf. הִבָּרַאֲךָ Ez 28:13; הִבָּֽרְאָךְ Ez 28:15; הִבָּֽרְאָם Gn 2:4; 5:2; Pt. נִבְרָא ψ 102:19;—Pass. 1. be created: heaven and earth Gn 2:4 (P); creatures ψ 104:30; mankind Gn 5:2 (P); heavens ψ 148:5. 2. with reference to birth: במקום אשׁר נבראת in the place where thou wast created (i.e. native land) Ez 21:35; יום הבראך day when thou wast created (king of Tyre) Ez 28:13, 15 (cf. היום ילדתיך ψ 2:7); עַם נִבְרָא ψ 102:19 (‖ עַם נוֹלָד ψ 22:32). 3. of something new, astonishing: miracles Ex 34:10 (J); new things, חדשׁית Is 48:6.
Pi. Pf. בֵּרֵאתָ Jos 17:15; בֵּרֵאתוֹ Jos 17:18; Inf. abs. בָּרֵא Ez 21:24(×2) 23:47;— 1. cut down: a forest Jos 17:15, 18 (J); וּבָרֵא אוֹתְהֶן בְּחַרְבוֹתָם Ez 23:47. 2. cut out: יָד hand, as an index Ez 21:24(×2).