בָּקָר
cattle
also: herd, oxen, ox fuller range ↓
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Where this word appears
See every Absolute-state word in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Noun
- A naming word — a person, place, thing, or idea.
Noun type
- Common
- A common noun — a general class of person, place, or thing (“king,” “city,” “water”), not a specific name.
State
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
Gender
- Both
- Attested as both masculine and feminine.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
1 verse where H1241 appears in the Construct state in the Book of Numbers. Filtered view — show all forms. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Numbers
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
At its core, בקר (bâqâr) means “cattle.” Translators differ — “oxen” in the King James Version, then “cattle” (unfoldingWord Literal Text), as the renderings breakdown shows. It turns up in 172 verses across 24 books, a common footprint. The word gravitates to Numbers (28%), then 2 Chronicles and Genesis. Beyond its headline sense, its full sense range takes in “herd”, “oxen”, and “ox”. Dig into 172-verse concordance and the renderings breakdown below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's H1241 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 172
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 172 distinct verses.
- 24 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 24 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #255
- by frequency
- Top 500 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 255 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 172 occurrences in the concordance →
Most concentrated in
- Numbers 49 verses 28%
- 2 Chronicles 17 verses 10%
- Genesis 16 verses 9%
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 172 distinct verses.
- Torah (Pentateuch) 96 verses · 56%
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 48 verses · 28%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 28 verses · 16%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
- King James Version: Oxen 70×, Herds 27×, Young 22×
- American Standard Version: Oxen 72×, Herds 24×, Young 21×
- Berean Standard Bible: Oxen 48×, Herds 31×, Cattle 24×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text: Cattle 93×, Oxen 30×, Herd 18×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H1241 across 166 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 14 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 16 further occurrences.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H1241 across 166 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 20 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H1241 across 142 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 11 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 41 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H1241 across 186 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus 10 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Senses in the full BDB
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 4 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
- 1. mostly coll.
- a. cattle, generic (never pl. in form) Gn 12:16; 13:5; 20:14; 21:27; 24:35 Lv 1:2 Dt 8:13 1 S 11:5 Ho 5:6 Jo 1:18 1 Ch 27:29(×2) + often (frequently ‖ צֹאן); as grazing, 1 Ch 27:29 +; in sim. כַּבּ׳ Jb 40:15 Is 11:7; 65:25; as lowing (קוֹל הַבּ׳) 1 S 15:14; מִקְנֵה בָקָר possession of (i.e. property in) cattle Gn 6:14; 47:17 (both J); עֶדְרֵי ב׳ Jo 1:18 herds of cattle; especially בֶּן־בָּקָר son of cattle (i.e. belonging to the בקר), to denote a single ox, calf, etc.; as used for food Gn 18:7 cf. v 8 (J)—in these prob. = calf (v also 1 S 14:32 בָּקָר וּבְנֵי בָקָר); usually for sacrifice (Hex only P) Nu 15:8, 9; בֶּן־הַבּ׳ Lv 1:5; appos. עֵגֶל †Lv 9:2;—cf. עֶגְלַת בָּקָר †Dt 21:3 1 S 16:2 Is 7:21;—mostly appos. פַּר Ex 29:1 + 27 times; also pl. †פָּרִים בני בקר Nu 28:11, 19, 27; 29:13, 17 (on all these cf. בֵּן); also indef. cattle, oxen, of a number not specified Nu 7:87, 88 (in both enumerated as פָּרִים); 22:40 1 S 14:32; 15:21 1 K 1:9; 7:29(×2) (here of graven work) 8:5 1 Ch 12:40 2 Ch 5:6; 18:2 Is 22:13 ψ 66:15; also as beasts of burden †1 Ch 12:40 e.g. Genesis 12:16
- b. a particular herd of cattle Gn 18:7 (J); cf. pl. בְּקָרֵינוּ, our herds, only Ne 10:37. e.g. Genesis 18:7
- 2. more individually, head of cattle,—yet always of more than one (Hex mostly P; pl. only Am 6:12 + 2 Ch 4:3 v. supr.); of two Nu 7:17 + 11 times Nu 7; †cf. also צֶמֶד ב׳ yoke (pair) of oxen 1 S 11:7 cf. v 7, 1 K 19:21 cf. v 21 (ploughing, cf. v 19); also 2 S 6:6 = 1 Ch 13:9 (drawing a cart, cf. Nu 7:3 f. 1 S 6:7 f.), 2 S 24:22 = 1 Ch 21:23, 2 S 24:22, 24 1 K 19:20 Am 6:12 (pl.); 500 yoke of oxen Jb 1:3 cf. v 14; 1000 yoke 42:12; further, of four Nu 7:7; five Ex 21:37 (תַּחַת הַשּׁוֹר); seven 2 Ch 29:22 (‖ פָּרִים v 21); eight Nu 7:8; ten 1 K 5:3; twelve Nu 7:3 (singly called שׁוֹר) cf. v 6; of the twelve brazen bulls beneath the sea in Sol.’s temple 1 K 7:25, 44 = 2 Ch 4:4, 15 cf. 2 K 16:17 2 Ch 4:3 (דְּמוּת בְּקָרִים) v 3 (but read in both פְּקָעִים, as ‖ 1 K 7:24 cf. Be Öt) v 4 Je 52:20; of twenty 1 K 5:3; seventy 2 Ch 29:32; hundreds or thousands 1 K 8:63 = 2 Ch 7:5, 2 Ch 15:11; 29:33; 35:7, 8, 9 (cf. v 12), & Nu 31:33, 38, 44†. Note חֶמְאַת בָּקָר Dt 32:14 (poem), שְׁפוֹת ב׳ 2 S 17:29, כְּלִי הַבּ׳ 2 S 24:22 1 K 19:21, מַלְמַד הַבּ׳ Ju 3:31, צְפִו֯עֵי הַבּ׳ Ez. 4:15 (opp. גֶּלֲלֵי הָאָדָם). e.g. Amos 6:12
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
n.m. 1 K 5:3 + (f. Gn 33:13; Jb 1:14 cf. Dt 32:14 2 S 17:29) cattle, herd, ox (Arabic بَقَرٌ, Aramaic בַּקְרָא, בַּקְרְתָא, ܒܰܩܪܳܐ (cf. also HomNS 222 ff.); name from ploughing, so Thes LagBN 51 al.)—abs. בּ׳ Gn 12:16 +; cstr. בְּקַר Nu 7:88; sf. בְּקָֽרְךָ Gn 45:10 +; בְּקָרֶ֑ךָ Ex 20:24 Je 5:17; בְּקָרוֹ 1 S 11:7 2 S 12:4; בְּקַרְכֶם Dt 12:6; בְּקָרָם Je 3:24 +; pl. בְּקָרִים Am 6:12 (al. read בקר ים) 2 Ch 4:3 (but read פְּקָעִים v. ‖ 1 K 7:24 infr.); sf. בְּקָרֵינוּ Ne 10:37; read בקריכם for בחוריכם 1 S 8:16 𝔊 We Dr;—
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Derived from בקר (bâqar) (H1239) — to seek.
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
בָּקַר
- , v. בקע) to enter into, to clear, split; whence
- 1. (= בער) to eat up. Denom. בָּקָר (= בְּעִיר).
- 2. (= בער) to break forth, shine. Denom. בֹּקֶר.
- (b. h.)
- 1. to enter into, examine, search, distinguish (cmp. בִּין). Keth. 106ᵃ מְבַקְּרֵי מומין those entrusted with the examination of sacrificial animals. Y. Bets. II, 61ᶜ top ובִיקְּרָן ממומן and had them examined (and declared free) from bodily defects. Ḥag. 9ᵇ אין אומרים בַּקְּרוּ וכ׳ we do not say, Examine ye a camel, a swine &c. (i.e. only the deeds of distinguished persons are scrutinized); a. fr.—Part. pass. מְבוּקָּר examined and found fit. Y. Ber. IV, 7ᵇ top טליים מְבוּקָּרִים lambs which passed examination.
- 2. to inquire after one’s health, to visit the sick. Ned. IV, 4 (38ᵇ). ונכנס לְבַקְּרוֹ and comes to see him. Snh. 68ᵃ; a. v. fr. [Ruth. R. to II, 15, v. infra.]
- , Nithpa. נִתְבַּקֵּר
- 1. to be examined. Gen. R. s. 81 פנקסו נִתְבַּקְּרָה his account is examined (his sins visited); Tanḥ. Vayishlaḥ 8 מִתְבַּקֶּרֶת. Gen. R. s. 84, read with Yalk. Gen. 141 נתב׳ פנקסי my account &c.
- 2. to be visited, attended to. Num. R. s. 18 as all sick persons מִתְבַּקְּרִין are tended (by physicians).
- (Y. Dial. for הִפְקִיר, v. פָּקַר; v. next w.) to give free, to resign ownership, to declare a property ownerless. Y. Ned. IV, 38ᵈ; Y. Peah V, beg. 19ᵇ [read:] כיון שאדם מַבְקִיר דבר יצא מרשותו as soon as one declares a thing to be free, it has gone out of his control; Y. Dem. III, 23ᵇ bot. כיון שאדם מ׳ … ויצא … הבקירו הבקר as soon as one gives a thing free and it has left his possession, his act is valid; a. fr. [Ruth. R. to II, 15 מבקר, מבדר, prob. מבקיר; v. בָּדַר.]
- to be declared free, to be free. Y. Peah VI, 19ᶜ top.—Part. מוּבְקָר Ib. 19ᵇ bot. שדי מוּבְקֶרֶת וכ׳ (Tosef. Maasr. III, 11. הרי … מופ׳) my field shall be free for one day &c.; a. e.
בְּקַר
- —Pa. בַּקַּר
- 1. to search, examine. Targ. O. Lev. XIII, 36; a. fr.
- 2. to clear, glean. Targ. Y. I Deut. XXIV, 20 (II תתב׳, read תבקרון, h. text תפאר).
- 3. to let the herd graze (cmp. בער), to drive unmuzzled animals. Targ. Y. Gen. XIII, 7.
- 4. to visit the sick. Targ. Y. Ex. XVIII, 20; a. e.—Y. Sabb. VI, 8ᶜ bot.; a. fr.
- 5. (= preced. Hif.) to abandon, leave unclaimed, declare free. Targ. Y. Ex. XXIII, 11 Ar. (some ed. ותפקד, read ותפקר). Y. Shebi. IX, 39ᵃ top וַאֲבַקְּרָה קומיהון and I will declare it free goods in their presense. Ib. ומְבַקְּרִין ליה and declare ye it free property.
בֹּקֶר
- v. בָּקַר) morning, early day; metaph. light, salvation. Y. Taan. I, 64ᵃ top ב׳ לצדיקים וכ׳ a morning for the righteous, a night for the wicked. Ruth. R. to III, 13 בַּבּ׳ בעולם וכ׳ ‘in the morning’—that means in the world which is all-good. Esth. R., introd. (ref. to Deut. XXVIII, 67) בבָקְרָהּ של בבל וכ׳ in the morning (ascendancy) of Babel thou shalt say, Oh that her evening (downfall) would come! Gen. R. s. 21 (ref. to Dan. VIII, 14) לִכְשֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂה בָּקְרָן וכ׳ when the morning of the (persecuting) nations shall become evening, and the evening of Israel morning; Tanḥ. ed. Bub. B’resh. 23. Mekh. Bo, s. 6 in order to define it: לבָקְרוֹ של ב׳ at the very break of morning; Y. Ber. I, 2ᶜ top.—Pl. בְּקָרִים. Yoma 33ᵇ חלקהו לשני ב׳ divide the acts prescribed into two mornings, i.e. let another act be inserted between. Ber. 27ᵃ חלקהו לשני ב׳ take only one half of the morning hours. Y. Pes. V, 31ᵈ top אית לך מימר תמן בין הַבְּקָרַיִם then it ought to have read there ben hab-b’karaim (as you read בין הערבים, Du.). e.g. Deuteronomy 28:67
בָּקָר
- v. בָּקַר) a beef; (collect.) oxen, cattle. Sifra Vayikra ch. II, Par. 2 אין לך בבהמה אלא ב׳ וכ׳ under b’hemah for offerings (Lev. I, 2) are meant only beeves and sheep; a. fr. בן ב׳ young cattle, calf. Ib.; a. fr.—רועי ב׳ herders (suspected of feeding upon other people’s fields). Snh. III, 2 נאמנין עלי שלשה ר׳ ב׳ (if one says) I have faith in (the arbitration of) three herders. e.g. Leviticus 1:2
בַּקָּר
- (preced.) neat-herd, cow-herd; cattle-driver. Y. Bets. V, 63ᵇ, v. רֶגֶל.
קַר
- to be cold, v. קָרַר II, קְרַר II.—[Erub. X, 14, a. e. באר (בור) הקר, v. הָקֵר.]
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 76 distinct written forms H1241 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that state’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 16 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H1241, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derives from
Shares the same root
- בוקר bôwqêr H951 herdsman
- בקר bᵉqar H1240 to seek
- בקר bôqer H1242 morning
- בקרה baqqârâh H1243 seeking
- בקרת biqqôreth H1244 punishment
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 8 — not the complete family. 1 of the same-root words is a proper name (a person or place). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 169 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 172 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 12:16
- Exodus 9:3
- Leviticus 1:2
- Numbers 7:3
- Deuteronomy 8:13
- Judges 3:31
- 1 Samuel 11:5
- 2 Samuel 6:6
- 1 Kings 1:9
- 2 Kings 5:26
- 1 Chronicles 12:40
- 2 Chronicles 4:3
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
