Who was Beeri in the bible?
Beeri is a name borne by two individuals: a Hittite in Genesis 26:34 and an Israelite listed as Beri in 1 Chronicles 7:36.
Genealogy Listing
1 Chronicles 7:36 includes an Israelite named Beri in Zophah’s sons: “The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,”
Learn More →Name and Form
Strong’s lexicon links Beeri (Be’eriy) to a word for “a pit; especially a well,” and notes Beri as likely a contracted form of Beeri.
Learn More →Beeri is a biblical personal name borne by more than one individual in the Hebrew Bible: one Beeri is identified as “the Hittite” in connection with Esau’s marriage, and another bearer appears in a genealogical list as “Beri,” an Israelite name-form likely related to Beeri. In lexicon-derived sense, the name is connected with the idea of a “well” or “pit.”
Beeri in Scripture
The clearest mention of Beeri appears in the narrative setting of Genesis 26, where Isaac’s servants report finding water from a dug well, Isaac names the well, and then the text records Esau’s choice of wives. The sequence frames Beeri’s appearance within a chapter context that includes wells and naming.
“The same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, ‘We have found water.’” (Genesis 26:32, WEB)
“He called it ‘Shibah’. Therefore the name of the city is ‘Beersheba’ to this day.” (Genesis 26:33, WEB)
Immediately after these notices about a well and a place-name, the text identifies Beeri in a family description: he is presented as the father of Judith, one of Esau’s wives, and he is explicitly called a Hittite.
“When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite.” (Genesis 26:34, WEB)
The narrative continues by describing the effect of these marriages on Isaac and Rebekah.
“They grieved Isaac’s and Rebekah’s spirits.” (Genesis 26:35, WEB)
A second bearer appears under a slightly different spelling, Beri, within a genealogical context in 1 Chronicles 7. The immediate setting is a set of lists that move from one family grouping to another, naming fathers and sons in sequence. Beri is included among “the sons of Zophah,” and the surrounding verses keep the focus on the structure of descent and sibling lines.
“The sons of Shemer: Ahi, Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.” (1 Chronicles 7:34, WEB)
“The sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.” (1 Chronicles 7:35, WEB)
“The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,” (1 Chronicles 7:36, WEB)
“Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.” (1 Chronicles 7:37, WEB)
“The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara.” (1 Chronicles 7:38, WEB)
“The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.” (1 Chronicles 7:39, WEB)
Within these verses, Beri is not described by actions or titles; he is simply named as one of Zophah’s sons in a list that situates him among brothers and adjacent family lines.
Multiple Bearers
Beeri the Hittite (Genesis 26:34). This Beeri is identified by ethnicity and by parentage: Judith is “the daughter of Beeri the Hittite,” and she is one of the wives Esau “took as wife.” (Genesis 26:34). The surrounding narrative in Genesis 26 places this identification adjacent to Isaac’s well (“We have found water,” Genesis 26:32) and the naming of “Shibah” and “Beersheba” (Genesis 26:33), followed by the statement that Esau’s marriages “grieved Isaac’s and Rebekah’s spirits” (Genesis 26:35).
Beri (an Israelite name-form) (1 Chronicles 7:36). In 1 Chronicles 7, Beri appears as one of several sons in a genealogical enumeration: “The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,” (1 Chronicles 7:36). The nearby verses maintain the genealogical framework, naming additional family members and lines (1 Chronicles 7:34–35, 37–39). No further identifying detail is provided in these verses beyond Beri’s placement as Zophah’s son.
Name and Meaning
The Hebrew form associated with Beeri is spelled בְּאֵרִי (transliteration Be’eriy; pronunciation be-ay-ree’), and a related form appears as בֵּרִי (transliteration Beriy; pronunciation bay-ree’), likely a contracted form connected with the same name. In lexicon-derived explanation, the name is linked to a root associated with being “fountained,” and it is built from the component be’er (בְּאֵר), a word used for “a pit,” especially “a well.”
Observation
The two attestations present the name in two distinct kinds of biblical writing: Genesis introduces Beeri through a narrative notice about Esau’s marriage (“Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite,” Genesis 26:34), while 1 Chronicles preserves Beri as a simple entry within an extended genealogy (“The sons of Zophah… Beri,” 1 Chronicles 7:36).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Beeri mean?
Beeri is given with the meaning “fountained.”
How many times does Beeri appear in the Bible?
Beeri appears 2 times total across the two Hebrew entries shown.
Who was Beeri?
One Beeri was a Hittite mentioned as Judith’s father in Genesis 26:34. Another is listed as an Israelite named Beri in 1 Chronicles 7:36 among the sons of Zophah.
Was there more than one person named Beeri?
Yes. The name is used of a Hittite (Genesis 26:34) and of an Israelite listed as Beri (1 Chronicles 7:36).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Beeri interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
