Who was Becher in the bible?
Becher (Bether) is a place-name appearing in Song of Solomon 2:17 as “the mountains of Bether.”
In Scripture
The only cited occurrence is: “be like a roe or a young deer on the mountains of Bether” (Song of Solomon 2:17).
Learn More →Name Meaning
Strong’s derives Bether from a term meaning “a section.” In the verse it functions as a geographic reference: “the mountains of Bether” (Song of Solomon 2:17).
Learn More →“Becher” here corresponds to the Hebrew name Bether, identified in the lexicon gloss as a place in Palestine. In Scripture it appears as “the mountains of Bether,” a location used in poetic speech.
Becher in Scripture
The single occurrence comes within a brief exchange marked by vineyard imagery and the language of mutual belonging between the speaker and “my beloved.” The setting immediately includes an appeal to protect vineyards that are currently flourishing:
“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that plunder the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom.” (Song of Solomon 2:15, WEB)
The speaker then describes a relationship of mutual possession and depicts the beloved’s activity among lilies:
“My beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.” (Song of Solomon 2:16, WEB)
Against that backdrop, “Bether” (rendered in the question as “Becher”) appears as part of a vivid comparison. The speaker calls for the beloved to “turn,” and likens him to agile animals moving across mountainous terrain, tied to a time of day when the air cools and shadows recede:
“Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a roe or a young deer on the mountains of Bether.” (Song of Solomon 2:17, WEB)
In this context, the “mountains of Bether” function as a distinctive place-name anchoring the simile. The verse’s movement is from time (“Until the day is cool”) to the beloved’s response (“turn, my beloved”) to the image of swift motion (“be like a roe or a young deer”) across the named mountains.
Name and Meaning
The Hebrew form is בֶּתֶר (Bether), pronounced beh’-ther. Its derivation is given as the same as H1335, from a component bether (בֶּתֶר) meaning “a section,” and it is glossed as “Bether,” a (craggy) place in Palestine.
Observation
Within Song of Solomon 2:15–17, “Bether” is not explained in detail, but it is named as the mountainous setting for the beloved’s roe- or deer-like movement: “on the mountains of Bether” (Song of Solomon 2:17, WEB).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Becher mean?
Becher is given as Bether, a craggy place in Palestine.
How many times does Becher appear in the Bible?
Becher appears 1 time in the Bible.
Who was Becher?
Becher refers to Bether, described as a craggy place in Palestine, mentioned in Song of Solomon 2:17.
What happens in Song of Solomon 2:17 involving Bether?
Song of Solomon 2:17 compares the beloved to “a roe or a young deer on the mountains of Bether.”
Explore Further
If you found this page about Becher 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).
