Original Word: בְּכוֹרַת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Bkowrath
Pronunciation: beh-koh-RAHT
Phonetic Spelling: (bek-o-rath')
KJV: Bechorath
NASB: Becorath
Word Origin: [feminine of H1062 (בְּכוֹרָה בְּכוֹרָה - birthright)]

1. primogeniture
2. Bekorath, an Israelite

Bechorath

Feminine of bkowrah; primogeniture; Bekorath, an Israelite -- Bechorath.

see HEBREW bkowrah

Word Origin
from bakar
Definition
"first-born," a Benjamite
NASB Translation
Becorath (1).

בְּכוֺרַת proper name, masculine (first-born) Benjamite 1 Samuel 9:1.

Name and Meaning

Derived from the Hebrew root associated with “firstborn,” בְּכוֹרַת (Becorath) carries connotations of primacy and prominence. The nuance of being “first” or “chief” resonates with scriptural themes in which the firstborn enjoys special status, inheritance rights, and covenantal significance.

Biblical Occurrence

Becorath appears once, in 1 Samuel 9:1, within the ancestry of Saul: “There was a Benjamite, a man of standing named Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of Benjamin” (Berean Standard Bible). Though a brief mention, the name sits strategically in the genealogy that leads to Israel’s first king.

Genealogical Importance in Benjamin

The tribe of Benjamin, Jacob’s youngest son, often provides unlikely leaders—Ehud, Mordecai, the Apostle Paul, and, here, King Saul. Becorath, positioned between Zeror and Aphiah, represents a crucial generational link. His inclusion confirms the purity of Saul’s tribal lineage and underscores God’s meticulous orchestration of history, validating Saul’s initial legitimacy as monarch.

Theological Themes Connected with the Firstborn

1. Covenantal Priority: The firstborn motif reaches from Abel’s replacement Seth, through Isaac, to Jesus Christ, “the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). Becorath’s root highlights God’s pattern of selecting and sanctifying the first.
2. Redemption: In Exodus 13:2, the Lord claims every firstborn Israelite male. Becorath’s name, echoing that claim, reminds readers that ultimate redemption comes through the “firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29).
3. Leadership Responsibility: The firstborn bears a double portion and attendant responsibility (Deuteronomy 21:17). Saul, as Becorath’s descendant, initially embodies this charge but tragically forfeits it, prefiguring the need for a true and faithful Firstborn—Christ.

Historical Background

During the transitional era from judges to monarchy, genealogies validated tribal credentials. Becorath’s generation likely experienced the closing decades of the judges, marked by tribal fragmentation (Judges 21:25). His house preserved its standing despite regional unrest, setting the stage for Kish’s prominence and Saul’s selection (1 Samuel 10:21).

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

• God notices and records seemingly obscure individuals; every link in His redemptive chain matters.
• Spiritual heritage is both a privilege and a stewardship. Becorath’s line received honor, yet Saul’s disobedience warns against presuming on ancestry.
• Christ fulfills the “firstborn” ideal perfectly; ministry today rests not on human pedigree but on union with Him, “the firstborn from the dead” (Revelation 1:5).

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