Original Word: בֶכֶר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Beker
Pronunciation: beh'-ker
Phonetic Spelling: (beh'-ker)
KJV: Becher
NASB: Becher
Word Origin: [the same as H1070 (בֶּכֶר - Firstborn)]

1. Beker, the name of two Israelites

Becher

The same as beker; Beker, the name of two Israelites -- Becher.

see HEBREW beker

Word Origin
from bakar
Definition
"young camel," two Isr.
NASB Translation
Becher (5).

בֶּ֫כֶר proper name, masculine (young camel, Arabic , Assyrian bakru Asrb^{Annals ix. 65}) —

1 son of Ephraim Numbers 26:35 = בֶּרֶד 1 Chronicles 7:20.

2 son of Benjamin Genesis 46:21; 1 Chronicles 7:6,8 (בָּ֑כֶר).

Biblical Occurrences and Contexts

Genesis 46:21 places Beker among the sons of Benjamin who migrated with Jacob to Egypt. Numbers 26:35 records a different Beker, a son of Ephraim, whose family is counted in the second wilderness census. 1 Chronicles 7:6 repeats Benjamin’s genealogy, while 7:8 supplies details about the Benjamite Beker’s own sons. Five verses in all preserve the name, anchoring it in two distinct tribal lines.

Beker of Benjamin

The Benjamite Beker stands at the head of a clan that grew within the smallest tribe of Israel. His placement immediately after Bela in Genesis 46:21 suggests seniority among Benjamin’s sons. The Chronicler echoes that status: “The three sons of Benjamin were Bela, Beker, and Jediael” (1 Chronicles 7:6). Although later census lists focus on Bela’s descendants, 1 Chronicles 7:8 reasserts Beker’s line, naming nine sons who became “heads of families, mighty men of valor.” This notice testifies to the military and social strength that the Bekerites contributed to Benjamin, a tribe often renowned for its skilled warriors (Judges 20:16).

Beker of Ephraim

Numbers 26:35 introduces a Beker arising from Ephraim. The text identifies “the family of the Bachrites,” indicating that his descendants formed a discrete clan within Ephraim’s tribal structure. By the time of the census on the plains of Moab, the Bachrites add to Ephraim’s tally of 32,500 fighting men, underscoring their significance in Israel’s martial readiness on the eve of Canaan’s conquest.

Family Lists and Covenant Continuity

The dual appearance of Beker in two tribes reflects a recurring biblical pattern: different families may share the same theophoric or honorific name because of its theological resonance. Rooted in the verb “to be firstborn,” the name underscores God’s recurring theme of the firstborn’s special status—yet also His freedom to work beyond birth order. In Israel’s unfolding history, Benjamin himself was the youngest son of Jacob, and Ephraim was favored above Manasseh, illustrating that lineage is ultimately ordered by divine election rather than human custom.

Territorial Implications

Neither Pentateuch nor Chronicles explicitly locates Bekerite settlements, yet their tribal settings imply strategic influence. Benjamite inheritance straddled the vital north–south route between Judah and the northern tribes, while Ephraim occupied the fertile hill country of central Canaan. Thus Bekerite clans took part in guarding Israel’s heartland, shaping the socio-political landscape from early conquest through the united monarchy.

Theological Reflections

1. Covenant Faithfulness: Genealogies are spiritual milestones. Every mention of Beker assures readers that God’s promises to the patriarchs did not stall in Egypt or the wilderness; they advanced through identifiable families.
2. Divine Election: By naming two distinct Bekers, Scripture highlights God’s sovereignty in blessing whom He wills, echoing Romans 9:11-13.
3. Leadership and Valor: Chronicling Beker’s “mighty men” teaches that genuine strength is measured not only by numbers but by covenant loyalty.

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Value of Heritage: Congregations that trace and honor their spiritual forebears gain perspective on God’s long-term work.
• Encouragement for the Overlooked: Just as the Benjamite Beker receives sparse narrative attention yet fathers valorous men, so believers serving in hidden places contribute vitally to Christ’s body.
• Responsibility of the Firstborn: The name’s etymology invites reflection on Jesus Christ, “the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). In Him the church inherits both privilege and mission.

Summary

Though briefly mentioned, the two Old Testament Bekers illustrate the intertwining of tribe, covenant, and divine purpose. Their descendants bolster Israel’s numbers, defend its territory, and proclaim the faithfulness of God from Egypt to the Promised Land—an enduring testimony that every name inscribed in Scripture, however small its footprint, advances the grand redemptive narrative.

בֶ֗כֶר בָֽכֶר׃ בכר בכר׃ וָבֶ֙כֶר֙ וָבֶ֛כֶר ובכר לְבֶ֕כֶר לבכר ḇā·ḵer ḇāḵer ḇe·ḵer ḇeḵer lə·ḇe·ḵer ləḇeḵer leVecher Vacher vaVecher Vecher wā·ḇe·ḵer wāḇeḵerInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts