Original Word: בִּכְרִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Bikriy
Pronunciation: bik-REE
Phonetic Spelling: (bik-ree')
KJV: Bichri
NASB: Bichri
Word Origin: [from H1069 (בָּכַר - firstborn)]

1. youth-ful
2. Bikri, an Israelite

Bichri

From bakar; youth-ful; Bikri, an Israelite -- Bichri.

see HEBREW bakar

Word Origin
from bakar
Definition
"youthful," a Benjamite, perhaps also his desc.
NASB Translation
Bichri (8).

בִּכְּרִי proper name, masculine (youthful) —

1 a Benjamite 2 Samuel 20:1,2,6,7,10,13,21,22; only in phrase שֶׁבַע בֶּןבִּֿכְּרִי. 2 perhaps

adjective, of a people plural with article הַבִּכְּרִים 2 Samuel 20:14 the Bichrites (i.e. family of Sheba`), ᵑ0 הַבֵּרִים; compare ᵐ5 ἐν Ξαρρει = (ב)כרי; so Klo Dr.

Identity and Lineage

Bichri (בִּכְרִי) designates a Benjamite ancestor whose name is preserved through his son, Sheba. The clan is likely tied to the descendants of Becher, second son of Benjamin, which would explain the designation “a Benjamite” in 2 Samuel 20:1. Although Bichri himself never speaks or acts in the narrative, his name becomes inseparable from a pivotal revolt against King David.

Occurrences in Scripture

All eight occurrences appear within the single narrative of 2 Samuel 20 (verses 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 13, 21, 22). Each reference either identifies Sheba as “son of Bichri” or labels the insurgent simply as “the man of the house of Bichri,” underlining how the patriarch’s name brands the uprising.

Historical Context

The rebellion of Sheba son of Bichri follows immediately on the heels of Absalom’s failed coup (2 Samuel 18–19). Israel has just been readmitted to allegiance with David, but deep tribal tensions linger. Into this vacuum steps Sheba, leveraging his father’s Benjamite lineage to rally northern tribes and fracture the fragile unity of the kingdom. Bichri’s household thus stands at the flashpoint of post-Absalomic unrest.

The Rebellion of Sheba Son of Bichri

2 Samuel 20:1 records: “Now a wicked man of Benjamin named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. And he blew the trumpet and said, ‘We have no portion in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!’”

Sheba’s rallying cry capitalizes on tribal discontent, echoing later schismatic sentiments heard when the ten northern tribes break away under Jeroboam. Joab, having just regained military command through the slaying of Amasa, pursues Sheba relentlessly. The chase ends at Abel Beth Maacah, where a wise woman negotiates with Joab, saying of the rebel, “Sheba son of Bichri from the hill country of Ephraim has raised his hand against King David” (2 Samuel 20:21). Sheba’s severed head is then thrown over the wall, quelling the revolt.

Geographical Associations

Although a Benjamite by birth, Sheba flees northward through the tribal territories of Benjamin, Ephraim, and Naphtali, indicating an ability to mobilize disaffected elements far beyond his native clan. His final refuge, Abel Beth Maacah, sits near Israel’s northern border, underscoring the nationwide ripples of Bichri’s household.

Theological and Ministry Implications

1. Covenant Loyalty: Bichri’s name becomes synonymous with covenant disloyalty. Israel’s unity is covenantal, not merely political. To rebel against the anointed king is to rebel against the God who installed him (1 Samuel 16:13).
2. Consequences of Division: The Bichrite episode foreshadows the eventual fracture of the united monarchy (1 Kings 12). Pastoral application urges vigilance against factions that erode doctrinal and relational unity in the body of Christ.
3. Wise Mediation: The unnamed wise woman contrasts sharply with Sheba. Her decisive counsel saves an entire city and prevents extended bloodshed. Ministry leaders learn that godly wisdom, even from unexpected quarters, can dismantle rebellion without widespread destruction.

Lessons for Today

• Heritage carries influence: Bichri’s lineage provided the social capital that enabled his son’s revolt. Families and churches are reminded that spiritual heritage can be wielded either to bless or to divide.
• God’s purposes stand: Despite successive insurrections (Absalom, Sheba), the Lord preserves David’s throne, prefiguring the unassailable kingship of the Messiah.
• Discerning Allegiances: Believers must weigh appeals to tribal or cultural identity against loyalty to God’s chosen order. Davidic kingship points forward to Christ’s ultimate rule; opposing it aligns with futility.

Bichri’s name thus lives on as a biblical signpost warning against schism, while illustrating the steadfast faithfulness of God in safeguarding His redemptive plan.

בִּכְרִ֑י בִּכְרִ֖י בִּכְרִ֣י בִּכְרִֽי׃ בִּכְרִי֙ בכרי בכרי׃ bichRi biḵ·rî biḵrîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts