Original Word: בֹּקֶר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: boqer
Pronunciation: boh'-ker
Phonetic Spelling: (bo'-ker)
KJV: (+) day, early, morning, morrow
NASB: morning, every morning, mornings, dawn, day, daybreak, soon
Word Origin: [from H1239 (בָּקַר - seek)]

1. (properly) dawn (as the break of day)
2. (generally) morning

day, early, morning, morrow

From baqar; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning -- (+) day, early, morning, morrow.

see HEBREW baqar

Word Origin
from baqar
Definition
morn- ing
NASB Translation
dawn (1), dawn* (2), day (1), daybreak (1), every morning (5), morning (195), mornings (2), soon (1), tomorrow morning (1).

בֹּ֫קֶר₂₁₄ noun masculine^{Exodus 10:13} morning (Late Hebrew id.; from split, penetrate, as the dawn the darkness, light through cloud-rifts, etc.) — ׳ב Genesis 1:5 + (always absolute); plural בְּקָרִים Job 7:18 4t.; —

1 morning (of point of time, time at which, never during which, English morning = forenoon): —

a. of end of night (opposed to לַיְלָה) Exodus 10:13 (J) Leviticus 6:2 (P) Judges 19:25; Ruth 3:13 (twice in verse); Isaiah 21:12 compare 1 Samuel 19:11 ("" מחר, opposed to לילה); opposed to לֵילוֺת Psalm 92:3; also (opposed to לוּן) Exodus 23:18; Exodus 34:25 (both J E) Leviticus 19:13 (H) Deuteronomy 16:4; opposed to צלמות Amos 5:8; compare further Genesis 40:6; Genesis 41:8 (both E) Exodus 12:22; Exodus 34:2 (twice in verse) (both J E) 1 Samuel 3:15 +,

b. implying the coming of dawn, and even daylight Genesis 29:25 (E) Genesis 44:3 (J) 1 Kings 3:21 (but Klo here for 2nd בַּבֹּקֶר, reads לְבַקֵּר by looking at it see בָּקַר) Job 24:17; Job 38:12 ("" שַׁחַר); ׳לִפְנוֺת הַבּ Exodus 14:27 (JE) at the turn of the morning, so Judges 19:26 ("" בַּעֲלוֺת הַשָּׁ֑חַר Judges 19:25; followed by עַדהָֿאוֺר, as something later, Judges 19:26); see Ruth 3:14 ("" בטרו֯ם יכיר אישׁ את רעהו before men could recognise each other); compare כּוֺכְבֵי בֹקֶר Job 38:7 stars of morning; but also with אוֺר verb Genesis 44:3 (J) הבקר אור; with אור noun, באור הבקר Micah 2:1; & especially עד אור הבקר Judges 16:2 (opposed to לילה) so 1 Samuel 14:36; also 1 Samuel 25:22,34,36; 2 Samuel 17:22; 2 Kings 7:9; compare 1 Samuel 29:10 ("" וְאוֺר לָכֶם).

c. of coming of sunrise Judges 9:33; 2 Samuel 23:4 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 3:22 compare וערב ׳מוֺצָּאֵי ב Psalm 65:9 i.e. places of sunrise and sunset ("" קְצוֺת i.e. ends of earth).

d. of beginning of day, וְעַדעַֿתָּה ׳מֵאָז הַבּ Ruth 2:7 (compare Ruth 2:14) see 2 Samuel 24:15 (but strike out We Dr); time of prayer, & praise Psalm 5:4 (twice in verse) (see Hu) Psalm 59:17; Psalm 88:14; Psalm 92:3; "" צהרים noon 1 Kings 18:26; Jeremiah 20:16; of three hours of prayer, ערב ובקר וצהרים Psalm 55:18 (compare Daniel 6:10; Daniel 6:13); compare also with עֶרֶב below

e. opposed to עֶרֶב Genesis 49:27 (poem in J) Exodus 16:7,8,12,13; Leviticus 6:13; Numbers 9:21 (all P) Deuteronomy 28:67 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 11:14; 1 Kings 17:6; Isaiah 17:14; Zephaniah 3:3; Ezekiel 24:18 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 33:22; Daniel 8:26; Psalm 30:6; Psalm 90:5; Psalm 90:6; Ecclesiastes 11:6; 1 Chronicles 16:40; 2Chron 2:3; 2 Chronicles 13:11; 31:3; Ezra 3:3; Esther 2:14; opposed to בֵּין הערבים Exodus 29:39,41; Numbers 28:4,8 (all P); especially מןהֿבקר עדהֿערב = all day Exodus 18:13 & (without article) Exodus 18:14 (both E); מבקר לָעֶרֶב Job 4:20 = between morning and evening; also מֵעֶרֶב עַדבֹּֿקֶר = all night, Exodus 27:21 (P) Leviticus 24:3 (H) Numbers 9:21 & ׳בָּעֶרֶב עַדבּֿ Numbers 9:15 (both P); note also the formula וַיְהִי ערב ויהי בקר and evening came and then morning Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31 (all P), i.e. the day ended with evening, and the night with morning; peculiar is Daniel 8:14 of omission of daily sacrifice עַד עֶרֶב בֹּקֶר אַלְמַּיִם וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֺת, until2300evening-mornings, probably = 2300 half-days (Ew Hi Meinh Bev Dr^{Intr. 464}, compare Daniel 8:26 & 3 2-Jantimes (years) Daniel 7:25; Daniel 12:11; Daniel 12:17).

f. often (above & elsewhere) with preposition (+ article except Job 7:18); in the morning, בַּבֹּקֶר Genesis 19:27 110t., compare also ׳בִּהְיֹת הַבּ Exodus 19:16; in (or at) the morning, ׳לַבּ Amos 4:4 7t.; for (against or by) the morning, ׳לַבּ Exodus 34:2 compare Psalm 130:6 (compare Che^{critical note}); nearly = until (עַדֿ) Exodus 34:25; Deuteronomy 16:4; Zephaniah 3:3; further ׳בַּבּ ׳בַּבּ morning by morning, every morning Exodus 16:21; Exodus 30:7; Exodus 36:3; Leviticus 6:5 (all P) 2 Samuel 13:4; 1 Chronicles 23:30; 2Chronicles 13:11; Isaiah 28:19; Isaiah 50:4; Ezekiel 46:13,14,15; Zephaniah 3:5 also ׳לַבּ ׳לַבּ, same sense, 1 Chronicles 9:27; plural לַבְּקָרִים every morning afresh Psalm 73:14; Isaiah 33:2 compare Lamentations 3:23; almost = continually Psalm 101:8 (compare Jeremiah 21:12); see לִבְקָרִים Job 7:18 ("" לִרְגָעִים every moment); also without preposition or article in the morning Hosea 7:6 compare Psalm 5:4 (twice in verse); Psalm 55:18, d. above, & below

2. g. figurative of bright joy after night of distress (poetry) Job 11:17; compare Psalm 30:6; Psalm 46:6 (׳לִפְנוֺת בּ) Psalm 49:15; Psalm 59:17; Psalm 90:14; Psalm 143:8.

h. in phrases, ׳הִשְׁכִּים בַּבּ (וַיַּשְׁכֵּם etc.) he rose early in the morning Genesis 19:27; Genesis 20:8; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 22:3; Genesis 26:31; Genesis 28:18; Genesis 32:1; Exodus 8:16; Exodus 9:13; Exodus 24:4; Exodus 34:4; Numbers 14:40; Joshua 3:1; Joshua 6:12; Joshua 7:16; Joshua 8:10 (all J E) Judges 6:28; Judges 19:5,8; 1 Samuel 1:19; 1 Samuel 5:4; compare 1 Samuel 15:12; 1 Samuel 17:20; 1 Samuel 29:10 (twice in verse) compare 1 Samuel 29:11, 2 Kings 3:22; 2 Kings 19:35 = Isaiah 37:36; 2Chronicles 20:20; Job 1:5; Proverbs 27:14; Isaiah 5:11; (ויקומו etc.) ויקם ׳בַּבּ Genesis 24:54; Numbers 22:13,21 (all J E) Judges 19:27; Judges 20:19; 2 Samuel 24:11; 1 Kings 3:21; ׳אַשְׁמֹרֶת הַבּ morning watch Exodus 14:24; 1 Samuel 11:11.

2 morrow, next day (compare German Morgen, morgen) without article Exodus 16:19,20; Leviticus 7:15; Leviticus 22:30 (opposed to הַיּוֺם הַהוּא) Numbers 16:5 ("" מָחָר Numbers 16:7; Numbers 16:16) compare Exodus 12:10 (twice in verse); Numbers 9:12; with article Exodus 16:23,24; Exodus 29:34; ׳לַבּ Exodus 34:25; Numbers 22:41; Zephaniah 3:3; ׳בַּבּ 1 Samuel 9:19 (opposed to הַיּוֺם to-day) compare 1 Samuel 20:35; to-morrow morning ׳הַבּ Judges 6:31 (Stu); ׳בַּבּ Exodus 7:15; Joshua 7:14; Esther 5:14; definitely מִמָּֽחֳרָת ׳בַּבּ 1 Samuel 5:4; ׳מֵהַבּ 2 Samuel 2:27; adverb. use in this sense (without preposition or article) Exodus 16:7; Numbers 16:5.

Essential Meaning and Imagery

בֹּקֶר consistently denotes the first appearance of light after night, a divinely fixed boundary separating darkness from day (Genesis 1:5). It therefore stands for new beginnings, hope, vigilance, and the certainty of God-ordained order. Scripture frequently pairs “evening and morning,” underscoring the daily rhythm of creation that testifies to the faithfulness of the Creator (Psalm 55:17).

Foundational Narratives

• Genesis 19:27 – Abraham’s early-morning vantage becomes the moment of witnessing God’s righteous judgment on Sodom.
• Genesis 22:3 – “So Abraham rose early in the morning” to obey God’s command concerning Isaac, linking morning with decisive obedience and faith.
• Genesis 24:54 – Abraham’s servant seeks release “in the morning,” showing morning as the natural time to set out on covenant business.

The recurring pattern—patriarchs rising at dawn to meet God’s call—establishes בֹּקֶר as a time uniquely suited for covenantal responsiveness.

Morning in Israel’s Daily Worship

The nation’s liturgical life was anchored to בֹּקֶר:
• Exodus 29:38-39 – “Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight.”
• Numbers 28:3-4 – The tamid (continual) burnt offering began every day at dawn, symbolizing unbroken fellowship and atonement.
• Leviticus 6:12 – The priest was to replenish the altar fire “every morning,” emblematic of continual worship.

Morning sacrifice thus framed each day in consecration, prefiguring the believer’s call to present himself “a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1).

Morning Watch and Divine Intervention

בֹּקֶר is frequently linked to the “morning watch,” the last and darkest watch of the night when God often acts decisively:
• Exodus 14:24 – “During the morning watch, the LORD looked down… and threw the Egyptian army into confusion.”
• 2 Kings 19:35 – At dawn Judah finds the Assyrian host struck down.
• Judges 7:19 – Gideon attacks “at the beginning of the middle watch,” leading to victory by daybreak.

The pattern highlights God’s power to reverse hopeless situations between night and dawn.

Morning as Renewal and Mercy

• Lamentations 3:22-23 – “Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed… They are new every morning.”
• Psalm 30:5 – “Weeping may lodge at night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
• Psalm 90:14 – “Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion.”

The dawn showcases God’s covenant mercy, reassuring His people that each new day carries fresh grace.

Morning and Prayer

The Psalter models daybreak devotion:
• Psalm 5:3 – “In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly.”
• Psalm 88:13; Psalm 143:8 – Appeals for God’s lovingkindness are framed at dawn, endorsing disciplined, expectant prayer at the start of every day.

Morning in Wisdom and Domestic Life

• Proverbs 31:15 – The excellent wife “rises while it is still night.”
• Ecclesiastes 11:6 – “In the morning sow your seed.”

בֹּקֶר stands for industry, foresight, and stewardship, affirming diligence as a godly virtue.

Prophetic and Eschatological Resonance

Prophets employ בֹּקֶר to promise deliverance and expose sin:
• Isaiah 37:36 – Salvation revealed at dawn.
• Hosea 6:4 – Israel’s loyalty “vanishes like early morning mist,” contrasting divine constancy with human fickleness.

Morning also foreshadows eschatological light: Isaiah 58:8 pictures righteousness breaking forth “like the dawn,” pre-echoing Revelation’s promise of eternal day.

Intertextual Echoes in the New Testament

Although Greek terms differ, the theology of dawn continues: the women discover the empty tomb “very early in the morning” (Luke 24:1), and Christ is called the “Bright Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16). These passages fulfill Old Testament morning imagery, confirming Scripture’s unity.

Ministry Applications

1. Encourage corporate and private prayer meetings at dawn, following biblical precedent.
2. Use morning liturgy or songs that recall God’s new mercies, anchoring congregational hope daily.
3. Teach believers to view every sunrise as a living parable of the resurrection and the ultimate triumph of light over darkness.
4. Employ morning motifs in counseling to combat despair—night passes, God’s steadfast love endures.

Representative References (selected)

Genesis 1:5; Exodus 14:24; Exodus 29:39; Numbers 28:4; Judges 19:25; 1 Samuel 1:19; 2 Samuel 24:11; 2 Kings 3:22; 2 Kings 19:35; Ezra 3:3; Job 38:12; Psalm 5:3; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 46:5; Psalm 59:16; Psalm 90:14; Psalm 130:6; Proverbs 8:17; Isaiah 17:14; Isaiah 58:8; Jeremiah 21:12; Lamentations 3:23; Ezekiel 46:13; Hosea 10:15; Zephaniah 3:5.

Total occurrences: approximately 214. Each reinforces that every sunrise speaks of God’s faithful governance, summons to worship, and promise of coming glory.

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