Original Word: בְּרִיעָהַ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Briy`ah
Pronunciation: beh-ree-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (ber-ee'-aw)
KJV: Beriah
NASB: Beriah
Word Origin: [apparently from the feminine of H7451 (רַע רָעָה - Evil) with a prepositional prefix]

1. in trouble
2. Beriah, the name of four Israelites

Beriah

Apparently from the feminine of ra' with a prepositional prefix; in trouble; Beriah, the name of four Israelites -- Beriah.

see HEBREW ra'

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
four Isr.
NASB Translation
Beriah (11).

בְּרִיעָה proper name, masculine 1. a son of Asher Genesis 46:17 (twice in verse); Numbers 26:44,45; 1 Chronicles 7:30,31.

2 son of Ephraim 1 Chronicles 7:23 (where explanation as if from בְּרָעָה).

3 a Benjamite בְּרִעָה 1 Chronicles 8:13, בְּרִיעָה 1 Chronicles 8:16.

4 a Levite 1 Chronicles 23:10,11.

Biblical Occurrences

Beriah appears eleven times in the Old Testament, designating four different men who belong to four tribes—Asher, Ephraim, Benjamin, and Levi (Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:44-45; 1 Chronicles 7:23, 30-31; 8:13, 16; 23:10-11). Each occurrence roots him in a specific historical setting that sheds light on covenant promises, tribal identity, and godly perseverance.

Beriah son of Asher: A Founding Father in Israel’s Northern Tribes

Genesis 46:17 lists Beriah among the sons of Asher who went down to Egypt with Jacob: “The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah”. From him descended “the Beriite clan” (Numbers 26:44). His sons Heber and Malchiel (1 Chronicles 7:31) became eponymous ancestors whose families later settled in the fertile northern allotment given to Asher (Joshua 19:24-31). In later biblical history this territory provided vital agricultural produce for the united monarchy and served as a buffer against Phoenician and Aramean pressure. Beriah’s inclusion in Jacob’s household journey to Egypt also underscores the preservation of the twelve-tribe structure during Israel’s formative centuries.

Beriah son of Ephraim: Hope After Tragedy

1 Chronicles 7:23 records the birth of a second Beriah in a poignant context: “Then he went in to his wife; she conceived and gave birth to a son, and he called him Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house”. Earlier, Ephraim’s sons had been killed by men of Gath (7:21). Naming the child Beriah memorialized calamity yet simultaneously affirmed God’s continuing blessing on the patriarch’s line. Verses 23-27 trace an unbroken genealogy from this Beriah to Joshua son of Nun, commander of Israel’s conquest. God’s redemptive pattern—raising a deliverer from the ashes of sorrow—foreshadows the gospel principle that suffering can be the womb of salvation.

Beriah of Benjamin: A Warrior Who Repelled Philistine Encroachment

Within Benjamin’s sprawling genealogy, 1 Chronicles 8:13 states, “and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of the fathers’ households of the residents of Aijalon and drove away the inhabitants of Gath.” His leadership at Aijalon (a strategic pass west of Benjamin) contributed to Israel’s defense against Philistine aggression. Verse 16 notes three sons—“Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah”—indicating that his house endured. This snapshot demonstrates Benjamin’s military readiness and the Lord’s use of individual clan heads to protect Israel’s borders during the turbulent pre-monarchic and early-monarchic era.

Beriah the Levite: A Servant in Temple Organization

In the Levite census of David’s reign, Shimei’s four sons include Beriah (1 Chronicles 23:10). The following verse explains that Jeush and Beriah “did not have many sons; so they were counted as a single family and received a single assignment” (23:11). Placement within Gershonite duties suggests involvement in caring for tabernacle fabrics and furnishings (Numbers 3:25-26). Though numerically small, his family was granted meaningful service, illustrating that ministry significance flows from divine appointment rather than human stature.

Collective Significance and Ministry Lessons

1. Continuity of Covenant. Across four tribes, the repeated appearance of the same name charts God’s covenant faithfulness from the patriarchs to David.
2. Redemption out of Adversity. Ephraim’s Beriah proves that divine purposes advance even when households experience grief.
3. Vigilance in Spiritual Warfare. The Benjamite Beriah models decisive action against hostile forces, a pattern echoed in the New Testament call to “stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13).
4. Value of Humble Service. The Levite Beriah, though numerically minor, received a recognized role in worship life, reinforcing Paul’s later teaching that all members of the body are needed (1 Corinthians 12:22).

Theological Reflection

The name Beriah threads through tribal genealogies that ultimately converge in the Messiah, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). From Asher’s fruitful land, Ephraim’s sorrow-turned-hope, Benjamin’s warfare, and Levi’s worship arise complementary facets of Christ’s kingdom: provision, redemption, victory, and priestly service. God weaves these strands into a single redemptive tapestry, assuring believers that He remains sovereign over history and personal circumstance alike.

בְּרִיעָ֔ה בְרִיעָ֔ה בְרִיעָֽה׃ בריעה בריעה׃ וּבְרִיעָ֑ה וּבְרִיעָ֖ה וּבְרִיעָה֙ וּבְרִעָ֣ה ובריעה וברעה לִבְרִיעָ֕ה לבריעה bə·rî·‘āh ḇə·rî·‘āh bərî‘āh ḇərî‘āh beriAh liḇ·rî·‘āh liḇrî‘āh livriAh ū·ḇə·ri·‘āh ū·ḇə·rî·‘āh ūḇəri‘āh ūḇərî‘āh uveriAh veriAhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts