Lexical Summary Birsha: Birsha Original Word: בִּרְשַׁע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Birsha Probably from resha' with a prepositional prefix; with wickedness; Birsha, a king of Gomorrah -- Birsha. see HEBREW resha' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a king of Gomorrah NASB Translation Birsha (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בִּרְשַׁע proper name, masculine (√ & meaning unknown) king of Gomorrha Genesis 14:2. בֵּרֹתַי, בֵּרֹתִי, בֵּר֫וֺתָה see below בארות, p. 92. בשׂם (have a sweet odour, compare Aramaic בְּסִים, בֶּ֫שֶׂם, [בָּשָׂם] see בּשֶֹׁם. below Topical Lexicon Historical Setting Birsha appears once in Scripture, in Genesis 14:2, as king of Gomorrah during the coalition war between “Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim” and the five cities of the Jordan Valley. The four-king alliance had held sway for twelve years, levying tribute from the cities of the plain. In the thirteenth year the local kings rebelled, precipitating the punitive campaign recounted in Genesis 14. Birsha’s domain lay in a fertile but spiritually decadent region whose prosperity masked deep moral rot—an atmosphere later judged decisively in Genesis 19. Role in the Campaign of the Five Kings Genesis 14 details the swift defeat of Birsha and his allies. Verses 10-11 report that “the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some men fell into the tar pits there, while the survivors fled to the hill country. Then the four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on their way”. Birsha’s power and resources proved powerless against the seasoned eastern coalition. His capture, though not explicitly described, is implied in Genesis 14:17, which depicts the rescued kings meeting Abram after their liberation. The episode underscores the fragility of human strength when opposed to forces beyond one’s control. Moral and Theological Themes Birsha’s name, linguistically linked with wickedness, mirrors both his city’s reputation and the broader moral tenor of the plain. The narrative presents a contrast between the unrighteous rule of Birsha and the faith-motivated actions of Abram, who musters a small band of 318 trained men (Genesis 14:14) and, with the Lord’s favor, routs the previously invincible eastern kings. Abram’s subsequent refusal to accept the spoils of Sodom (Genesis 14:22-24) highlights a principled separation from the corrupt wealth represented by Birsha and his cohorts. The pattern anticipates the New Testament call for believers to remain unstained by the world (James 1:27) while still engaging it redemptively. Foreshadowing of Divine Judgment on Gomorrah Birsha’s cameo serves as an early warning of Gomorrah’s fate. The temporary deliverance wrought through Abram’s intervention postponed, but did not cancel, the final judgment recorded in Genesis 19. The juxtaposition of rescue and later destruction illustrates both God’s mercy in providing opportunities for repentance and His justice in ultimately confronting unrepentant sin. This pattern accords with later prophetic declarations such as Ezekiel 33:11, where the Lord affirms no pleasure in the death of the wicked yet insists on the necessity of turning from evil. Application for Faith and Ministry 1. The narrative challenges leaders to evaluate the moral climate they foster. Influence divorced from righteousness breeds vulnerability, as Birsha discovered. Related Biblical Passages • Genesis 14:1-17 – Primary account of Birsha and the five-king revolt. Birsha’s brief appearance thus functions as a sober emblem of human governance marked by wickedness, the perils of ungodly alliances, and the redemptive reach of God through His covenant people. Forms and Transliterations בִּרְשַׁ֖ע ברשע bir·ša‘ birša‘ birShaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:2 HEB: סְדֹ֔ם וְאֶת־ בִּרְשַׁ֖ע מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲמֹרָ֑ה NAS: of Sodom, and with Birsha king KJV: of Sodom, and with Birsha king INT: of Sodom and with Birsha king of Gomorrah 1 Occurrence |
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be sweet, pleasant, Pa`el 
to delight, בַּסִּימָא, sweet; Palmyrene (משחא) בשימא VogJAs 1883, Août. Sept. 153 1. 12, 155 1. 16, 18, 20 etc. spiced (oil), compare ReckendZMG 1888, 403; Assyrian bašâmu, Pa`el make fine, beautiful COTGloss).