Lexical Summary Bokeru: Morning, dawn Original Word: בֹּכְרוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Bocheru From bakar; first-born; Bokeru, an Israelite -- Bocheru. see HEBREW bakar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bakar Definition a Benjamite NASB Translation Bocheru (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֹּכְרוּ proper name, masculine a Benjamite (on form compare גַּשְׁמוּ, מְלִיכוּ, & Ol§ 107 near the end; on Nabataean proper name in ו see EutNab 24, 25, etc. & Nöib. 73 ff.) 1 Chronicles 8:38 = 1 Chronicles 9:44. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences Strong’s Hebrew 1074 appears twice, both in the genealogies of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:38; 1 Chronicles 9:44). In both listings Azel’s second-named son is rendered “Bocheru,” a form that literally communicates “their firstborn,” yet is treated in the text as a proper name. The verses are nearly identical, the latter repeating the former for the post-exilic generation: “Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanen—all these were the sons of Azel” (1 Chronicles 8:38). Historical Context 1 Chronicles was compiled after the Babylonian exile to affirm Israel’s covenant identity and legitimate the returned community. By re-recording the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 9, the author shows continuity between pre-exilic and post-exilic Benjaminites. The placement of “Bocheru” in both lists tells later readers that the original family order and privileges were preserved despite judgment and dispersion. The Firstborn Motif in Scripture 1. Covenant Priority — From the Passover deliverance of Israel’s firstborn (Exodus 13:1-2) to the designation of Israel itself as God’s “firstborn” (Exodus 4:22), Scripture employs the firstborn to symbolize redemption and representative headship. Bocheru’s name quietly invokes this rich background. Though he is merely a line in a genealogy, the title signals expected leadership and a reminder of the Lord’s claim on every first child of Israel. Genealogical Function in Chronicles By preserving the birth order, the Chronicler strengthens claims of inheritance and land rights for Benjamin. Azel’s household—traceable to Saul—possessed strategic real estate near Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 8:32). Listing Bocheru second yet identifying him as “their firstborn” allows the Chronicler to keep literary symmetry with six sons while spotlighting the eldest’s status. This subtle technique highlights faithfulness to historical detail while serving the Chronicler’s theological aim: God remembers names, families, and covenants. Christological Resonance The Old Testament firstborn theme finds ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, “the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15) and “the firstborn from the dead” (Revelation 1:5). Every appearance of a firstborn in earlier Scripture, including Bocheru, anticipates the One whose resurrection secures the inheritance of all who belong to Him. Hebrews 12:23 speaks of the “assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven,” linking believers with the privileges once reserved for a single child in each family line. Ministry Implications 1. God values individuals within the larger community. Even an otherwise unknown name like Bocheru is preserved for all generations. Applications for the Contemporary Church • Genealogies encourage believers that God’s faithfulness spans generations; He will also remember the names of His people today (Malachi 3:16). Conclusion Though mentioned only twice, Bocheru embodies a significant biblical pattern: God marks out the firstborn for covenantal service, inheritance, and ultimately for pointing to His own Son. His brief appearance in the Chronicles invites readers to trace the golden thread of redemption woven through family lines and to embrace their calling as heirs with Christ, the Firstborn of many brothers (Romans 8:29). Forms and Transliterations בֹּ֙כְרוּ֙ בכרו bō·ḵə·rū bocheru bōḵərūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 8:38 HEB: שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם עַזְרִיקָ֥ם ׀ בֹּ֙כְרוּ֙ וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל וּשְׁעַרְיָ֔ה NAS: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, KJV: [are] these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, INT: their names Azrikam Bocheru Ishmael Sheariah 1 Chronicles 9:44 2 Occurrences |
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