1319. basar
Lexical Summary
basar: To bring news, to announce, to proclaim

Original Word: בָּשַׂר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: basar
Pronunciation: bah-sar'
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-sar')
KJV: messenger, preach, publish, shew forth, (bear, bring, carry, preach, good, tell good) tidings
NASB: brings good news, bearer of good news, bringing good news, brought the news, carry the good news, proclaim good tidings, bear good news
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to be fresh
2. to be full (rosy)
3. (figuratively) to be cheerful
4. to announce (glad news)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
messenger, preach, publish, show forth, bear, bring, carry, preach

A primitive root; properly, to be fresh, i.e. Full (rosy, (figuratively) cheerful); to announce (glad news) -- messenger, preach, publish, shew forth, (bear, bring, carry, preach, good, tell good) tidings.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to bear tidings
NASB Translation
bear good news (1), bearer of good news (2), bring good news (1), bring the news (1), bring...news (1), bringing good news (2), brings good news (3), brought the news (2), carry the good news (2), carry news (1), carry...news (1), messenger of good news (1), proclaim (1), proclaim good tidings (2), proclaim the good tidings (1), proclaimed glad tidings (1), receive good news (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[בָּשַׂר] verb bear tidings (√ rub smooth the face; compare Arabic remove the face of surface of a thing, compare Arabic be glad, joyful; he rejoiced him with the message of the birth of a son; Ethiopic bring a joyful message, so Assyrian bussuru (Pa.) DlPr 170, Sabean תבשר DHMMV, also בשר proper name, of deity, DHMZMG 1883, 358, CISiv. 1, 41, 1. 3) —

Pi`el Perfect בִּשַּׂר Jeremiah 20:15 2t.; Imperfect תְּבַשֵּׂר 2 Samuel 18:20 4t.; אֲבַשְּׂרָה 2 Samuel 18:19; Imperative בַּשְּׂרוּ 1 Chronicles 16:23 = Psalm 96:2; infinitive לְבַשֵּׂר 1 Samuel 31:9 2t.; Participle מְבַשֵּׂר Isaiah 41:27 6t.; feminine מְבַשֶּׂרֶת Isaiah 40:9 (twice in verse); plural מְבַשְּׂרוֺת Psalm 68:12; —

1 gladden with good tidings: birth of a son Jeremiah 20:15; victory 1 Samuel 31:9; 2 Samuel 1:20; 1 Chronicles 10:9; Psalm 68:12; היה כמבשׂר בעיניו he was in his eyes as a bearer of good tidings 2 Samuel 4:10.

2 bear tidings 2 Samuel 18:19,20 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 18:26; even of evil 1 Samuel 4:17, and so with accusative בשׂר טוב 1 Kings 1:42.

3 herald as glad tidings: the salvation of God, peach (chiefly exilic usage) the advent of ׳י in salvation Nahum 2:1; Isaiah 40:9 (twice in verse); Isaiah 41:27; Isaiah 52:7 (twice in verse); the praises of Yahweh Isaiah 60:6; His righteousness in the great congregation Psalm 40:10; His salvation daily Psalm 96:2 = 1 Chronicles 16:23; the Messianic servant preaches good tidings to the meek Isaiah 61:1.

Hithpa`el Imperfect יִתְבַּשֵּׂר 2 Samuel 18:31 receive good tidings (so Kirkp. Klo; compare Arabic IV. X; otherwise AV).

Topical Lexicon
Scope and Sense of the Verb

The verb בָּשַׂר describes the act of announcing news with special emphasis on a joyful or momentous report. While English versions often translate it “bring good news,” the Hebrew usage is broader: sometimes the message is positive, at other times sobering, yet always weighty. The word therefore centers on the responsibility and privilege of a herald who conveys decisive information from a superior to those who must hear and act.

Patterns in Historical Narrative

1 Samuel 4:17; 31:9; 2 Samuel 1:20; 4:10; and the cluster in 2 Samuel 18 form a narrative thread in which battlefield messengers race to deliver outcomes that alter the nation’s future. Whether the tidings announce victory (2 Samuel 18:19) or death (1 Samuel 4:17), the focus falls on the messenger’s fidelity and the moral weight of his words. The mixed quality of the “news” underscores that the verb is not limited to glad tidings but to decisive proclamation.

Royal and Political Overtones

1 Kings 1:42 and 1 Chronicles 10:9 show that royal courts depended on heralds for rapid dissemination of developments that shaped succession and public morale. In these texts בָּשַׂר serves as an official act of statecraft: the outcome of a battle or the security of the throne hinges on how—and how quickly—the announcement is made.

Liturgical and Congregational Use

The Psalms transpose the role of court herald to the sanctuary.
• “I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly” (Psalm 40:9).
• “The Lord gives the command; the women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host” (Psalm 68:11).
• “Proclaim His salvation day after day” (Psalm 96:2).

Here, proclamation becomes an act of worship in which the congregation itself functions as a corps of heralds, echoing the king’s victories and the Lord’s saving deeds.

Prophetic Vision of a Universal Gospel

Isaiah develops the term into a theology of hope:

Isaiah 40:9 “Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news… say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’”

Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace…”

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor.”

Each passage widens the horizon: from Zion to the ends of the earth, from temporal deliverance to eschatological redemption. The messenger’s feet are “beautiful” because they bear a message that reconciles God and humanity, anticipates the Servant’s ministry, and prefigures the New Testament evangel.

Transition to New Covenant Fulfillment

The Septuagint consistently renders בָּשַׂר with εὐαγγελίζομαι, connecting Isaiah’s vision to the Gospel writers. Luke 4:18 cites Isaiah 61:1 as Jesus’ manifesto; Romans 10:15 quotes Isaiah 52:7 to validate apostolic preaching. Thus, the Old Testament herald becomes the apostolic evangelist, and the content expands from national deliverance to the death and resurrection of Christ.

Pastoral and Missional Implications

• Authority: Like the ancient herald, the preacher speaks on behalf of the King; fidelity to the message is paramount.
• Urgency: As in the narratives of Samuel, delay or distortion can endanger souls.
• Joyful gravity: Even when the news calls for repentance, it is still “good” because it leads to life.
• Community participation: Psalm 68:11 and Isaiah 52:7 invite every believer—women and men, young and old—to become bearers of the gospel.

Conclusion

בָּשַׂר traces a line from battlefield courier to congregational singer to prophetic herald, culminating in the worldwide proclamation of Jesus Christ. The consistent biblical witness presents proclamation not as a human innovation but as a divinely ordained means by which God makes His mighty acts known, summons repentance and faith, and establishes His kingdom among all peoples.

Forms and Transliterations
בִּשַּׂ֤ר בִּשַּׂ֤רְתִּי בַּשְּׂר֥וּ בשר בשרו בשרתי הַֽ֝מְבַשְּׂר֗וֹת הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר המבשר המבשרות וַאֲבַשְּׂרָ֖ה וּבִשַּׂרְתָּ֖ ואבשרה ובשרת יְבַשֵּֽׂרוּ׃ יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙ יבשרו׃ יתבשר כִמְבַשֵּׂר֙ כמבשר לְבַשֵּׂ֛ר לְבַשֵּׂ֣ר לבשר מְבַשֵּֽׂר׃ מְבַשֵּׂ֗ר מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר מְבַשֵּׂר֙ מְבַשֶּׂ֖רֶת מְבַשֶּׂ֣רֶת מבשר מבשר׃ מבשרת תְּבַשְּׂר֖וּ תְּבַשֵּֽׂר׃ תְבַשֵּׂ֔ר תבשר תבשר׃ תבשרו baś·śə·rū basseRu baśśərū biś·śar biś·śar·tî bisSar biśśar bisSarti biśśartî chimvasSer ham·ḇaś·śə·rō·wṯ ham·ḇaś·śêr hamḇaśśêr hamḇaśśərōwṯ hamvasSer hamvasseRot ḵim·ḇaś·śêr ḵimḇaśśêr lə·ḇaś·śêr ləḇaśśêr levasSer mə·ḇaś·śe·reṯ mə·ḇaś·śêr məḇaśśêr məḇaśśereṯ mevasSer mevasSeret tə·ḇaś·śə·rū tə·ḇaś·śêr ṯə·ḇaś·śêr təḇaśśêr ṯəḇaśśêr təḇaśśərū tevasSer tevasseRu ū·ḇiś·śar·tā ūḇiśśartā uvissarTa vaavasseRah wa’ăḇaśśərāh wa·’ă·ḇaś·śə·rāh yə·ḇaś·śê·rū yəḇaśśêrū yevasSeru yiṯ·baś·śêr yitbasSer yiṯbaśśêr
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Englishman's Concordance
1 Samuel 4:17
HEB: וַיַּ֨עַן הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָ֤ס
NAS: Then the one who brought the news replied,
KJV: And the messenger answered and said,
INT: replied brought and said has fled

1 Samuel 31:9
HEB: פְּלִשְׁתִּ֜ים סָבִ֗יב לְבַשֵּׂ֛ר בֵּ֥ית עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֖ם
NAS: of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house
KJV: round about, to publish [it in] the house
INT: of the Philistines throughout to carry to the house of their idols

2 Samuel 1:20
HEB: בְגַ֔ת אַֽל־ תְּבַשְּׂר֖וּ בְּחוּצֹ֣ת אַשְׁקְל֑וֹן
NAS: [it] not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets
KJV: [it] not in Gath, publish [it] not in the streets
INT: Gath nay Proclaim the streets of Ashkelon

2 Samuel 4:10
HEB: וְהֽוּא־ הָיָ֤ה כִמְבַשֵּׂר֙ בְּעֵינָ֔יו וָאֹחֲזָ֣ה
NAS: and thought he was bringing good news, I seized
KJV: thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold
INT: he become was bringing to have brought seized

2 Samuel 18:19
HEB: אָר֣וּצָה נָּ֔א וַאֲבַשְּׂרָ֖ה אֶת־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ
NAS: let me run and bring the king
KJV: the king tidings, how that the LORD
INT: run Please and bring the king for

2 Samuel 18:20
HEB: הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וּבִשַּׂרְתָּ֖ בְּי֣וֹם אַחֵ֑ר
NAS: day, but you shall carry news
KJV: this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another
INT: day this shall carry day another

2 Samuel 18:20
HEB: הַזֶּה֙ לֹ֣א תְבַשֵּׂ֔ר כִּֽי־ [עַל־
NAS: but you shall carry news another
KJV: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's
INT: this no news for and

2 Samuel 18:26
HEB: גַּם־ זֶ֥ה מְבַשֵּֽׂר׃
NAS: This one also is bringing good news.
KJV: said, He also bringeth tidings.
INT: also This is bringing

2 Samuel 18:31
HEB: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַכּוּשִׁ֗י יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ
NAS: the king receive good news, for the LORD
KJV: said, Tidings, my lord
INT: said and the Cushite receive my lord the king

1 Kings 1:42
HEB: אַ֖תָּה וְט֥וֹב תְּבַשֵּֽׂר׃
NAS: man and bring good
KJV: and bringest good tidings.
INT: you good and bring

1 Chronicles 10:9
HEB: פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים סָבִ֗יב לְבַשֵּׂ֛ר אֶת־ עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֖ם
NAS: of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols
KJV: round about, to carry tidings unto their idols,
INT: of the Philistines around to carry to their idols the people

1 Chronicles 16:23
HEB: כָּל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ בַּשְּׂר֥וּ מִיּֽוֹם־ אֶל־
NAS: the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation
KJV: all the earth; shew forth from day
INT: all the earth Proclaim day to

Psalm 40:9
HEB: בִּשַּׂ֤רְתִּי צֶ֨דֶק ׀ בְּקָ֘הָ֤ל
NAS: I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness
KJV: I have preached righteousness
INT: have proclaimed of righteousness congregation

Psalm 68:11
HEB: יִתֶּן־ אֹ֑מֶר הַֽ֝מְבַשְּׂר֗וֹת צָבָ֥א רָֽב׃
NAS: the command; The women who proclaim the [good] tidings are a great
KJV: [was] the company of those that published [it].
INT: gives the word proclaim host great

Psalm 96:2
HEB: בָּרֲכ֣וּ שְׁמ֑וֹ בַּשְּׂר֥וּ מִיּֽוֹם־ לְ֝י֗וֹם
NAS: His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation
KJV: his name; shew forth his salvation
INT: bless his name Proclaim day to day

Isaiah 40:9
HEB: עֲלִי־ לָךְ֙ מְבַשֶּׂ֣רֶת צִיּ֔וֹן הָרִ֤ימִי
NAS: O Zion, bearer of good news,
KJV: O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up
INT: A high Get bearer Zion Lift

Isaiah 40:9
HEB: בַכֹּ֙חַ֙ קוֹלֵ֔ךְ מְבַשֶּׂ֖רֶת יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם הָרִ֙ימִי֙
NAS: bearer of good news, Lift
KJV: O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up
INT: mightily your voice news Jerusalem Lift

Isaiah 41:27
HEB: הִנָּ֑ם וְלִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר אֶתֵּֽן׃
NAS: I will give a messenger of good news.'
KJV: to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
INT: and to Jerusalem A messenger will give

Isaiah 52:7
HEB: הֶהָרִ֜ים רַגְלֵ֣י מְבַשֵּׂ֗ר מַשְׁמִ֧יעַ שָׁל֛וֹם
NAS: Are the feet of him who brings good news,
KJV: are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth
INT: the mountains are the feet brings announces peace

Isaiah 52:7
HEB: מַשְׁמִ֧יעַ שָׁל֛וֹם מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר ט֖וֹב מַשְׁמִ֣יעַ
NAS: of him who brings good news, Who announces
KJV: peace; that bringeth good tidings of good,
INT: announces peace news of happiness announces

Isaiah 60:6
HEB: וּתְהִלֹּ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה יְבַשֵּֽׂרוּ׃
NAS: and frankincense, And will bear good news of the praises
KJV: and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises
INT: of the praises of the LORD and will bear

Isaiah 61:1
HEB: יְהוָ֨ה אֹתִ֜י לְבַשֵּׂ֣ר עֲנָוִ֗ים שְׁלָחַ֙נִי֙
NAS: has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted;
KJV: hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
INT: has anointed GOD to bring to the afflicted has sent

Jeremiah 20:15
HEB: הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בִּשַּׂ֤ר אֶת־ אָבִי֙
NAS: who brought the news To my father,
KJV: [be] the man who brought tidings to my father,
INT: be the man who brought to my father saying

Nahum 1:15
HEB: הֶהָרִ֜ים רַגְלֵ֤י מְבַשֵּׂר֙ מַשְׁמִ֣יעַ שָׁל֔וֹם
NAS: the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces
KJV: the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth
INT: the mountains the feet brings announces peace

24 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1319
24 Occurrences


baś·śə·rū — 2 Occ.
biś·śar — 1 Occ.
biś·śar·tî — 1 Occ.
ḵim·ḇaś·śêr — 1 Occ.
ham·ḇaś·śêr — 1 Occ.
ham·ḇaś·śə·rō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
lə·ḇaś·śêr — 3 Occ.
mə·ḇaś·śêr — 5 Occ.
mə·ḇaś·śe·reṯ — 2 Occ.
ṯə·ḇaś·śêr — 2 Occ.
tə·ḇaś·śə·rū — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇiś·śar·tā — 1 Occ.
wa·’ă·ḇaś·śə·rāh — 1 Occ.
yə·ḇaś·śê·rū — 1 Occ.
yiṯ·baś·śêr — 1 Occ.

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