Bar

bar (prefix): Aramaic for the Hebrew ben, "son." Compare Aramaic sections of Ezra and Daniel. In the Old Testament the word is found three times in Prov 31:2 and once in Syriac Ps 2:12 (Hier. translates "pure"). In the New Testament "Bar" is frequently employed as prefix to names of persons. Compare Barabbas; Bar-Jesus; Bar-Jonah; Barnabas; Barsabbas; Bartholomew; Bartimeus.

See Ben.

bar (substantive):

(1) beriach = "a bolt" (Exod 26:26-29; Exod 35:11; Exod 36:31-34; Exod 39:33; Exod 40:18; Num 3:36; Num 4:31; Deut 3:5; Judg 16:3; 1 Sam 23:7; 1 Kgs 4:13; 2 Chr 8:5; 2 Chr 14:7; Neh 3:3; Neh 3:6; Neh 3:13-15; Job 38:10 "bars and doors" for the sea (the bank or shore of the sea); Ps 107:16; Ps 147:13 "the bars of thy gates": the walls of the city were now rebuilt and its gates only closed and barred by night (see Neh 7:3); Prov 18:19, "bars of a castle"; Isa 45:2; Jer 49:31; Jer 51:30; Lam 2:9; Ezek 38:11): meaning "a rock in the sea" (Jonah 2:6).

(2) moT = "a staff," "stick," "pole" (Num 4:10; Num 4:12 margin); "strong fortification and great impediment" (Isa 45:2; Amos 1:5, "the bolt of Damascus": no need here to render prince, as some do (G. A. Smith in the place cited.)).

(3) badh = "staff," "part of body," "strength" (Job 17:16, "bars of Sheol": the gates of the world of the dead; compare Isa 38:10; some read, "Will the bars of Sheol fall?").

(4) meTil = "something hammered out, a (forged) bar" (Job 40:18).

See Door; Gate; House.

Frank E. Hirsch