A primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select -- acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.
H977. bachar
בָּחַר verb choose (compare Aramaic בְּחַר, Syriac "" בחן, Assyrian bêru (√ באר):3 DlPr 76) —
Qal Perfect בָּחַר Deuteronomy 7:6 66t.; יִבְחַר Isaiah 41:24 60t.; אֶבֲחַר Job 29:25 (Baer); Imperative בְּחַר Exodus 17:9 5t.; Infinitive absolute בָּחוֺר 1 Samuel 2:28; Isaiah 7:15-16, Infinitive construct suffix בָּחֳרִי Ezekiel 20:5; Participle בֹּחֵר 1 Samuel 20:30; Zechariah 3:2; passive בָּחוּר Exodus 14:7 18t.; —
1 with בְּ
a. divine choice, of Abraham Nehemiah 9:7; Israel Deuteronomy 7:7; Isaiah 44:1; Ezekiel 20:5; to become his people Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; Jeshurun Isaiah 44:2; the seed of the patriarchs Deuteronomy 4:37; 10:15; Levites 18:5; 21:5; 1 Chronicles 15:2; 2 Chronicles 29:11; Aaron Psalm 105:26; Judah 1 Chronicles 28:4 not Ephraim Psalm 78:67; Levi and Judah Jeremiah 33:24; the king Deuteronomy 17:15, especially David 1 Samuel 10:24; 16:8-9, 10; 2 Samuel 6:21; 1 Kings 8:16 (= 2 Chronicles 6:6) 1 Chronicles 28:4-5, 29:1; 2 Chronicles 6:5; Psalm 78:70; others Numbers 16:5; Numbers 17:20 (P) Haggai 2:23; place of sacrifice Deuteronomy 12:18; 14:25; 16:7, 15; 17:8; 2 Chronicles 7:12; the city 1 Kings 8:16, 44 (= 2 Chronicles 6:5, 34) 1 Kings 11:32; Jerusalem 2 Chronicles 6:6; Isaiah 14:1; Zechariah 1:17; Zechariah 2:16; 3:2; Zion Psalm 132:13; delusions Isaiah 66:4.
b. man's choice, of ways Proverbs 3:31; Isaiah 66:3; good things 7:15-16, life Deuteronomy 30:19; gods Judges 10:14; Isaiah 41:24; God's pleasure 56:4; 65:12; 66:4.
2 with אֲשֶׁר (alone, for ב בחר ׳אשׁר):
a. divine choice, Israel Isaiah 41:8 בְּחַרְתִּיךָ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲקֹב, 43:10; the people 1 Kings 3:8; Psalm 33:12; men Numbers 16:7 (P) Psalm 65:5; king 2 Samuel 16:18; 1 Kings 11:34; place of sacrifice Deuteronomy 12:14, 26; 15:20; 17:10; 31:11 (D) Joshua 9:27 (P), especially שָׁם שְׁמוֺ לָשׂוּם Deuteronomy 12:5, 21; 14:24, שָׁם שְׁמוֺ לְשַׁכֵּן 12:11; 14:23; 16:2, 6, 11; Nehemiah 1:9; the city 1 Kings 8:48 (= 2 Chronicles 6:38), שׁם שׁמי לשׂום 1 Kings 11:36; 14:21 (= 2 Chronicles 12:13); Jerusalem 1 Kings 11:13; 2 Kings 21:7 (= 2 Chronicles 33:7) 2 Kings 23:27; fast Isaiah 58:5-6, way Psalm 25:12.
b. man's choice, place to dwell in Deuteronomy 23:7; gardens Isaiah 1:29; king 1 Samuel 12:13; wives Genesis 6:2 (J); what to do 2 Samuel 15:15.
3 with accusative & לְ, choose some one or something for:
a. divine choice, of Levi 1 Samuel 2:28; Jacob Psalm 135:4; 135:5; inheritance 47:5.
b. human choice persons Exodus 17:9; Joshua 24:15, 22 (E) 1 Samuel 8:18; 13:12; 2 Samuel 24:12 (= 1 Chronicles 21:20); things Genesis 13:11 (J) 1 Samuel 17:40; 1 Kings 18:23, 25; Job 34:4.
4 with accusative and מִן, choose, select from 2 Samuel 10:9 (= 1 Chronicles 19:10).
5 accusative
a. divine choice, temple 2 Chronicles 7:16; Judah Psalm 78:68; servant Isaiah 41:9; 49:7.
b. man's choice, persons Exodus 18:28 (E) Judges 5:8; Joshua 8:3 (J) 2 Samuel 17:1; things Job 7:15; 9:14; 15:5; 29:25; 34:33; Psalm 119:30; 119:173; Proverbs 1:29; Isaiah 40:20.
6 with מעני בחרת זה על כי עַל, for this thou hast chosen rather than affliction Job 36:21; with accusative and על pregnantly עלי תבחר אשׁר כל all that thou choosest (to lay) upon me 2 Samuel 19:39.
7 with לְ of accusative 1 Samuel 20:30 (many MSS. have בְּ; but ᵐ5 We Dr read חָבֵר companion). The participle בָּחוּר chosen, of a ruler Psalm 89:20, warrior Jeremiah 49:19 (= 50:44); as cedars Song of Solomon 5:15; collective בחור רכב chosen chariots Exodus 14:7 (E); בחור אישׁ chosen men, warriors Judges 20:15-16, 34; 1 Samuel 24:3; 2 Chronicles 13:3, 17, for which בָּחוּר alone 1 Kings 12:21 2 Chronicles 11:1; 25:5; ישׂראל בחורי 1 Samuel 26:2; Psalm 78:31; 2 Samuel 10:9 בישׂראל בחורי ("" 1 Chronicles 19:10 בישׂראל בחור, doubtless the true reading, as 2 Samuel 6:1).
8 test, try (Aramaic = בחן) עֹ֑נִי בְּכוּר בְּחַרְתִּיךָ Isaiah 48:10 I have tested thee in the furnace of affliction ᵑ7 ᵑ6 Ges Hi Ew De Che Dr, but chosen ᵑ9 Rab Calv AV. Niph`al נִבְחַר Jeremiah 8:3; Participle נִבְחָר Proverbs 8:10 5t.; — to be chosen.
a. absolute chosen, choice Proverbs 8:10, 19; 10:20.
b. construct מחיים מות וְנִבְחַר מִן, death will be chosen rather than life Jeremiah 8:3; choicer than Proverbs 16:16; 22:1; מזבח ליהוה נבחר choicer (more acceptable) to Yahweh than peace-offering 21:3.
Pu`al יְבֻחַר chosen, selected Ecclesiastes 9:4 (יְחֻבַּר Qr).