בָּרָא
Bara
To create (from nothing)
Bara (בָּרָא) is a Hebrew word meaning “to create (from nothing),” pronounced “ba-RAH.” Derived from the root ב-ר-א, bara appears 48 times in the Hebrew Bible (Strong's H1254).
| Hebrew | בָּרָא |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Bara |
| Pronunciation | ba-RAH |
| Meaning | To create (from nothing) |
| Root Letters | ב-ר-א |
| Occurrences in Hebrew Bible | 48× |
| Key Verse | Genesis 1:1 |
| Strong's Number | H1254 |
| Category | Actions & Verbs |
The first verb in the Bible is bara (בָּרָא) — 'In the beginning, God bara the heavens and the earth' (Genesis 1:1). Like salach (forgive), bara is used exclusively of God throughout the Hebrew Bible. No human being ever 'bara-s' anything. While other Hebrew words for making (asah, yatsar) describe shaping existing materials, bara implies bringing into existence something radically new. God bara the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1), bara the great sea creatures (Genesis 1:21), bara humanity in His image (Genesis 1:27), and promises to bara new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17). This exclusivity reveals something profound: ultimate creativity belongs to God alone. Humans can shape, arrange, and transform — but only God creates ex nihilo (from nothing). Isaiah 45:7 uses bara four times in a single verse to declare God's absolute sovereignty over all that exists. When Psalm 51:10 prays 'Create (b'ra) in me a clean heart, O God,' it asks for something that only divine power can produce — a transformation so radical it is equivalent to an act of creation. Understanding bara means understanding that you serve a God who can make something from nothing — including a new beginning from your worst failure.
Key Bible Verse: Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning, God created (bara) the heavens and the earth.”
What Is the Root of Bara in Hebrew?
Bara comes from the root ב-ר-א (bet-resh-aleph), meaning 'to create, to bring into being.' In the Hebrew Bible, this verb is reserved exclusively for divine action — only God 'bara-s.' Other creation verbs like 'asah' (make) and 'yatsar' (form) can have human subjects, but bara never does.
What Does Bara Mean in the Bible?
Bara appears approximately 48 times in the Hebrew Bible, always with God as the subject. Genesis 1 uses it three times: for the cosmos (v.1), sea creatures (v.21), and humanity (v.27). Isaiah uses it extensively for both original creation and new creation (Isaiah 43:1, 65:17).
How Is Bara Used in Modern Hebrew?
The Hebrew month of 'Creation' (Tishrei, which includes Rosh Hashanah) is seen as the anniversary of bara — the birthday of the world. Rosh Hashanah liturgy celebrates God as 'Yotzer Bereshit' (Creator of the Beginning). The creative impulse in Jewish culture reflects the divine image.
How to Use Bara in Prayer & Worship
Pray Psalm 51:10: 'Bara in me a clean heart, O God.' Trust that the God who created the universe from nothing can create something new in you — a new heart, a new beginning, a new chapter that only divine power can write.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bara
How do you say “To create (from nothing)” in Hebrew?
“To create (from nothing)” in Hebrew is Bara (בָּרָא), pronounced “ba-RAH.” Bara comes from the root ב-ר-א (bet-resh-aleph), meaning 'to create, to bring into being.' In the Hebrew Bible, this verb is reserved exclusively for divine action — only God 'bara-s.' Other creation verbs like 'asah' (make) and 'yatsar' (form) can have human subjects, but bara never does.
What does Bara mean in the Bible?
Bara (בָּרָא) means “To create (from nothing)” in Biblical Hebrew. Bara appears approximately 48 times in the Hebrew Bible, always with God as the subject. Genesis 1 uses it three times: for the cosmos (v.1), sea creatures (v.21), and humanity (v.27). Isaiah uses it extensively for both original creation and new creation (Isaiah 43:1, 65:17).
How do you pronounce Bara?
Bara is pronounced “ba-RAH.” The word comes from the Hebrew root ב-ר-א.
Does bara mean 'create from nothing'?
While bara doesn't explicitly say 'from nothing' (ex nihilo), its exclusive use for God's activity — never for human making — strongly implies bringing into existence something entirely new. When Genesis 1:1 says God bara the heavens and earth, there is no pre-existing material mentioned. The theological tradition of creation ex nihilo is rooted in the unique nature of bara.
What is the difference between bara and asah in Hebrew?
Bara (create) is used only of God and implies radical newness. Asah (make/do) is used of both God and humans and typically implies working with existing materials. Both appear in Genesis 1-2, with bara at the major transitions (cosmos, life, humanity) and asah for the process of forming and filling. Together they reveal God as both transcendent Creator and hands-on Maker.
Why does Genesis 1:27 use bara three times?
Genesis 1:27 says: 'So God bara man in his own image, in the image of God he bara him; male and female he bara them.' The triple use of bara at humanity's creation emphasizes that human beings are God's supreme creative act — not an afterthought but the climax of creation. Each 'bara' adds a dimension: human existence, divine image, and gender complementarity.
Sources & Further Study
- Blue Letter Bible — H1254: Bara
- Bible Gateway — Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB) — entry for ב-ר-א
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