The Hebrew verb בָּרָא (root: ב-ר-א) means “to create” or “to bring into existence.” It is a powerful and theologically significant verb that appears in the very first verse of the Bible. Unlike other Hebrew verbs for “making” (like עשה or יצר), בָּרָא is used exclusively for divine activity—only God is the subject of this verb in the Hebrew Bible. It conveys the idea of bringing something entirely new into being, often ex nihilo (out of nothing).
It appears primarily in the Qal binyan. Its Niphal form (passive) also appears, meaning “to be created.”
Qal Binyan Conjugation of בָּרָא
Past (Perfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | בָּרָאתִי |
| 2nd person masculine singular | בָּרָאתָ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | בָּרָאתְ |
| 3rd person masculine singular | בָּרָא |
| 3rd person feminine singular | בָּרְאָה |
| 1st person plural | בָּרָאנוּ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | בְּרָאתֶם |
| 2nd person feminine plural | בְּרָאתֶן |
| 3rd person plural | בָּרְאוּ |
Present (Participle) Tense
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| Masculine singular | בּוֹרֵא |
| Feminine singular | בּוֹרֵאת |
| Masculine plural | בּוֹרְאִים |
| Feminine plural | בּוֹרְאוֹת |
Future (Imperfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | אֶבְרָא |
| 2nd person masculine singular | תִּבְרָא |
| 2nd person feminine singular | תִּבְרְאִי |
| 3rd person masculine singular | יִבְרָא |
| 3rd person feminine singular | תִּבְרָא |
| 1st person plural | נִבְרָא |
| 2nd person masculine plural | תִּבְרְאוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | תִּבְרֶאנָה |
| 3rd person plural | יִבְרְאוּ |
Imperative Mood
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd person masculine singular | בְּרָא |
| 2nd person feminine singular | בִּרְאִי |
| 2nd person masculine plural | בִּרְאוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | בְּרֶאנָה |
Usage in Scripture
- Genesis 1:1 – בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים
“In the beginning, God created…” — the most iconic use of the verb. - Isaiah 45:7 – יוֹצֵר אוֹר וּבוֹרֵא חֹשֶׁךְ
“Forming light and creating darkness…” — emphasizing divine control over all things. - Psalm 51:12 – לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא־לִי אֱלֹהִים
“Create in me a pure heart, O God.” — pleading for spiritual renewal.
Summary
The verb בָּרָא is uniquely sacred in biblical Hebrew. It is always attributed to God and never to human beings, underlining the divine power to originate life, form, and reality. Whether describing the creation of the universe, renewal of the human heart, or cosmic transformation, בָּרָא expresses God’s unparalleled role as Creator.
