📖 Biblical Definition
Hebrew noun related to bachar (H977, to choose), expressing the OT doctrine of divine election: God's sovereign choosing of His people, His covenant patriarchs, His kings, His servant Israel, and His Messiah-Servant. The OT lexicon of election is vast and consistent: Abraham chosen out of Ur (Genesis 12:1-3; Nehemiah 9:7); Israel chosen from among the peoples (Deuteronomy 7:6-8, The LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth); David chosen from among his brothers (1 Samuel 16:6-13); the Levitical priesthood chosen for sanctuary service (Deuteronomy 18:5); the Servant of the LORD chosen in whom the LORD delights (Isaiah 42:1, the great Servant Song mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth). The election is consistently sovereign (the LORD's free choice, not the recipient's merit), particular (specific to the chosen object), purposive (oriented to the LORD's redemptive ends), and gracious (rooted in the LORD's love, not in any quality of the chosen). The NT continues and clarifies the doctrine: God's election of His people in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4); the Lord Jesus Himself as God's elect (1 Peter 2:6, a chief corner stone, elect, precious); the church as the chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). The Reformed confessional tradition's doctrine of unconditional election (Westminster Confession III; Canons of Dort I) is the systematic articulation of the OT-NT bechirah teaching.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Hebrew noun related to bachar (H977, to choose); divine election; God's sovereign, particular, purposive, gracious choosing of His people, patriarchs, kings, and Servant; foundation of Reformed doctrine of unconditional election.
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BECHIRAH, Hebrew noun (related to H977 bachar, to choose) Divine election; God's sovereign choosing of His people, His covenant patriarchs, His kings, His servant Israel, His Messiah-Servant. OT examples: Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; Nehemiah 9:7); Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6-8); David (1 Samuel 16:6-13); Levites (Deuteronomy 18:5); the Servant of the LORD (Isaiah 42:1). Consistently sovereign, particular, purposive, and gracious. NT continuation: election in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4); Christ as God's elect (1 Peter 2:6); church as chosen race (1 Peter 2:9). Foundation of Reformed confessional doctrine of unconditional election (Westminster Confession III; Canons of Dort I).
📖 Key Scripture
Deuteronomy 7:6-7 — "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people."
Isaiah 42:1 — "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles."
Ephesians 1:4 — "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."
1 Peter 2:9 — "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him that called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Arminian-evangelical readings collapse divine election into conditional foreknowledge of human choice; the biblical bechirah is the LORD's sovereign free choosing.
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The principal modern corruption of biblical election is the Arminian-evangelical reduction of the doctrine to God's foreknowledge of human choice: God elects those whom He foresees will choose Him. The biblical bechirah is the opposite: the LORD's sovereign free choice of His people not because they were more in number or better than others (Deuteronomy 7:7) but because the LORD loved you. The choice originates in God's own love and purpose, not in the recipient's qualities or anticipated response. The Reformed confessional tradition's doctrine of unconditional election (Westminster III; Canons of Dort I) is the precise articulation of the OT-NT teaching against the Arminian counterfeit.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Related to H977 bachar, to choose; OT doctrine of divine election; foundation of Reformed unconditional-election doctrine.
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['Hebrew', 'H977', 'bachar', 'to choose']
['Hebrew', 'H972', 'bachir', 'chosen, elect (passive participle)']
['Greek', 'G1586', 'eklego', 'to choose out; the NT equivalent']
Usage
"Bechirah: divine election; the LORD's sovereign free choosing."
"OT examples: Abraham, Israel, David, the Servant."
"Reformed confessional doctrine of unconditional election articulates the substance."