<strong>BAR.</strong> An Aramaic word for the Hebrew <em>bēn</em>,“son.” In the NT it is used as a prefix to the names of persons, e.g., Bar-Jonah, “son of Jonah” (<bibleref ref="Matt.16.17">Matt.16.17</bibleref>); Barabbas; Bar-Jesus; Barnabas; Barsabbas; Bartholomew; Bartimaeus.<br /><br />

<h2>International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)</h2>

Aramaic for the Hebrew ben, "son." Compare Aramaic sections of Ezra and Daniel. In the <span class="auto-link">[[Old Testament]]</span> the word is found three times in <bibleref ref="Prov.31.2">Pr 31:2</bibleref> and once in Syriac <bibleref ref="Ps.2.12">Ps 2:12</bibleref> (Hier. translates "pure"). In the <span class="auto-link">[[New Testament]]</span> "Bar" is frequently employed as prefix to names of persons. Compare Barabbas; Bar-Jesus; Bar-Jonah; Barnabas; Barsabbas; Bartholomew; Bartimeus.<br /><br />

See [[Ben]].<br /><br />
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(2) moT = "a staff," "stick," "pole" (<bibleref ref="Num.4.10">Nu 4:10</bibleref>,<bibleref ref="Num.4.12">12</bibleref> margin); "strong fortification and great impediment" (<bibleref ref="Isa.45.2">Isa 45:2</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Amos.1.5">Am 1:5</bibleref>, "the bolt of Damascus": no need here to render prince, as some do (G. A. Smith in the place cited.)).<br /><br />

(3) badh = "staff," "part of body," "strength" (<bibleref ref="Job.17.16">Job 17:16</bibleref>, "bars of Sheol": the gates of the world of the dead; compare <bibleref ref="Isa.38.10">Isa 38:10</bibleref>; some read, "Will the bars of Sheol fall?").

(4) meTil = "something hammered out, a (forged) bar" (<bibleref ref="Job.40.18">Job 40:18</bibleref>).

See [[Door]]; [[Gate]]; [[House]].<br /><br />

Frank E. Hirsch<br /><br />