Baruch ben Neriah

9.9

A writer who helped the prophet Jeremiah record his words in the Hebrew Bible

proper noun

Literature

: Baruch ben Neriah

According to tradition, Baruch ben Neriah assisted Jeremiah in recording his prophecies.

Examples

The book of Baruch is attributed to Baruch ben Neriah in some biblical traditions.
The writings of Baruch ben Neriah provide insight into the era of Jeremiah.
Historians discuss whether Baruch ben Neriah wrote other texts in the Hebrew Bible.
Did Baruch ben Neriah serve as a scribe for Jeremiah?
According to tradition, Baruch ben Neriah assisted Jeremiah in recording his prophecies.
Historians discuss whether Baruch ben Neriah wrote other texts in the Hebrew Bible.
The book of Baruch is attributed to Baruch ben Neriah in some biblical traditions.

Surface Forms

Baruch ben Neriah main

Morphology

Baruch + ben + Neriah

Knowing the constituents yields a clear patronymic reading: 'Baruch ben Neriah' literally reads as 'Baruch, son of Neriah', so a learner who knows the words can identify it as a personal name and lineage. However, the specific biographical information ('a scribe and disciple of Jeremiah') is cultural/historical and not derivable from the parts, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Baruch ben Neriah literally breaks into Baruch ('blessed'), ben ('son of') and Neriah ('lamp of the Lord'). He was the scribe who helped the prophet Jeremiah write down his messages, so think of the name as 'the blessed son of the Lord's light' to remember his role as Jeremiah's writer.