ביכר

ביכר / בִּכֵּר • (bikér) (pi'el construction)

1. To give birth for the first time.
   • a. 1200, Maimonides, משנה תורה‎,‎ בכורות chapter 4:

     ‏הַלּוֹקֵחַ בְּהֵמָה מִן הַנָּכְרִי וְאֵין יָדוּעַ אִם בִּכְּרָה אוֹ לֹא בִּכְּרָה וְיָלְדָה אֶצְלוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה סְפֵק בְּכוֹר‎

     Ha-lokéaḥ b'hemáh min ha-nokhrí v-ein yadúa im bikráh o lo bikráh v-yaldáh etsló, haréi zeh s'fék b'khór

     When a person purchases an animal from a gentile and does not know whether it gave birth already or not, if it gives birth in his possession, the offspring is considered a firstborn because of the doubt.

2. To designate a specific child the firstborn.
   • Deuteronomy 21:16, with Young's Literal Translation:

     לֹא יוּכַל לְבַכֵּר אֶת־בֶּן־הָאֲהוּבָה עַל־פְּנֵי בֶן־הַשְּׂנוּאָה הַבְּכֹר

     ló yuchál l'vakér et-ben-haahuvá al-p'né ven-has'nuá hab'chór

     he is not able to declare first-born the son of the loved one, in the face of the son of the hated one -- the first-born.

3. (of produce) To ripen.
   • a. 217 C.E., Mishnah, Menachot:

     ‏מִצְוַת הָעֹמֶר לָבֹא מִן הַקָּרוֹב. לֹא בִכֵּר הַקָּרוֹב לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, מְבִיאִים אוֹתוֹ מִכָּל מָקוֹם.‎‎

     mitzvát haómer lavó mín hakaróv ló vikér hakaróv lirushaláyim, m'viím otó mikól makóm

     The mitzvah of the omer should come from nearby. If the [crop] near Jerusalem has not ripened, bring it from any place.