Bible Dictionary
Breach
A breach is a break, gap, fracture, or opening, whether in a wall, building, body, relationship, or covenant. Scripture also uses the term for a harbor or opening in a shoreline and for the need of restoration.
Definition
A breach is a break, opening, gap, fracture, disruption, or separation. It may occur in a wall, building, ship, body, relationship, or promise. The word can also denote a break in the shore and therefore a creek, harbor, or haven.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses breach for openings in walls, fractures of limbs, disruption and strife, alienation, and breach of promise. The expression “heal the breach” applies figuratively to affliction or disruption. In Judges, the term refers to creeks or a harbor.
Historical Background
Several Hebrew terms lie behind the word, expressing a tear, fracture, gap or leak, alienation, and a break in the shore. The Revised Version commonly renders the coastal sense “creeks.”
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
An opening in a wall (1 Kings 11:27; 2 Kings 12:5); the fracture of a limb (Lev. 24:20), and hence the expression, “Heal, etc.” (Ps. 60:2). Judg. 5:17, a bay or harbour; R.V., “by his creeks.”
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>brech: Represented by</p><p>(1) perets = "a tear," "a rending asunder," "a break," hence, figuratively "enmity," "disruption," "strife" (Ge 38:29; Jud 21:15; 2Sa 5:20; 1Ch 15:13; Ne 6:1; Job 16:14; Ps 106:23; Isa 30:13; 58:12);</p><p>(2) shebher = "fracture," "affliction," "bruise," "destruction" (Le 24:20; Jer 14:17; La 2:13; Ps 60:2);</p><p>(3) bedheq = "a gap" or "leak" (in a building or ship) occurring in 2Ki 12:5-8,12; 22:5;</p><p>(4) tenu'ah = "alienation," "breach of promise" (Nu 14:34 the King James Version);</p><p>(5) miphrats = "a break" (in the shore), and hence, "a haven" (Jud 5:17, the Revised Version (British and American) "creeks").</p><p>Frank E. Hirsch</p>