WHAT DOES “BRUIT” MEAN?

by Shawn Brasseaux

The word is found twice in the Authorized Version.

• Jeremiah 10:22: “Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.”
• Nahum 3:19: “There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?”

Using context clues, we understand “bruit” can be described as “noise” (Jeremiah) and something people can “hear” (Nahum). It simply means a report or news, the word coming from the Old French “bruire,” meaning “to roar.” The Hebrew term in Jeremiah is “shemuw`ah,” elsewhere rendered “rumour” (2 Kings 19:7), “report” (1 Samuel 2:24), “tidings” (1 Samuel 4:19), “fame” (1 Kings 10:7), “doctrine” (Isaiah 28:9), and “mentioned” (Ezekiel 16:56). In Nahum, the Hebrew is “shema`,” which was translated similarly.

Also see:
» What does “ado” mean?
» What does “subvert” mean?
» What does “fetch a compass” mean?