Can anyone illuminate the etymology of בָּהִיר (bahir)?

Interesting thread! I don’t have a deep knowledge of Hebrew, but I love seeing how single words carry layers of meaning. It’s kinda like how sneaker deals always come with hidden conditions in the fine print lol.

ANSWER: The etymology of בָּהִיר is clear. According to Cheshek Shlomo, the underlying biliteral root is בר (“outside”) which, in turn, is the the root of ברור, clarity. Among the other derivatives of this root are: בורית (soap), בירה (capital, the city or building that stands out prominently and clearly from the others), בר (cleansed), באר / ביאור (clarifications, explanations), בהרת (a bright clear spot), ברותים (a species of especially prominent tree which stands out from the others).

Rabbi Yehoshua (Jeremy) Steinberg