### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pâʼrûwr**, represented by `{{H6289}}`, is a term for **blackness**. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. Derived from a root meaning illuminated or a glow, it is used as a noun to describe a flush of anxiety that manifests as blackness on the face.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H6289}}` describes the physical manifestation of extreme terror and distress in the face of judgment. The prophet Joel uses it to describe a people's reaction to a fearsome, advancing army, stating that "all **faces** shall gather **blackness**" [[Joel 2:6]]. Nahum paints a similar picture of desolation and physical anguish, where the "heart **melteth**, and the **knees** smite together... and the **faces** of them all gather **blackness**" [[Nahum 2:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of **pâʼrûwr** is illuminated by the words used alongside it, which together depict a state of complete terror:
* `{{H6440}}` **pânîym** (the face): This word for the **face** or countenance is the location where the **blackness** becomes visible, serving as an outward sign of the inner turmoil [[Joel 2:6]].
* `{{H6908}}` **qâbats** (to grasp, i.e. collect): This verb is used to describe how the **blackness** accumulates or is brought together on the **faces** of those in distress [[Nahum 2:10]].
* `{{H2342}}` **chûwl** (to writhe in pain or fear): This term provides the cause for the **blackness**, describing the intense pain and fear experienced by the **people** [[Joel 2:6]].
* `{{H4549}}` **mâçaç** (to liquefy; figuratively, to waste): This word describes the internal state that accompanies the outward **blackness**, as when the "heart **melteth**" from fear or grief [[Nahum 2:10]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6289}}` lies in its graphic portrayal of the physical effects of terror and divine judgment.
* **An Outward Sign of Inner Anguish:** The gathering of **blackness** on the **face** `{{H6440}}` is a visible sign of a melting **heart** `{{H3820}}`, great **pain** `{{H2479}}` in the **loins** `{{H4975}}`, and **knees** that **smite together** `{{H6375}}` in fear [[Nahum 2:10]].
* **The Terror of Judgment:** In both of its occurrences, **pâʼrûwr** is found within prophetic warnings of overwhelming devastation. It describes the physical reaction of a **people** `{{H5971}}` when confronted with an unstoppable force, showing the profound dread of judgment [[Joel 2:6]].
* **A Flush of Anxiety:** The word's definition as a "flush (of anxiety)" connects the physical sign of **blackness** directly to a state of extreme psychological distress, showing how fear and grief can physically mark a person.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6289}}` **pâʼrûwr** is a specific and vivid term used to articulate extreme fear and anguish. Though rare, its usage in both Joel and Nahum provides a chilling image of human terror in the face of overwhelming judgment. It illustrates how biblical language can capture not just an abstract concept, but the visceral, physical reality of an emotional state where the face itself displays the soul's deepest anxieties.
TRV