### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Pâʼrân**, represented by `{{H6290}}`, identifies a significant geographical location described as a desert in Arabia. Its name is derived from a root meaning "ornamental." Appearing **11 times** across **10 unique verses**, Paran is primarily depicted as a vast wilderness that plays a key role in the history of Israel.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, Paran is a central stage for the Israelites' journey after the exodus. The children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sinai and settled in the wilderness of Paran [[Numbers 10:12]]. It was from this location that Moses, by the commandment of the LORD, sent the twelve spies to scout the promised land [[Numbers 13:3]]. The region also served as a dwelling place; Ishmael settled in the wilderness of Paran [[Genesis 21:21]], and David went there after the death of Samuel [[1 Samuel 25:1]]. In prophetic passages, it is named as a site of divine revelation, a place from which God "shined forth" ([[Deuteronomy 33:2]], [[Habakkuk 3:3]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the location and context of Paran:
* `{{H4057}}` **midbâr** (wilderness): Defined as "a pasture... a desert... wilderness." This term is consistently used to describe Paran, emphasizing its nature as an uncultivated region where key events of the Israelite wanderings occurred ([[Numbers 10:12]], [[Numbers 12:16]]).
* `{{H5514}}` **Çîynay** (Sinai): The name for the "mountain of Arabia." Paran is established as the next major destination for Israel after they departed from the wilderness of Sinai [[Numbers 10:12]], linking the two locations in their journey.
* `{{H2698}}` **Chătsêrôwth** (Hazeroth): Meaning "yards," this was a stopping point for the Israelites. The people "removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran" [[Numbers 12:16]], marking a clear geographical progression.
* `{{H8165}}` **Sêʻîyr** (Seir): A "rough" mountain region. Seir is mentioned alongside Paran as a place from which the LORD "rose up" and "shined forth" [[Deuteronomy 33:2]].
### Theological Significance
The geographical and theological significance of `{{H6290}}` is evident in its various contexts.
* **A Stage in Israel's Journey:** Paran is the setting for a pivotal period of testing and decision-making for Israel. It is the base from which the spies were dispatched and where the nation received the report that would determine the fate of that generation ([[Numbers 13:3]], [[Numbers 13:26]]).
* **Site of Divine Theophany:** The region is associated with the powerful manifestation of God. Along with Sinai, Seir, and Teman, Mount Paran is a point from which the glory and power of God are said to emanate, marking it as a place of sacred importance ([[Deuteronomy 33:2]], [[Habakkuk 3:3]]).
* **A Place of Habitation and Transit:** Beyond its role in the exodus narrative, Paran is a livable wilderness. It is where Ishmael's family line began [[Genesis 21:21]] and a route for travelers, as men were gathered there to accompany Hadad to Egypt [[1 Kings 11:18]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6290}}` represents far more than a simple desert. It is a foundational landscape in the Old Testament, a place of transition between the lawgiving at Sinai and the borders of the promised land. As a wilderness of divine revelation, human failure, and refuge, Paran is a location where crucial parts of Israel's story and relationship with God were forged.
TRV