English · KJV
H6500

פָּרָא

pârâʼ /paw-raw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto bear fruit
KJV usagebe fruitful.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pârâʼ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word pârâʼ, represented by H6500, is a primitive root meaning to bear fruit or be fruitful. It is a very specific term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its sole biblical appearance, H6500 is used to describe a state of prosperity that is subject to judgment. In Hosea 13:15, the text states, "Though he be fruitful among his brethren." This condition of fruitfulness, however, is immediately contrasted with a coming "east wind" from the LORD that will dry up springs and spoil treasures, signifying a complete and devastating reversal of fortune.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words from its context in Hosea 13:15 help clarify its meaning:

  • H251 ʼâch (brother): This primitive word defines a brother, often in a wide sense of relationship or metaphorical affinity. The subject of Hosea 13:15 is described as fruitful specifically "among his brethren," establishing a communal context for his prosperity and subsequent fall.
  • H2717 chârab (to parch): A root word meaning to desolate, destroy, or be dry. It stands in direct opposition to being fruitful, describing how the subject's fountain "shall be dried up" Hosea 13:15. The same word is used to describe how nations that do not serve God will be "utterly wasted" Isaiah 60:12.
  • H8154 shâçâh (to plunder): This word means to plunder or spoil. It describes the ultimate outcome of the judgment in Hosea 13:15, where "he shall spoil the treasure." It is elsewhere used to describe the spoilers to whom the LORD delivers His people for judgment Judges 2:14.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6500 is derived entirely from its singular, powerful context.

  • Conditional Prosperity: The use of H6500 in Hosea 13:15 illustrates that fruitfulness or prosperity can be temporary and is subject to God's authority. The blessing of being fruitful is immediately followed by the certainty of judgment.
  • The Agency of Divine Judgment: The reversal of fruitfulness is directly attributed to "the wind of the LORD" Hosea 13:15. This demonstrates that God is the agent who can both grant prosperity and bring about desolation.
  • A State Before a Fall: In its only scriptural context, being fruitful is not presented as a final, secure state, but as a prelude to destruction. The verse implies that this very condition precedes a complete spoiling of all pleasant vessels.

Summary

In summary, H6500 is a highly specific term for being fruitful. Its singular use in scripture is not to celebrate prosperity, but to serve as a powerful warning. It frames fruitfulness as a transient condition that, in the context of Hosea 13:15, exists only as the precursor to a swift and complete judgment brought about by the LORD.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יַפְרִיא

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H251 אָח a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance ( H2717 חָרַב or חֲרֵב; a primitive root; to parch (through drought) i.e. (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill; decay, (be) desola H8154 שָׁסָה or שָׁשָׂה; (Isaiah 10:13), a primitive root; to plunder; destroyer, rob, spoil(-er).

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Hosea — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.