### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pere'**, represented by `{{H6501}}`, refers to the **onager** or **wild (ass)**. Derived from a root sense of running wild, it appears **10 times** across **10 unique verses** in the Bible. The term consistently symbolizes an untamed, independent, and free nature, often living in the wilderness far from human settlement.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H6501}}` is frequently used as a powerful metaphor for people and nations. An angel prophesies that Ishmael will be a "wild man" [[Genesis 16:12]], signifying a life of freedom and conflict. The prophets use the image to illustrate stubborn rebellion, describing unfaithful Israel as "a wild ass used to the wilderness" that cannot be turned from its course [[Jeremiah 2:24]] and Ephraim as "a wild ass alone by himself" in its pursuit of foreign alliances [[Hosea 8:9]]. It is also used to depict desolation, where ruined cities become a pasture and "a joy of wild asses" [[Isaiah 32:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide additional context to the concept of wildness and asses:
* `{{H6171}}` **ʻârôwd** (wild ass): Described as an onager known for its lonesome habits, this term is used in parallel with `{{H6501}}` to emphasize the creature's freedom, as when God asks Job who "loosed the bands of the wild ass" [[Job 39:5]].
* `{{H5895}}` **ʻayir** (young ass): This word properly means a young ass or colt, often one just broken to a load. It is used in conjunction with `{{H6501}}` to create a vivid image of innate wildness, describing a man "born like a wild ass's colt" [[Job 11:12]].
### Theological Significance
The symbolic weight of `{{H6501}}` is significant, highlighting themes of freedom, instinct, and desolation.
* **God-Given Freedom:** The wild ass is portrayed as a creature set free by God himself, a symbol of a natural, untamed state outside of human control [[Job 39:5]].
* **Human Character:** The term is applied metaphorically to define human nature. It can describe an independent and untamable spirit, as with Ishmael [[Genesis 16:12]], or a vain man who is naturally untamed from birth [[Job 11:12]].
* **Indicator of Judgment:** The behavior and location of wild asses can signal divine judgment and its consequences. In a drought, they are seen snuffing the wind in desperation [[Jeremiah 14:6]], and they inhabit the ruins of once-great cities [[Isaiah 32:14]].
* **Natural Instinct:** The creature's basic instincts are used to illustrate a universal principle: a wild ass does not bray if it has grass, showing that complaints only arise from a state of need [[Job 6:5]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6501}}` is a term loaded with metaphorical meaning beyond its literal definition of a wild ass. It serves as a potent symbol for wildness, freedom, and stubborn independence. Whether describing God's creation existing free in the wilderness, the prophesied character of a man, or the rebellious nature of a nation, **pere'** powerfully illustrates the concept of an untamed and solitary existence.
TRV