English · KJV
H6501

פֶּרֶא

pereʼ /peh'-reh/ Ask about this word
Rootor פֶּרֶה
Meaning(Jeremiah 2:24), from פָּרָא in the secondary sense of running wild; the onager
KJV usagewild (ass).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pereʼ — 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 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.

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 noun across 10 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — 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.

  • פֶּרֶא
  • פְּרָאִים
  • פֶּרֶא

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.

H6171 עָרוֹד from the same as עֲרָד; an onager (from his lonesome habits); wild ass. H5895 עַיִר from עוּר in the sense of raising (i.e. bearing a burden); properly, a young ass (as just broken to a load); hence an as

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

Appears in 10 verses across 6 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (4 verses); never once in the other 33.

1
Genesis
4
Job
1
Psalms
1
Isaiah
2
Jeremiah
1
Hosea

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.