### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pardêç**, represented by `{{H6508}}`, is a term of foreign origin that denotes a **park**, **forest**, or **orchard**. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. The word describes a protected or cultivated area of trees, either for resources like timber or for producing fruit.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H6508}}` consistently refers to a significant, managed plot of land. It appears as the "king's **forest**," a protected source of timber granted by the king to Nehemiah for rebuilding projects [[Nehemiah 2:8]]. The term is also used in a declaration of great works, where the speaker in Ecclesiastes made for himself gardens and **orchards**, planting in them all kinds of fruit trees [[Ecclesiastes 2:5]]. In a poetic context, the beloved's plants in Song of Solomon are described as an "**orchard** of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits" [[Song of Solomon 4:13]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the nature and contents of a **pardêç**:
* `{{H1593}}` **gannâh** (garden): As a feminine noun for a garden, it appears alongside **orchards** to describe the cultivated spaces created for pleasure and sustenance [[Ecclesiastes 2:5]].
* `{{H6086}}` **ʻêts** (tree): This word identifies the primary component of a **pardêç**, whether as **timber** from the king's forest [[Nehemiah 2:8]] or as the living **trees** planted in an orchard [[Ecclesiastes 2:5]].
* `{{H6529}}` **pᵉrîy** (fruit): This word denotes the produce of an orchard, as seen in the "pleasant **fruits**" from the **orchard** of pomegranates [[Song of Solomon 4:13]] and the "all kind of **fruits**" from the trees planted in the orchards [[Ecclesiastes 2:5]].
* `{{H7973}}` **shelach** (plant): Defined as a shoot of growth or branch, this term is used for the **plants** that constitute the beautiful and fruitful **orchard** in [[Song of Solomon 4:13]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H6508}}` is tied to its representation of cultivated value and provision.
* **Royal Provision:** As the "king's **forest**," it symbolizes a resource under royal authority, set aside for specific purposes like providing timber for the restoration of the city and temple-related structures [[Nehemiah 2:8]].
* **Image of Abundance:** The term is used metaphorically to evoke imagery of beauty, desirability, and fruitfulness, as when an **orchard** of pomegranates is used to describe the beloved in Song of Solomon [[Song of Solomon 4:13]].
* **Sign of Prosperity:** The ability to create **orchards** is presented as a mark of great human achievement and wealth, a tangible result of labor that yields sustenance and pleasure [[Ecclesiastes 2:5]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6508}}` is a specific term for a cultivated park, forest, or orchard. While its usage is rare, it consistently points to a special, enclosed area that is managed for a purpose, whether practical, poetic, or as a display of prosperity. It carries connotations of royal authority, lush beauty, and the tangible rewards of cultivating the land.
TRV