Word Study for H6510 (פָּרָה)

pârâh /paw-raw'/ Ask about this word

Rootfeminine of פַּר

Meaninga heifer

KJV usagecow, heifer, kine.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pârâh — 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 pârâh, represented by H6510, is the feminine term for a bovine, meaning cow, heifer, kine. It is the female counterpart to H6499 par, or bullock. This word appears 26 times across 22 unique verses, playing a role in significant narratives, laws, and prophecies.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H6510 is used in several key contexts. It is central to Pharaoh's dream in Genesis, where seven well-favored kine Genesis 41:2 are consumed by seven ill-favored kine Genesis 41:4, symbolizing seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine Genesis 41:27. The word is also critical in the law of purification, where a red heifer H6510 without blemish and which has never been yoked is sacrificed to create the water of separation (Numbers 19:2, Numbers 19:9). Additionally, two milch kine H6510, on which no yoke had come, are used to carry the Ark of the Lord back to Israel 1 Samuel 6:7, and are later offered as a burnt offering 1 Samuel 6:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller picture of livestock and ceremonial laws:

H6499 par (bullock): The male counterpart to pârâh, often mentioned alongside it, as when Jacob prepares a gift of forty kine and ten bulls Genesis 32:15.
H1241 bâqâr (beef cattle or an animal of the ox family): A broader term for cattle. In a vision of future peace, the cow H6510 is mentioned alongside the ox H1241, showing a return to harmony Isaiah 11:7.
H5923 ʻôl (yoke): The status of a heifer or kine as being untouched by a yoke was a key requirement for its use in sacred duties, signifying it was set apart for a holy purpose (Numbers 19:2, 1 Samuel 6:7).
H5763 ʻûwl (milch): This term describes the nursing kine used to transport the Ark, whose calves were shut up at home, emphasizing the miraculous nature of their journey (1 Samuel 6:7, 1 Samuel 6:10).

Theological Significance

The theological and metaphorical weight of H6510 is significant.

Ceremonial Purification: The red heifer provides the means for cleansing from impurity, forming a central part of the "ordinance of the law" for the children of Israel Numbers 19:2. The burning of the entire animal, including its skin, flesh, and blood, was required for this purification for sin Numbers 19:5.
Prophetic Symbolism: The kine in Pharaoh's dream serve as a direct communication from God regarding future events, illustrating His sovereignty over history and provision for His people Genesis 41:26.
A Metaphor for Israel: Prophets use the image of a heifer to describe Israel's spiritual state. Hosea refers to Israel as a "backsliding heifer" to illustrate its stubborn rebellion Hosea 4:16, while Amos calls the oppressive elite women of Samaria the "kine of Bashan" Amos 4:1.
Vision of Peace: In Isaiah's prophecy of a peaceful kingdom, the cow is shown feeding with the bear, symbolizing a time when nature itself will be restored to a state of harmony Isaiah 11:7.

Summary

In summary, H6510 pârâh extends beyond a simple agricultural term. It is integral to Old Testament law, a vessel for divine prophecy, and a potent symbol for the spiritual condition of God's people. From the sacrificial red heifer for purification to the stubborn heifer representing a wayward nation, the word illustrates how an everyday creature can carry profound spiritual meaning.

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 26 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

פָּרוֹת
פָּרָה
פָּרוֹת
פָּרָת

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 22 verses across 7 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (9 verses); never once in the other 32.

Genesis

Numbers

1 Samuel

Job

Isaiah

Hosea

Amos

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.