Word Study for H6537 (פְּרַס)

pᵉraç /per-as'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to פָּרַס

Meaningto split up

KJV usagedivide, (U-) pharsin.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pᵉraç — 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 Aramaic word pᵉraç, represented by H6537, means to split up; divide. The term also appears in the form Upharsin. Though it appears only 3 times across 2 unique verses, its role is highly significant as it relates to a direct pronouncement of divine judgment and the partitioning of a kingdom.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The biblical usage of H6537 is exclusively found in the account of the writing on the wall in Daniel 5. It first appears as UPHARSIN as part of the mysterious message written for the king of Babylon Daniel 5:25. Daniel then interprets this word, stating it as PERES, and explains its meaning: "Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians" Daniel 5:28. The word, therefore, functions as both the prophecy and the explanation of a kingdom's imminent fragmentation.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words are crucial to understanding the context of H6537:

H4484 mᵉnêʼ (numbered; Mene): This word appears directly before H6537 in the divine writing Daniel 5:25. Daniel interprets it to mean that God has numbered the kingdom and finished it Daniel 5:26.
H8625 tᵉqal (to balance; Tekel, be weighed): This is the middle word of the famous phrase Daniel 5:25, interpreted to mean "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting" Daniel 5:27.
H6540 Pâraç (Persia, Persians): This word represents the people who would receive the divided kingdom. The use of PERES H6537 serves as a direct wordplay on Persians H6540, linking the act of division to the inheritors of that division Daniel 5:28.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6537 is concentrated in its role as a term of divine verdict.

Divine Judgment: As the final word of the interpreted message, pᵉraç represents the execution of a sentence. Following the numbering (Mene) and weighing (Tekel), the division (Peres) is the consequence of being found wanting by God.
Sovereignty over Kingdoms: The word underscores God's ultimate authority to give and divide kingdoms. The declaration that the kingdom is divided and given away Daniel 5:28 is a stark reminder that human dominion is subject to divine will.
Prophetic Wordplay: The linguistic link between the judgment "divided" H6537 and the "Persians" H6540 who would conquer Babylon highlights the precision of God's prophetic word, where the punishment itself points to the instrument of that punishment.

Summary

In summary, H6537 pᵉraç is a powerful Aramaic term signifying a final, divine act of division. While its usage is rare, its placement in the Daniel 5 narrative makes it unforgettable. It functions as the concluding element in the "writing on the wall," communicating the verdict of judgment against a king and the fragmentation of his kingdom. Its relationship with the other words in the message demonstrates a layered and precise prophetic announcement of God's sovereignty over the nations.

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 and a verb across 3 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.

פְּרִיסַת
פַרְסִין
פְּרֵס

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

2 verses, all in Daniel — 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.