The Hebrew word perets, represented by H6556, defines a break used in both literal and figurative ways. It appears 19 times across 18 unique verses and is derived from the verb H6555 (pârats). The term signifies a breach, a gap, or a sudden breaking forth.
In the biblical narrative, H6556 is used to describe both physical and spiritual realities. It denotes a literal rupture in a defensive wall, such as when Solomon repaired the breaches of the city of David 1 Kings 11:27 or when Nehemiah reported there was "no breach left" in the new wall Nehemiah 6:1. Figuratively, it represents a point of critical vulnerability where God seeks someone to "stand in the gap" to avert judgment Ezekiel 22:30. The word also captures the force of a sudden outbreak, as when David celebrated that God had broken in on his enemies "like the breaking forth of waters" 1 Chronicles 14:11.
Several related words help define the context of a breach:
- H6555 pârats: The primitive root meaning to break out. It is the action that creates a perets, as seen in the birth of Perez, where it is asked, "How hast thou broken forth H6555? this breach H6556 be upon thee" Genesis 38:29.
- H1443 gâdar: This root, meaning to wall in or around, is often used in the context of mending a perets. A righteous figure is called "The repairer H1443 of the breach H6556" in Isaiah 58:12.
- H7667 sheber: Meaning a fracture or ruin, this term can describe the destructive result of a breach. Isaiah 30:13 describes a wall with a breach H6556 whose breaking H7667 comes suddenly.
- H6557 Perets: The same word is used as a proper name for an ancestor of David, stemming from the story of his dramatic birth where he "broke forth" Genesis 38:29.
The theological weight of H6556 is significant, highlighting moments of crisis and divine action.
- National Vulnerability: A breach symbolizes a nation's spiritual failure and resulting exposure to judgment. God rebukes leaders who have "not gone up into the gaps" to defend Israel Ezekiel 13:5, and coming judgment is depicted as people being forced "out at the breaches" Amos 4:3.
- Intercession: The image of a breach establishes the crucial role of the intercessor. God actively looks for a person to "stand in the gap" before Him for the land Ezekiel 22:30, and Moses is honored for having "stood before him in the breach to turn away his wrath" Psalms 106:23.
- Divine Breakthrough: A breach can also signify God's sovereign power. David recognizes God's hand in victory as a powerful breach against his enemies 2 Samuel 5:20, showing that God can use a "breaking forth" for His own redemptive or punitive purposes.
In summary, H6556 is a dynamic term that represents far more than an architectural flaw. It is a powerful biblical metaphor for vulnerability, judgment, and the opportunity for divine intervention. Whether referring to a literal gap in a city wall, the moral failing of a nation, or a sudden display of God's power, a perets marks a critical point where the integrity of a structure or a people is tested, demanding either human repair or divine action.
TRV