### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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**.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
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]].
### Related Words & Concepts
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]].
### Theological Significance
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.
### Summary
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