from פָּרַץlemma פּרַץ missing vowel, corrected to פָּרַץ; a break (literally or figuratively); breach, breaking forth (in), [idiom] forth, gap.
Transliteration:perets
Pronunciation:peh'-rets
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun perets (פֶּרֶץ, `{{H6556}}`) is derived from the verb parats (פָּרָץ, `{{H6555}}`), which means "to break through," "to burst forth," "to tear down," or "to spread out." Consequently, perets signifies the *result* of such an action: a "break," "breach," "gap," "rupture," or a "breaking forth." Its semantic range is broad, encompassing both literal and figurative applications. Literally, it can refer to a physical opening or tear, such as a breach in a wall or a gap in a fence. Figuratively, it denotes a breakdown or rupture in order, covenant, or moral fabric. Depending on the context, perets can convey negative connotations of destruction, vulnerability, or divine judgment, or, less commonly, the powerful, uncontainable aspect of a sudden outpouring or expansion.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term perets appears approximately 20 times in the Old Testament, illustrating its diverse applications.
* **Physical Breach and Vulnerability:** Often, perets describes a physical breach in fortifications, signifying military defeat and vulnerability. For instance, in [[2 Kings 14:13]] and [[Nehemiah 1:3]], it refers to the "breach" made in Jerusalem's wall, highlighting the city's devastation. [[Psalm 80:12]] uses it metaphorically for the broken-down hedges of a vineyard, leaving it exposed to plunder.
* **Divine Judgment and Consequence:** A particularly striking use of perets is in the account of Uzzah. In [[2 Samuel 6:8]] and [[1 Chronicles 13:11]], God "breaks out" (verb parats) against Uzzah for touching the Ark of the Covenant, resulting in a "breach" (perets) that gives the place its name, "Perez-Uzzah" (meaning "breach of Uzzah"). This powerfully illustrates divine wrath and the severe consequences of irreverence toward sacred things. Similarly, the verb parats is used in [[Exodus 32:10]] when God threatens to "break out" in judgment against Israel for their idolatry.
* **Moral and Spiritual Decay:** In a significant prophetic context, [[Isaiah 58:12]] speaks of those who "repair the breach" (פֶּרֶץ) and "restore the streets for dwelling." Here, "breach" clearly refers not to a physical wall but to the moral, social, and spiritual decay within the community, caused by injustice and neglect of God's commands. The repair signifies a spiritual and societal restoration through righteous living. [[Amos 4:3]] also uses perets in the context of the Israelites being led into exile through "breaches" in the wall, possibly alluding to their spiritual and moral failures that led to their downfall.
* **Uncontrolled Outburst (less common for the noun):** While the verb parats can describe a positive "breaking forth" (e.g., Jacob's prosperity in [[Genesis 30:43]]), the noun perets more consistently denotes a rupture or gap, which often requires repair.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Parats (פָּרָץ, `{{H6555}}`):** The verbal root from which perets is derived. Understanding the verb's meaning—"to break forth, burst, tear down, spread abroad"—is essential for grasping the full semantic range of the noun, which represents the outcome of such an action.
* **Shavar (שָׁבַר, `{{H7665}}`):** Meaning "to break, shatter." While perets often implies a *breach* or *gap* in a continuous structure, shavar is a more general term for breaking into pieces.
* **Gaher (גָּחַר, `{{H1518}}`):** Related to "to break forth" or "to burst out," particularly in contexts of childbirth or the gushing of water.
* **Covenant (בְּרִית, berit, `{{H1285}}`):** A "breach" (perets) of covenant represents a profound theological failure, leading to divine judgment. The concept of "repairing the breach" can be understood in light of covenant faithfulness and renewal.
* **Restoration (e.g., Shuv שׁוּב, `{{H7725}}`):** The antithesis of perets. Where perets signifies damage, rupture, and separation, concepts of restoration imply healing, rebuilding, and re-establishment of order and relationship.
### Theological Significance
The term perets carries profound theological significance, particularly in its implications for divine judgment, human sin, and the call to restoration.
* **Divine Judgment and Holiness:** The narrative of Uzzah in [[2 Samuel 6:6-8]] serves as a stark reminder of God's absolute holiness and the severe consequences of violating His sacred boundaries. The "breach" was a direct manifestation of divine judgment, underscoring the peril of human presumption and irreverence in the divine presence.
* **Consequences of Sin and Disobedience:** Perets frequently symbolizes the destructive fallout of sin, both on an individual and communal level. A breach in a physical wall represents vulnerability to external threats, mirroring how sin creates spiritual vulnerability and exposes a community to judgment. The "breaches" in [[Isaiah 58:12]] are directly linked to Israel's failure to uphold justice and righteousness, leading to societal decay and spiritual disrepair.
* **The Imperative of Repair and Restoration:** The prophetic call to "repair the breach" in [[Isaiah 58:12]] is a crucial theological imperative. It highlights humanity's responsibility to mend what is broken—not merely physically, but fundamentally in terms of justice, righteousness, and a right relationship with God. This repair is a call to spiritual and ethical renewal, pointing towards a future hope where God's people, through obedience and faithfulness, can restore what has been damaged by sin and neglect.
* **God as Both Judge and Redeemer:** Paradoxically, God is portrayed as the one who "breaks out" in judgment ([[2 Samuel 6:8]]) and simultaneously desires and enables the "repairing of breaches" ([[Isaiah 58:12]]). This duality reflects His complex character as a righteous judge who punishes sin, yet also a merciful Redeemer who calls His people to repentance and offers the means for restoration.
### Summary
Perets (פֶּרֶץ, `{{H6556}}`) is a powerful Hebrew term derived from parats (פָּרָץ, `{{H6555}}`), signifying a "break," "breach," "gap," or "bursting forth." Its usage spans literal physical ruptures, such as breaches in city walls ([[Nehemiah 1:3]]), to profound metaphorical applications. The word frequently denotes the destructive consequences of sin and disobedience, manifesting as divine judgment (e.g., God's "breaking out" against Uzzah in [[2 Samuel 6:8]]). However, perets also carries a crucial theological call for restoration, as seen in the prophetic appeal to "repair the breach" in [[Isaiah 58:12]], which refers to mending societal and spiritual decay through acts of justice and righteousness. Thus, perets encapsulates the vulnerability caused by sin, the severity of divine judgment, and the enduring hope for spiritual and communal restoration through obedience and God's redemptive work.
TRV