The Hebrew name Perets ʻUzzâʼ, represented by H6560, literally means break of Uzza. It is a proper name for a place in Palestine, appearing 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. This name was given to a location to commemorate a specific, dramatic event involving King David, a man named Uzza, and the ark of God.
The name Perets ʻUzzâʼ originates directly from a narrative recorded in both 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. In these parallel accounts, David is transporting the ark of God. When Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark, the LORD strikes him down. In response to this, David gives the location its name. Both 2 Samuel 6:8 and 1 Chronicles 13:11 state that David was displeased because the LORD had "made a breach" upon Uzzah, and therefore the place was called Perezuzza.
The name itself is a compound of two distinct Hebrew words, and the event involves several key figures and actions:
- H6556 perets (a break): This is the root noun meaning "breach" or "gap." It forms the first part of the place name, directly describing the event as a "breaking forth" of divine judgment.
- H5798 ʻUzzâʼ (strength): This is the name of the man who was struck down after touching the ark 1 Chronicles 13:10. His name, meaning "strength," stands in stark contrast to his fate.
- H6555 pârats (to break out): This is the verb used to describe the LORD's action. The scripture says the LORD "had made a breach" (pârats) upon Uzza, providing the verbal root for the name of the place 1 Chronicles 13:11.
- H1732 Dâvid (David): As king, he is the central human figure in the narrative who formally names the location Perezuzza in response to the event 2 Samuel 6:8.
- H2734 chârâh (be angry, be displeased): This word describes David's emotional reaction to the LORD's action, a displeasure so profound that he memorialized it in the place name 1 Chronicles 13:11.
The significance of H6560 is rooted in its function as a memorial.
- Divine Judgment: The name serves as a permanent landmark commemorating the moment the LORD's anger was kindled against Uzza 1 Chronicles 13:10. It is a geographical reminder of a holy God's powerful reaction to an act of irreverence.
- A King's Displeasure: The name also captures David's reaction. His displeasure H2734 at the event was the direct catalyst for the naming, embedding his emotional response into the landscape itself 2 Samuel 6:8.
- Historical Marker: Perets ʻUzzâʼ forever ties a specific location to a key event in the history of Israel and the journey of the ark of God, ensuring the story would not be forgotten.
In summary, H6560 Perets ʻUzzâʼ is more than a simple place name. It is a monument in language, encapsulating a theological event in a geographical label. Formed from the words for "breach" and the name "Uzza," it marks the exact spot of a startling divine intervention and preserves the memory of the event and King David's reaction for all subsequent generations.
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