### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pereq**, represented by `{{H6563}}`, carries a dual meaning of **robbery** and a **crossway**. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The term is derived from `פָּרַק` and its definitions point to concepts of violent seizure (rapine, robbery) as well as a fork in the road.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H6563}}` illustrates two distinct concepts. In Nahum's prophecy, it describes the moral decay of the "bloody **city**" `{{H5892}}`, which is "all full of lies and **robbery**" [[Nahum 3:1]]. Here, it signifies violent plunder where the prey does not depart. Conversely, in Obadiah, it denotes a physical location of ambush, a **crossway** where Edom is condemned for having stood "to cut off those of his that did escape" during a time of distress [[Obadiah 1:14]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the contexts in which **pereq** is found:
* `{{H2964}}` **ṭereph** (something torn, i.e. a fragment, e.g. a fresh leaf, prey, food): This word appears alongside **pereq** in [[Nahum 3:1]], where the city full of robbery does not let the **prey** depart, highlighting the relentless nature of the plunder.
* `{{H3585}}` **kachash** (figuratively, hypocrisy; leanness, lies, lying): Paired with **robbery** in [[Nahum 3:1]], this term describes the deceit that underpins the city's violence.
* `{{H5975}}` **ʻâmad** (to stand, in various relations...): In [[Obadiah 1:14]], this word describes the action taken at the **crossway**, to **stand** in wait to intercept fugitives, turning a neutral location into one of treachery.
* `{{H6412}}` **pâlîyṭ** (a refugee; (that have) escape(-d, -th), fugitive): This defines the victims at the **crossway** in [[Obadiah 1:14]], those who did **escape** one calamity only to be cut off by their rivals.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6563}}` is seen in its specific applications of judgment.
* **Condemnation of Systemic Sin:** In Nahum, **robbery** `{{H6563}}` is not an isolated act but a defining characteristic of a "bloody **city**" `{{H5892}}`, revealing that God judges nations for institutionalized violence and deceit [[Nahum 3:1]].
* **Betrayal at a Point of Vulnerability:** The **crossway** `{{H6563}}` in Obadiah symbolizes a moment of critical choice. To stand there and "cut off" `{{H3772}}` those who did **escape** `{{H6412}}` is condemned as a profound betrayal during a "day of **distress**" `{{H6869}}`, illustrating a sin of malicious opportunism [[Obadiah 1:14]].
* **The Confluence of Sin:** The use of **pereq** in [[Nahum 3:1]] alongside "lies" `{{H3585}}` and "prey" `{{H2964}}` shows how violence is intertwined with deceit and covetousness, leading to divine judgment.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6563}}` is a potent, though rare, Hebrew word. It functions both as a descriptor for violent **robbery** and as a name for a physical **crossway**. In both contexts, it marks a point of hostile interception—one for plunder and the other for ambush. Its appearances in scripture serve as powerful indictments of social injustice and opportunistic cruelty, demonstrating how a single term can convey both the action of sin and the location of betrayal.
TRV