The Hebrew word pârâq, represented by H6564, is a specific term for soup or broth. According to its base definition, it signifies a soup full of crumbed meat. This word is exceptionally rare, appearing only 1 time in the entire Bible, which makes its single context critically important for its meaning.
The sole use of H6564 is found in Isaiah 65:4. The verse describes people engaging in profane and idolatrous acts: remaining among graves, lodging in hidden places, and eating swine's flesh. In this context of rebellion, the passage mentions a broth H4839 of abominable things H6292 is in their vessels, with pârâq H6564 being used to denote this specific broth. Its appearance here is directly linked to actions that are detestable and ceremonially unclean.
Several related words provide crucial context for the meaning of H6564:
- H4839 mârâq (broth): Defined as soup or broth, this word appears alongside H6564 in Isaiah 65:4. However, it is also used in a neutral or positive context, such as when Gideon prepares broth as part of a meal for the angel of God Judges 6:19-20. This highlights that the impurity of the broth in Isaiah comes from its contents, not the word itself.
- H6292 piggûwl (abominable): This term, meaning something ceremonially unclean or abominable, directly modifies the broth in Isaiah 65:4. Its use elsewhere in scripture is consistently tied to defilement, such as peace offerings that have become abominable (Leviticus 7:18, Leviticus 19:7) or abominable flesh that must not be eaten Ezekiel 4:14.
The theological weight of H6564 is derived entirely from its single, negative context.
- Ritual Defilement: The word is exclusively associated with a substance that is ceremonially unclean. The broth is not merely food but an abominable H6292 concoction, consumed as part of a series of forbidden acts.
- Symbol of Idolatry: The consumption of this specific broth alongside swine's flesh in a setting of graves and monuments Isaiah 65:4 points to participation in pagan or syncretic rituals that were explicitly condemned.
- Basis for Judgment: In the broader passage of Isaiah 65, the actions described, including the making and keeping of this broth, are cited as the reasons for God's coming judgment upon a rebellious people.
In summary, H6564 pârâq is a term whose meaning is completely defined by its singular, powerful appearance. Unlike the more general word for broth, H4839, pârâq is used in scripture only to denote a specific broth of abominable things. It functions as a potent symbol of ritual impurity, idolatry, and willful rebellion against God's commands as described in Isaiah 65:4.
TRV