a primitive root; to separate, literally (to disperse) or figuratively (to specify); also (by implication) to wound; scatter, declare, distinctly, shew, sting.
Transliteration:pârâsh
Pronunciation:paw-rash'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh, `{{H6567}}`) is a primitive root carrying a rich and varied semantic range, primarily centered on the concept of "separation." This core meaning branches out into several distinct applications:
1. **Literal Separation/Dispersion:** This is the most direct sense, implying a breaking apart, scattering, or dividing. Examples include the separation of bodily fluids, the breaking of objects, or the division of a kingdom.
2. **Figurative Separation/Specification:** From the idea of making something distinct, the root extends to declaring, explaining, or making something known clearly and precisely. It implies a separation of an idea or message from ambiguity, rendering it distinct and understandable.
3. **Violent Separation/Wounding:** By implication, "separation" can also refer to a forceful or painful division, such as piercing, striking through, or stinging. This denotes a separation of integrity or wholeness, often with damaging effect.
The various English translations ("scatter," "declare," "distinctly," "shew," "sting," "wound," "pierce," "divide," "sever out," "break out," "stopped" - in the sense of a distinct flow) reflect these nuances.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh, `{{H6567}}`) in the Hebrew Bible illustrate its diverse semantic capabilities:
* **Leviticus 15:3**: "And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness." Here, the sense is a distinct "flowing forth" or "separating" of a discharge from the body, critical for understanding ritual purity laws.
* **Numbers 11:26**: "But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp." In this context, the root means to "declare" or "prophesy," indicating a clear, distinct communication of a divine message.
* **Deuteronomy 32:20**: "And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith." The verb here implies God's distinct declaration of His intention or judgment regarding Israel's apostasy.
* **Judges 5:26**: "She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples." This vivid account uses פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh) to describe the violent "piercing" or "striking through" of Sisera's temple, a forceful and fatal separation of his life from his body.
* **Psalm 58:6**: "Break their teeth in their mouth, O God: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD." Here, the root conveys the action of "breaking out" or dislodging teeth, a violent form of separation.
* **Proverbs 23:32**: "At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." This verse employs פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh) to describe the "stinging" action of a venomous snake, a piercing that introduces poison and causes painful separation of health.
* **Isaiah 58:1**: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." The prophet is commanded to "shew" or "declare distinctly" the people's transgressions, making their sin clear and undeniable.
* **Ezekiel 39:14**: "And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury them that pass by, and to cleanse the land: after the end of seven months shall they search." The phrase "sever out" implies selecting and separating specific individuals for a task, making them distinct for a particular purpose.
* **Daniel 11:4**: "And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those." Here, the root describes the "division" or scattering of a kingdom, a political separation and fragmentation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh, `{{H6567}}`) connects it to several other Hebrew words and theological concepts:
* **Words for Division/Separation:**
* `{{H6398}}` (palaq): "to split, divide."
* `{{H2673}}` (chatsah): "to divide, halve."
* `{{H914}}` (badal): "to divide, separate, set apart," often with a theological connotation of holiness.
* **Words for Declaration/Revelation:**
* `{{H5046}}` (nagad): "to declare, tell, report."
* `{{H3045}}` (yada): "to know," which can extend to "make known, declare."
* `{{H2331}}` (chavah): "to declare, shew."
* **Words for Wounding/Striking:**
* `{{H5221}}` (nakah): "to smite, strike, beat."
* `{{H2490}}` (machats): "to smite, wound, dash to pieces."
The core concept of "separation" is fundamental to biblical thought, encompassing ideas of:
* **Distinction:** Between clean and unclean, holy and common, light and darkness.
* **Judgment:** The separation of the righteous from the wicked, or the breaking down of an entity due to divine wrath.
* **Revelation:** The distinct declaration of God's word, making His will clear to humanity.
### Theological Significance
The diverse applications of פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh, `{{H6567}}`) unveil several profound theological insights:
1. **Divine Revelation and Clarity:** The use of פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh) in contexts of "declaring" or "showing distinctly" (Numbers 11:26, Isaiah 58:1, Deuteronomy 32:20) underscores God's nature as a communicator who makes His will, judgments, and truth unambiguously clear. Prophecy, in this sense, is not vague but a distinct articulation of divine purpose. This emphasizes God's desire for humanity to understand His expectations and their own moral standing.
2. **Consequences of Sin and Judgment:** The "stinging" of sin (Proverbs 23:32) and the "piercing" or "breaking out" associated with divine judgment (Judges 5:26, Psalm 58:6) highlight the destructive and painful nature of rebellion against God. Sin is not merely an error but a force that separates, wounds, and ultimately leads to fragmentation, whether of personal well-being or national stability (Daniel 11:4). God's judgment is a distinct act of separation, removing evil or breaking down that which opposes His righteous order.
3. **Purity and Holiness:** The application in Leviticus 15:3 concerning bodily discharges points to the meticulous nature of the Mosaic law in establishing boundaries between the clean and the unclean. This "separation" was not arbitrary but served to illustrate the necessity of holiness and distinction in the presence of a holy God, preparing a people to live set apart for Him.
4. **Sovereignty in History:** The division and scattering of kingdoms (Daniel 11:4) demonstrate God's sovereign hand in orchestrating historical events, breaking down and building up nations according to His divine plan. Even human actions of violence (Judges 5:26) can be seen within the broader framework of divine allowance or judgment.
### Summary
The Hebrew root פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh, `{{H6567}}`) is a versatile verb primarily conveying the idea of "separation." This core meaning manifests in three key ways: literal dispersion or division (e.g., a kingdom being divided, teeth being broken out), figurative declaration or specification (e.g., prophesying distinctly, showing transgression clearly), and violent piercing or wounding (e.g., a fatal blow, a serpent's sting). Biblically, its usage highlights God's distinct revelation of His will and judgments, the painful and divisive consequences of sin, the theological importance of purity and distinction in the covenant, and His ultimate sovereignty over the rise and fall of nations. The semantic range of פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh) thus provides a rich lens through which to understand divine communication, moral consequence, and providential control within the biblical narrative.
TRV