Word Study for H6536 (פָּרַס)

pâraç /paw-ras'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto break in pieces, i.e. (usually without violence) to split, distribute

KJV usagedeal, divide, have hoofs, part, tear.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pâraç — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word pâraç, represented by H6536, is a primitive root meaning to break in pieces, split, distribute, or tear. It appears 14 times in 12 unique verses. Its primary application in Scripture involves the physical act of dividing, most notably in the context of animal hoofs, but it also extends to the metaphorical acts of distributing food and ritual tearing in mourning.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

Biblically, H6536 is central to the Mosaic dietary laws for distinguishing clean and unclean animals. An animal that could be eaten was one that parteth the hoof Leviticus 11:3 and chews the cud. Conversely, an animal like the swine was declared unclean because, although it divide the hoof, it does not chew the cud Leviticus 11:7. This distinction is repeated in Deuteronomy, specifying that a clean beast is one that parteth the hoof and cleaves the cleft into two claws Deuteronomy 14:6. Beyond the law, the word is used to describe a key act of righteousness: to deal thy bread to the hungry Isaiah 58:7. It is also used in a prohibition against a mourning practice where men would tear themselves for the dead Jeremiah 16:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the contexts in which H6536 is used:

H6541 parçâh (hoof): This is the object that is parted or divided. The law requires examining the hoof to determine if an animal is clean Leviticus 11:4-5.
H8156 shâçaʻ (to split or tear): This word is often used alongside H6536 to further describe the nature of the division, specifying that the hoof must be "clovenfooted" Leviticus 11:7.
H3899 lechem (food... especially bread): In its ethical application, this is the item being distributed. Righteousness is shown by dealing bread to the hungry Isaiah 58:7.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6536 is demonstrated in its application to both ceremonial law and practical ethics.

Ceremonial Distinction: The act of "dividing" the hoof is a critical physical marker that separates clean from unclean beasts. This establishes a principle of separation and holiness that governs the life of Israel (Leviticus 11:3, Deuteronomy 14:8).
Ethical Action: In Isaiah 58:7, the concept is elevated from a ritual requirement for animals to a moral command for people. To deal one's bread is an act of compassion that defines true worship, contrasted with empty religious observance.
Mourning and Worship: The word's use in Jeremiah 16:7 shows a prohibition against a physical act of "tearing" associated with mourning for the dead. In Psalms 69:31, an offering of a bullock with hoofs is considered less pleasing to the LORD than a song of thanksgiving, again emphasizing inward righteousness over outward forms.

Summary

In summary, H6536 is a versatile word that signifies division and distribution. It functions literally in the Mosaic Law to identify clean animals by their parted hoofs and figuratively to describe acts of charity, like dealing bread to the poor. The word illustrates a key biblical theme: that outward, physical acts of separation must be matched by inward attitudes of compassion and true worship. It connects the physical world of ceremonial law to the spiritual and ethical heart of righteousness.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 14 occurrences, inflected in 10 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מַפְרִיס
מַּפְרִיסֵי
מַפְרֶסֶת
יַפְרִיס
מַפְרֶסֶת
מַפְרִיס
הִפְרִיסוּ
הִפְרִיסָה
יִפְרְסוּ
פָרֹס

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 12 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Leviticus (6 verses); never once in the other 34.

Leviticus

Deuteronomy

Psalms

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.