מִפְרָץ
a break (in the shore), i.e. a haven
Definition
The Hebrew noun מִפְרָץ (miphrâts) refers to a 'break' or 'gap' in a shoreline, specifically a natural harbor or inlet where the coast is broken open, creating a safe haven for ships. It denotes a place of refuge from the open sea. In its sole biblical occurrence in Judges 5:17, it describes the 'inlets' or 'harbors' of the sea where the tribe of Dan remained with their ships, failing to join the battle against the Canaanites. The word carries the core idea of a breach or opening that paradoxically provides safety and shelter.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:17). Here, it poetically describes the maritime context of the tribe of Dan, who 'remained in ships' and 'stayed by the inlets (מִפְרָצִים) of the sea.' The usage highlights a geographical and social setting, contrasting Dan's seafaring lifestyle and reluctance to fight with the other tribes who engaged in the land battle.
Etymology
מִפְרָץ is a noun derived from the root פָּרַץ (pārats, H6555), which means 'to break through,' 'burst out,' or 'breach.' The noun form typically indicates the place or result of the action. Thus, a מִפְרָץ is literally 'a place of breaking through'—in this case, the coastline. This connection to breaking gives the word a dynamic sense of an opening created by force, which then serves as a protected space.
Semantic Range
While used only once, this word enriches the poetic critique in Judges 5. Dan's choice to stay in the safe 'inlets' or 'breaches' (מִפְרָצִים) instead of answering the call to holy war illustrates a failure of tribal solidarity and covenant faithfulness. The 'haven' becomes a symbol of misplaced security and isolation from God's communal purposes. Understanding this Hebrew term sharpens the contrast between seeking human refuge and participating in God's deliverance.
In the ancient Near East, natural harbors were vital for maritime trade, fishing, and transportation. A מִפְרָץ was not a constructed port but a geographical feature offering protection from storms. For the tribe of Dan, possibly involved in seafaring (as later traditions suggest), these inlets represented their economic base and zone of comfort. The poet uses this specific term to vividly place Dan in a maritime, rather than agrarian or militant, context.
חוֹף (khôph, H2348) — a general term for 'shore' or 'coast,' without the specific sense of a broken-in harbor. מָעוֹן (māʿôn, H4585) — a dwelling place, refuge, or haunt, often used for God as a shelter, but not specifically a maritime haven.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →