פַּר
a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof)
Definition
The Hebrew word פַּר (par) refers to a mature male bovine, typically translated as 'bull,' 'bullock,' or 'ox.' It most commonly denotes a sacrificial animal, especially in the context of the Levitical system, where it was offered for sin offerings (e.g., Exodus 29:1, 10-12) and peace offerings (e.g., Leviticus 4:3-21). The term can also signify a symbol of strength and wealth in non-sacrificial contexts, such as in Jacob's gift to Esau (Genesis 32:15) or in descriptions of agricultural prosperity. In some poetic passages, it metaphorically represents powerful enemies or nations (e.g., Psalm 22:12).
Biblical Usage
פַּר appears 119 times, predominantly in the Pentateuch (especially Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers) in detailed sacrificial legislation. It is a central term in ritual texts, specifying offerings for consecration (Exodus 29), atonement (Leviticus 4), and communal worship (Leviticus 16). Outside the Law, it is used in historical narratives for gifts or possessions (Genesis 32:15; 1 Kings 1:9) and in poetic/prophetic books for imagery of strength or judgment (Isaiah 34:7; Jeremiah 50:27).
Etymology
Derived from the root פָּרַר (parar, H6565), meaning 'to break, burst, or split,' possibly alluding to a bull's powerful, breaking strength or its cloven hoof. The connection suggests an animal characterized by vigor and might. Cognates appear in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Akkadian, with similar meanings for 'bull.'
Semantic Range
פַּר is theologically significant as the primary animal for major sin offerings, symbolizing substitutionary atonement and the cost of purification before God (Leviticus 4). Its use in consecrating priests (Exodus 29) points to mediation and holiness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the gravity of sacrifice in Israel's worship and foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, bulls represented economic wealth, agricultural power, and virility. In Israel's context, while surrounding cultures often associated bulls with deity (e.g., the Canaanite god Baal), the Bible strictly confines פַּר to sacrificial worship or secular strength, rejecting idolatrous connotations (Exodus 32). The animal's selection for sacrifice required physical perfection, reflecting God's holiness.
שׁוֹר (shor, H7794) — a broader term for cattle, often 'ox' as a draft animal; עֵגֶל (egel, H5695) — a young bull or calf, sometimes used idolatrously; בָּקָר (baqar, H1241) — general term for herd or cattle.
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.
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