פָּרַץ
to break out (in many applications, direct and indirect, literal and figurative)
Definition
The Hebrew verb פָּרַץ (pârats) fundamentally means 'to break through' or 'to burst forth,' conveying a powerful, often sudden, release of force or expansion. In a literal sense, it describes breaking down walls or making a breach (2 Samuel 6:8, 2 Chronicles 32:5). Figuratively, it is used for the explosive growth and increase of people, possessions, or influence, as seen in God's promise to Jacob that his descendants would 'spread abroad' (Genesis 28:14) and in the description of Israel multiplying in Egypt (Exodus 1:12). It can also describe breaking out in anger or sin, as in the unauthorized approach to the holy mountain (Exodus 19:22, 24).
Biblical Usage
פָּרַץ is used 48 times across the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, prophetic, and poetic books. Its usage patterns show it frequently describes: 1) Physical breaches in walls or barriers (e.g., 2 Samuel 5:20); 2) Prolific increase and expansion, especially of families, flocks, or nations (Genesis 30:30, 43); 3) The forceful, often negative, outbreak of divine wrath or human transgression (Exodus 19:24, 2 Chronicles 28:19). A notable birth narrative uses it for Perez, who 'broke out' first from the womb (Genesis 38:29).
Etymology
פָּרַץ is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to breaking or bursting, suggesting a shattering of boundaries. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'parāsu' (to cut off, decide) and Ugaritic 'prṣ' (to break), pointing to an ancient concept of decisive separation or rupture. The Hebrew meaning developed to encompass both destructive breaking and productive, expansive bursting forth.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the dynamic, unstoppable nature of God's blessings and judgments. It describes the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise of multiplication (Genesis 28:14) and the explosive growth of God's people. Conversely, it portrays the dangerous breach of holy boundaries (Exodus 19:22-24). Understanding פָּרַץ enriches reading by highlighting how biblical growth and judgment are not gentle processes but powerful, boundary-shattering acts of God.
In an ancient Near Eastern context, walls and boundaries were essential for security, identity, and order. To 'break through' (pârats) a city wall was a catastrophic military event. Applied to flocks and families, this term communicated remarkable, almost overwhelming, prosperity that exceeded normal limits. The concept of a 'breach' carried weighty implications for social and spiritual order, making its use for both blessing and curse particularly potent.
שָׁבַר (shâbar, H7665) — to break, smash, or shatter, often with a focus on destruction or fracture. פָּרַץ emphasizes bursting through a boundary or limit. פָּצַע (pâtsaʿ, H6485) — to wound or bruise by striking; more specific to injuring a person. רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to become many or increase; denotes multiplication but lacks the forceful, bursting connotation of פָּרַץ.
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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