פַּרְפַּר
Parpar, a river of Syria
Definition
Parpar is the proper name of one of the two rivers of Damascus mentioned in the Bible, specifically in 2 Kings 5:12. It is identified as a river in Syria, likely a tributary of the Barada River, flowing through the region of Damascus. The name signifies a 'rapid' or 'rushing' stream, reflecting its swift-flowing nature. In the biblical narrative, Naaman the Syrian commander contrasts the 'muddy' waters of the Jordan with the clear, superior rivers of his homeland, Abana and Pharpar.
Biblical Usage
The word Parpar is used only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 5:12. It appears in the context of Naaman's protest against Elisha's instruction to wash in the Jordan River to be healed of leprosy. Naaman rhetorically asks if the rivers of Damascus, Abana and Pharpar, are not better than all the waters of Israel. Its usage is strictly geographical, serving to highlight the perceived superiority of Syrian rivers and, by extension, Naaman's initial pride and nationalistic sentiment.
Etymology
The name Parpar (פַּרְפַּר) is likely derived from the Hebrew root פָּרַר (parar, H6565), which carries meanings like to break, frustrate, or make void. In this context, it is understood in the sense of 'rushing' or 'rapid,' describing the character of the river's flow. It may be a reduplicated form, intensifying the sense of swift movement. The name is thus descriptive of the river's physical properties.
Semantic Range
The mention of the Parpar river serves a key theological and narrative function in 2 Kings 5. It underscores the theme of God's sovereignty over all nations and His power to work through humble means (the Jordan) rather than through symbols of human pride or national prestige (the great rivers of Damascus). Naaman's eventual obedience in washing in the Jordan, despite his initial disdain for it compared to the Abana and Pharpar, illustrates the necessity of humble faith to receive God's grace. Understanding this geographical reference enriches the reader's grasp of the story's contrast between human judgment and divine provision.
In the ancient Near East, major rivers were often associated with the power and fertility of a nation. For Naaman, a high-ranking Syrian official, the rivers Abana and Pharpar were not just water sources but symbols of Syrian identity, purity, and superiority. His reference to them reflects a common cultural pride in local deities and natural resources. The biblical narrative subverts this pride by demonstrating that the God of Israel, not the rivers of Damascus, holds the power to heal and cleanse.
אֲבָנָה (Abanah, H71) — The other, possibly more prominent, river of Damascus mentioned alongside the Parpar in 2 Kings 5:12. יַרְדֵּן (Yarden, H3383) — The Jordan River; contrasted directly with the Parpar in the narrative as the site of God's commanded, humble means of healing.
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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