פָּרוּר
a skillet (as flat or deep)
Definition
פָּרוּר refers to a cooking vessel, specifically a skillet or pan used in ancient Israelite food preparation. The term likely describes a flat or deep pan, as seen in its three biblical occurrences where it is used for baking or cooking various foods. In Numbers 11:8, it describes a vessel used to prepare manna cakes, while in Judges 6:19, it holds meat and broth offered to the angel. In 1 Samuel 2:14, it is a pan used by corrupt priests to take meat from sacrifices. The word consistently denotes a functional cooking implement, with no major shift in meaning across passages.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only three times in the Old Testament, each in narrative contexts involving food preparation. It is used in the Pentateuch (Numbers 11:8), the historical books (Judges 6:19), and the early prophetic history (1 Samuel 2:14). In each case, it is a practical item for cooking or serving: for manna cakes in the wilderness, for a meal presented to a divine visitor, and for improperly taking sacrificial meat. No poetic or metaphorical uses are attested.
Etymology
פָּרוּר derives from the root פָּרַר (H6565), meaning 'to break, frustrate, or annul,' but here it appears as a passive participle in the sense of 'spread out' or 'flattened,' likely describing the shape of the vessel. It is conceptually related to פָּרַח (H6524, 'to sprout or blossom'), also implying spreading. The semantic development moved from the action of spreading to an object with a spread-out, flat form.
Semantic Range
While פָּרוּר itself is an ordinary household item, its biblical appearances contribute to significant theological narratives. In Numbers 11:8, it is part of the description of God's miraculous provision of manna, highlighting daily dependence on Him. In 1 Samuel 2:14, its use by the priests Hophni and Phinehas illustrates their sacrilegious abuse of the sacrificial system, contrasting with God's holiness. Understanding this concrete object helps visualize these stories of provision, hospitality (Judges 6:19), and corruption.
In ancient Israelite culture, a פָּרוּר was a common cooking implement, likely made of clay or metal. It could be used for baking flat cakes (like manna cakes) or for boiling/stewing, as seen with meat and broth. Its presence in domestic (Judges 6:19) and tabernacle/temple contexts (1 Samuel 2:14) shows it was a versatile, everyday item. Modern readers might equate it to a frying pan, saucepan, or deep skillet, though ancient versions were simpler and heated over an open fire.
סִיר (sîyr, H5518) — a general term for pot or kettle, often larger for boiling. מַחֲבַת (machăbath, H4227) — a flat plate or griddle for baking, similar but often specifically for grain offerings. דּוּד (dûwd, H1731) — a pot or basket, sometimes for cooking.
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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