פְּרַק
to discontinue
Definition
פְּרַק (pᵉraq) is an Aramaic verb meaning 'to break off,' 'to discontinue,' or 'to separate.' In its sole biblical occurrence, it is used in a figurative sense to describe the cessation of sinful behavior. Specifically, in Daniel 4:27, King Nebuchadnezzar is commanded to 'break off' his sins by practicing righteousness and showing mercy to the oppressed. The word conveys a decisive, active termination of an ongoing pattern, implying a clean break from past actions.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. It is used in a prophetic exhortation from Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar. The context is a call to moral and spiritual reform, where 'breaking off' sins is directly linked to the practical acts of showing justice and mercy (Daniel 4:27). Its usage is entirely within a context of royal judgment and divine warning.
Etymology
פְּרַק is the Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew verb פָּרַק (pāraq, H6561), which means 'to tear apart,' 'to rescue,' or 'to deliver.' While the Hebrew root often carries a sense of forceful tearing or deliverance (e.g., Genesis 27:40), the Aramaic form in Daniel focuses on the specific nuance of breaking off or discontinuing a practice. This shows a semantic development where the core idea of separation is applied to moral and habitual actions.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the biblical concept of repentance. It moves beyond mere feeling to denote decisive action—a willful discontinuation of sin. In Daniel 4:27, it is directly connected to the fruits of repentance: practicing righteousness and mercy. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the reading of this passage by emphasizing that true repentance before God requires an active, tangible break from wrongdoing, which is a precondition for the possibility of divine mercy and the lengthening of one's 'prosperity.'
In the ancient Near Eastern context of Daniel, a king's sins were not merely personal but had national and cosmic consequences, potentially bringing divine judgment upon the entire kingdom. The command to 'break off' sins, especially for an absolute monarch like Nebuchadnezzar, was a radical call to personal accountability and public reform. It challenged the cultural norm of royal autonomy, placing the king under the authority of the God of Israel.
שָׁב (shāv, H7725) — to turn back, return; focuses on the directional change of repentance. חָדַל (ḥādal, H2308) — to cease, stop; a more general term for discontinuation without the forceful 'breaking' nuance.
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 →