פָּארָן
𐤐𐤀𐤓𐤍
Paran
H6290 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Paran: A region, wilderness area, or desert south of Canaan, most often referenced as a geophysical location associated with the southern Sinai Peninsula or northwestern Arabia. The term designates an extensive wilderness or semi-arid region and is primarily used as a geographic proper name rather than a common noun or descriptive term.
Semantic Range
(proper name) Paran (wilderness/desert region), possibly region of beauty or ornament in folk etymology, associated with southern Sinai/northwest Arabia
Root / Etymology
The term פָּארָן (Pâʾrân) is likely derived from the root פָּאַר (p-ʾ-r), which in its verbal form means 'to beautify, adorn,' but the connection between the root meaning and the toponym is unclear and may be popular etymology rather than historical derivation. The true etymology is uncertain; the name likely predates Israelite settlement and reflects a local or regional toponym, perhaps of non-Hebrew (e.g., northwest Arabian) origin.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּארָן is attested primarily as the name of a desert region in the southern Sinai/northwestern Arabian area, referenced in the narratives of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings (e.g., Numbers 10:12; Deuteronomy 1:1), in stories involving Ishmael (Genesis 21:21), and as a point of origin or background for prophetic or poetic theophanies (e.g., Deuteronomy 33:2; Habakkuk 3:3). The Septuagint typically transliterates the name rather than translates it, indicating it was a recognized geographic location in ancient times. Later Jewish and Christian tradition sometimes associated Paran with the region around modern Wadi Feiran in Sinai, though the biblical text does not specify clear boundaries. English translations often leave the term as 'Paran,' fully preserving its function as a place name rather than rendering it as 'desert' or 'wilderness.' Paran is distinct from and not to be confused with terms like 'wilderness of Zin' or 'Negev,' though these regions may overlap or adjoin in biblical geography; see Numbers 13:26.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from פָּאַר; ornamental; Paran, a desert of Arabia; Paran.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פאר (p-ʾ-r) — to beautify, adorn, glorify
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6286 | פָּאַר | I will glorify |
| H6287 | פְּאֵר | your ornamental headdress |
| H6288 | פְּאֹרָה | his adorned boughs |
| H6289 | פָּארוּר | shining cooking pot |
| H8597 | תִּפְאָרָה | as splendor of |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6290-02 |
פָּארָ֑ן | paran | HNp |
of Paran | Paran | 10 |
H6290-01 |
מִ/פָּארָ֗ן | miparan | HR/Np |
from Paran | from Paran | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
11 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6290-02 |
Genesis 21:21 | פָּארָ֑ן | paran | HNp |
of Paran | Paran |
H6290-02 |
Numbers 10:12 | פָּארָֽן | paran | HNp |
of Paran | Paran |
H6290-02 |
Numbers 12:16 | פָּארָֽן | paran | HNp |
of Paran | Paran |
H6290-02 |
Numbers 13:3 | פָּארָ֖ן | paran | HNp |
of Paran | Paran |
H6290-02 |
Numbers 13:26 | פָּארָ֖ן | paran | HNp |
Paran | Paran |
H6290-02 |
Deuteronomy 1:1 | פָּארָ֧ן | paran | HNp |
Paran | Paran |
H6290-02 |
Deuteronomy 33:2 | פָּארָ֔ן | paran | HNp |
Paran | Paran |
H6290-02 |
1 Samuel 25:1 | פָּארָֽן | paran | HNp |
of Paran | Paran |
H6290-02 |
1 Kings 11:18 | פָּארָ֑ן | paran | HNp |
to Paran | Paran |
H6290-01 |
1 Kings 11:18 | מִ/פָּארָ֗ן | miparan | HR/Np |
from Paran | from Paran |