פַּרְוַיִם
𐤐𐤓𐤅𐤉𐤌
Parevayim
H6516 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Parvayim is a toponym referring to a geographic region noted in biblical texts as a source of gold. The name designates an unspecified eastern land or area outside of Israelite territory, associated with richness and precious resources. The specific location of Parvayim remains uncertain, but it was regarded as an origin of fine gold in royal accounts.
Semantic Range
name of a distant land, origin of gold, toponym for a source of luxury materials
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain. פַּרְוַיִם does not clearly derive from any securely attested Hebrew root and is widely regarded as a loanword or a foreign toponym. The scriptural context and linguistic features suggest non-Hebrew origin, though no definitive etymology has been established.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Parvayim appears only in 2 Chronicles 3:6, where it is cited as the provenance of gold used by Solomon in the decoration of the Temple. The passage lists valuable imports alongside other luxury materials, marking Parvayim as a notable but distant source. The name may reflect real or legendary trade connections with lands to the east or southeast of ancient Israel, potentially within Arabia or India, but all identifications remain conjectural. The term is a classic example of a biblical toponym whose precise referent has been lost, and the Septuagint leaves the name untranslated. English translations often preserve the transliteration ("Parvaim") rather than substituting an anachronistic geographic term. The historical usage refers to a resource-oriented, foreign land known to Israelite courts, not carrying ethnic or religious connotations. The form is always a place name and does not occur as an ethnonym or adjective.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of foreign origin; Parvajim, an Oriental region; Parvaim.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
uncertain (unknown) — uncertain, foreign toponym, designated land
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
| H1114 | בִּלְשָׁן | Bilshan |
| H1150 | בִּנְעָא | Bin'a |
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | and then |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6516-01 |
פַּרְוָֽיִם | parevayim | HNp |
of Parvaim | Parvayim | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6516-01 |
2 Chronicles 3:6 | פַּרְוָֽיִם | parevayim | HNp |
of Parvaim | Parvayim |