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פַּרְסָה

𐤐𐤓𐤎𐤄

parçâh

H6541 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פ־ר־ס to split, divide, break apart

Definition

Split hoof, the hard, keratinous part of an animal's foot that is divided into two parts or sections. Refers specifically to the hooves of certain animals, especially those relevant in dietary and sacrificial contexts within the Hebrew Bible. The term is typically used for the feet of animals permitted for Israelite consumption or sacrifice, as opposed to animals with un-split hooves or paws.

Semantic Range

split hoof, cloven hoof, part of the foot of ruminants, (by extension in later Hebrew: hoof, as opposed to paw or claw)

Root / Etymology

Root: פרס (p-r-s); the root conveys the idea of splitting or dividing. פַּרְסָה derives from this verbal root and denotes that which is split or divided, in this case referring to the physical characteristic of certain animal hooves.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פַּרְסָה is primarily attested in legal and zoological contexts, especially in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, serving as a technical term for the split hoof characteristic that distinguishes clean (permitted) animals for Israelite consumption (e.g. Lev 11:3, Deut 14:6). This differentiates from animals with undivided hooves or paws, which are excluded from ritual and dietary laws. The term always denotes the actual hoof (not claw), and English translations sometimes introduce confusion by rendering it 'cloven-footed' or 'cloven hoof'—the primary reference is the anatomical feature diagnostic for certain ruminants. The masculine פֶּרֶס refers to 'piece' or 'portion,' while פַּרְסָה specifies the feminine form, now specialized for hooves. In later Hebrew and Aramaic, פַּרְסָה retained its zoological sense and became a standard word for 'hoof.' Later English translations occasionally confuse 'hoof' and 'claw,' but the Hebrew word is consistently anatomical, denoting the split or parted hoof, never a claw or talon.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of פֶּרֶס; a claw or split hoof; claw, (cloven-) footed, hoof.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פרס (p-r-s) — to split, divide, break apart

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6536 פָּרַס to split
H6537 פְּרַס division
H6538 פֶּרֶס the tearing talon
H6539 פָּרַס Persia
H6540 פָּרַס Persia

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6541-04 פַּרְסָ֔ה paresah HNcfsa hoof split hoof 7
H6541-07 וּ/פַרְסָה֙ ufaresah HC/Ncfsa and hoof and split hoof 4
H6541-05 פַּרְס֤וֹת paresot HNcfpc hooves split hooves of 2
H6541-03 הַ/פַּרְסָ֑ה haparesah HTd/Ncfsa the hoof the split hoof 2
H6541-01 בְּ/פַרְס֣וֹת befaresot HR/Ncfpc with-the-hooves with split hooves of 1
H6541-06 פְּרָסֹ֔ת perasot HNcfpa hoofs split hooves 1
H6541-10 וּ/פַרְסֹתַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ ufaresotayikhe HC/Ncfpc/Sp2fs and-your-hoofs and your split-hooves 1
H6541-09 וּ/פַרְס֥וֹת ufaresot HC/Ncfpc and-hoofs and split-hooves of 1
H6541-08 וּ/פַרְסֵי/הֶ֖ן ufareseyhen HC/Ncfpc/Sp3fp and-their-hoofs and their split-hooves 1
H6541-02 פְרָס֔וֹת ferasot HNcfpa hoofs split hooves 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6541-04 Exodus 10:26 פַּרְסָ֔ה paresah HNcfsa a hoof split hoof
H6541-04 Leviticus 11:3 פַּרְסָ֗ה paresah HNcfsa a hoof split hoof
H6541-06 Leviticus 11:3 פְּרָסֹ֔ת perasot HNcfpa hoofs split hooves
H6541-03 Leviticus 11:4 הַ/פַּרְסָ֑ה haparesah HTd/Ncfsa the hoof the split hoof
H6541-07 Leviticus 11:4 וּ/פַרְסָה֙ ufaresah HC/Ncfsa but hoof and split hoof
H6541-07 Leviticus 11:5 וּ/פַרְסָ֖ה ufaresah HC/Ncfsa and hoof and split hoof
H6541-07 Leviticus 11:6 וּ/פַרְסָ֖ה ufaresah HC/Ncfsa and hoof and split hoof
H6541-04 Leviticus 11:7 פַּרְסָ֜ה paresah HNcfsa hoof split hoof
H6541-04 Leviticus 11:7 פַּרְסָ֔ה paresah-2 HNcfsa hoof split hoof
H6541-04 Leviticus 11:26 פַּרְסָ֜ה paresah HNcfsa hoof split hoof
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