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פָּרַע

𐤐𐤓𐤏

pâraʻ

H6544 verb

SILEX Entry

Root פּ־ר־ע to loosen, let go, neglect, let run wild

Definition

To let go, let loose, or neglect (in the sense of releasing control or authority); to allow to become disorderly or to run wild. The verb carries the primary meaning of loosening restraint, most often in a social or ritual sense—such as letting hair hang loose or failing to impose discipline. In some contexts, it refers specifically to uncovering or exposing, such as making something or someone bare. The semantic range includes physical, social, and metaphorical settings, from the letting loose of hair to societal disorder to moral abandonment.

Semantic Range

to let loose (hair), to expose or uncover, to allow disorder, to neglect discipline, to release (restraint), to make bare

Root / Etymology

Root: פּרע (P-R-‘), meaning 'to loosen' or 'to let go.' The verb פָּרַע belongs to the Qal (simple active) stem, but also appears in Niphal (passive/reflexive) and Hiphil (causative) forms. The root refers fundamentally to removing constraint or restraint, which may lead to disorder, exposure, or neglect, depending on the object and context. This root is distinct from other roots for uncovering or being bare (e.g., גלה, חָשַׂף).

Historical & Contextual Notes

פָּרַע appears relatively infrequently in the Hebrew Bible. In ritual and legal contexts, it can refer to letting hair go unbound, as in the case of Nazirites or women suspected of adultery (e.g., Num 5:18). In Exodus 32:25, it describes the Israelites as being 'out of control' or 'let loose' when lacking leadership. The underlying idea is not simply exposure but a removal of social or ritual order, whether applied to physical hair, social chaos, or discipline. Later English Bible translations have sometimes used 'perish,' 'bare,' or 'naked,' but these do not always reflect the nuance of the word in Hebrew. There is no direct equivalent in modern English, though 'leave unrestrained' or 'let run wild' approximates it. Over time, its use narrows; in post-biblical Hebrew, more specific verbs are used for 'uncover' or 'bare.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to loosen; by implication, to expose, dismiss; figuratively, absolve, begin; avenge, avoid, bare, go back, let, (make) naked, set at nought, perish, refuse, uncover.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פרע (p-r-ʿ) — to loosen, let go, neglect, let run wild

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6545 פֶּרַע unbound hair of
H6546 פַּרְעָה leaders of
H6549 פַּרְעֹה נְכֹה Pharaoh Necho
H6550 פַּרְעֹשׁ flea
H6552 פִּרְעָתוֹן in Pirathon

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6544-09 תִּפְרָ֣עוּ tiferau HVqj2mp let hang loose may you loosen 2
H6544-07 פּוֹרֵ֣עַ porea HVqrmsa ignores one who lets loose 2
H6544-03 פָרֻ֖עַ farua HVqsmsa broken loose let loose 2
H6544-11 וַ/תִּפְרְע֥וּ vatifereu HC/Vqw2mp and-you-neglected and you let run wild 1
H6544-08 תַּפְרִ֥יעוּ taferiu HVhi2mp take away you will let loose 1
H6544-06 פְּרָעֵ֥/הוּ peraehu HVqv2ms/Sp3ms Avoid it let him go unrestrained 1
H6544-12 יִפְרָ֔ע yifera HVqi3ms he shall let loose he will let loose 1
H6544-01 בִּ/פְרֹ֤עַ biferoa HR/Vqc when-led in letting loose 1
H6544-10 וּ/פָרַע֙ ufara HC/Vqq3ms and shall uncover and he let loose 1
H6544-02 אֶפְרַ֥ע efera HVqi1cs will I spare I will let loose 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6544-08 Exodus 5:4 תַּפְרִ֥יעוּ taferiu HVhi2mp take away you will let loose
H6544-03 Exodus 32:25 פָרֻ֖עַ farua HVqsmsa broken loose let loose
H6544-04 Exodus 32:25 פְרָעֹ֣/ה feraoh HVqp3ms/Sp3ms he had let loose he let him loose
H6544-09 Leviticus 10:6 תִּפְרָ֣עוּ tiferau HVqj2mp let hang loose may you loosen
H6544-03 Leviticus 13:45 פָר֔וּעַ farua HVqsmsa unkempt let loose
H6544-12 Leviticus 21:10 יִפְרָ֔ע yifera HVqi3ms he shall let loose he will let loose
H6544-10 Numbers 5:18 וּ/פָרַע֙ ufara HC/Vqq3ms and shall uncover and he let loose
H6544-01 Judges 5:2 בִּ/פְרֹ֤עַ biferoa HR/Vqc when-led in letting loose
H6544-02 Ezekiel 24:14 אֶפְרַ֥ע efera HVqi1cs will I spare I will let loose
H6544-11 Proverbs 1:25 וַ/תִּפְרְע֥וּ vatifereu HC/Vqw2mp and-you-neglected and you let run wild
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