פַּרְפַּר
𐤐𐤓𐤐𐤓
Parepar
H6554 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Parpar: the name of a river in Aram (ancient Syria), cited in the Hebrew Bible as one of the two principal rivers of Damascus. The term functions as a proper geographic name and does not bear a common noun meaning. Its specific association is with a waterway mentioned as part of the landscape of Damascus in the monarchic period. The exact identification of the river referred to by Parpar is debated, but it is generally understood as a local river supplying water to the city.
Semantic Range
Parpar as a proper name of a river near Damascus, no attested usage beyond proper noun; name of geographic feature, possibly reflecting characteristics of the river such as rapid flow, but primarily a toponym
Root / Etymology
The name פַּרְפַּר (Parpar) is possibly derived from the Hebrew root פָּרַר (parar), which means 'to break, to split, to divide.' However, this etymology is uncertain, and it is not clear that the name is etymologically related to the root in a way that reveals additional semantic content beyond its function as a toponym (place name).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In 2 Kings 5:12, Parpar is mentioned by Naaman, an Aramean military commander, alongside the Abanah as the chief rivers of Damascus. This reflects familiarity with the geography of Aram-Damascus during the monarchic period. The Greek Septuagint and some later traditions render the name as 'Pharphar,' influencing later English forms. Because Parpar appears only as a river name and never as a common noun, later theological or symbolic readings do not reflect its primary usage in ancient texts. Modern attempts to identify the river often associate it with the Awaj (Nahr al-A‘waj), southwest of present-day Damascus, though this identification remains scholarly conjecture. The term should not be confused with general Hebrew roots carrying the idea of 'rapidness' or 'rushing,' as those reflect only speculative etymological possibilities and not the word's Biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from פָּרַר in the sense of rushing; rapid; Parpar, a river of Syria; Pharpar.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פרר (p-r-r) — to break, split, divide
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6499 | פַּר | with a young bull |
| H6517 | פָּרוּר | in the spreading-pan |
| H6565 | פָּרַר | I will nullify |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6554-01 |
וּ/פַרְפַּ֜ר | ufarepar | HC/Np |
Pharpar | and Parpar | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6554-01 |
2 Kings 5:12 | וּ/פַרְפַּ֜ר | ufarepar | HC/Np |
Pharpar | and Parpar |