פָּרַר
𐤐𐤓𐤓
pârar
H6565 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To break, tear apart, or disrupt an established order, agreement, or state; most commonly used figuratively for nullifying, invalidating, or making ineffective a covenant, plan, command, or obligation. Rarely denotes physical breaking, except as a metaphor for disruption or annulment.
Semantic Range
to break (figuratively), annul, invalidate, render ineffective, nullify a covenant or obligation, frustrate counsel or plans, dissolve an agreement, make void, disappoint, cause to fail
Root / Etymology
The term פָּרַר derives from the root פ-ר-ר, whose basic sense is 'to break,' 'to split,' or 'to shatter.' In its actual lexical use, פָּרַר typically refers to the act of making something void or ineffective, especially relating to covenants, plans, or spoken declarations, thus carrying the derived sense of 'to annul' or 'to frustrate.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּרַר is used throughout the Hebrew Bible, especially in legal and covenantal contexts, to express the nullification, frustration, or rendering powerless of agreements, decrees, or plans. It occurs frequently in Deuteronomy and prophetic literature when referring to the breaking or violation of YHWH's covenant or human promises. The term sharply contrasts with קוּם (qum, 'to establish') and חָזַק (chazaq, 'to strengthen'), as פָּרַר specifically involves rendering something ineffective or void. While English translations vary ('break,' 'annul,' 'make void,' 'frustrate'), none fully capture the root sense of rendering powerless an existing obligation or plan. In later usage, especially in Second Temple and post-biblical Hebrew, the sense of formal legal annulment or invalidation becomes even more pronounced. The word is rarely, if ever, used for simple physical breaking outside of its legal or figurative sense in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to break up (usually figuratively), i.e. to violate, frustrate; [idiom] any ways, break (asunder), cast off, cause to cease, [idiom] clean, defeat, disannul, disappoint, dissolve, divide, make of none effect, fail, frustrate, bring (come) to nought, [idiom] utterly, make void.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פרר (p-r-r) — break, shatter, rend, invalidate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6499 | פַּר | with a young bull |
| H6517 | פָּרוּר | in the spreading-pan |
| H6554 | פַּרְפַּר | and Parpar |
Word Forms
28 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6565-10 |
לְ/הָפֵ֥ר | lehafer | HR/Vhc |
to break | to invalidate | 7 |
H6565-24 |
וְ/הֵפֵ֗ר | vehefer | HC/Vhq3ms |
and break | and he nullified | 4 |
H6565-03 |
הָפֵר֩ | hafer | HVha |
he-nullifies | to nullify | 4 |
H6565-08 |
הֵפֵ֖רוּ | heferu | HVhp3cp |
broke | they invalidated | 4 |
H6565-27 |
יָפֵ֨ר | yafer | HVhi3ms |
he-nullifies | he will nullify | 3 |
H6565-15 |
תָּפֵ֥ר | tafer | HVhj2ms |
annul | may you nullify | 3 |
H6565-13 |
מֵפֵר֙ | mefer | HVhrmsa |
frustrating | one who nullifies | 2 |
H6565-06 |
הֵפַֽר | hefar | HVhp3ms |
he has broken | he has invalidated | 2 |
H6565-07 |
הֵפֵ֤ר | hefer | HVhp3ms |
broke | he nullified | 2 |
H6565-25 |
וְ/תָפֵ֖ר | vetafer | HC/Vhi3fs |
and fails | and she will nullify | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
50 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6565-06 |
Genesis 17:14 | הֵפַֽר | hefar | HVhp3ms |
he has broken | he has invalidated |
H6565-11 |
Leviticus 26:15 | לְ/הַפְרְ/כֶ֖ם | lehaferekhem | HR/Vhc/Sp2mp |
to break them | to annul you |
H6565-10 |
Leviticus 26:44 | לְ/הָפֵ֥ר | lehafer | HR/Vhc |
to break | to invalidate |
H6565-06 |
Numbers 15:31 | הֵפַ֑ר | hefar | HVhp3ms |
he has broken | he has invalidated |
H6565-24 |
Numbers 30:9 | וְ/הֵפֵ֗ר | vehefer | HC/Vhq3ms |
and he annuls | and he nullified |
H6565-03 |
Numbers 30:13 | הָפֵר֩ | hafer | HVha |
he-nullifies | to nullify |
H6565-27 |
Numbers 30:13 | יָפֵ֨ר | yafer | HVhi3ms |
he-nullifies | he will nullify |
H6565-05 |
Numbers 30:13 | הֲפֵרָ֔/ם | haferam | HVhp3ms/Sp3mp |
he-nullifies-them | he annulled them |
H6565-28 |
Numbers 30:14 | יְפֵרֶֽ/נּוּ | yeferenu | HVhi3ms/Sp3ms |
shall make it void | he will annul it |
H6565-03 |
Numbers 30:16 | הָפֵ֥ר | hafer | HVha |
he-nullifies | to nullify |