פָּזַר (pa.zar)
pa.zar
to scatter
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb pazār means to scatter or disperse, describing the act of breaking a group into loose, separate parts. It appears seven times in the Old Testament, primarily in Psalms, Jeremiah, and Proverbs. The word captures both the active force of scattering and the passive state of being scattered, depending on its grammatical form.
In Scripture, this term often carries a heavy emotional weight. For instance, it describes Israel as a scattered flock, emphasizing isolation and vulnerability rather than just physical movement. In Jeremiah 51:20, God uses it to depict the scattering of nations, highlighting divine judgment that breaks apart organized power into chaos.
The word’s root suggests a sudden or forceful separation, contrasting with gentle dispersal. Translators typically render it as "scatter," "dispersal," or "scattered." Its usage in Proverbs 11:26, where hoarding grain leads to a curse while blessing follows those who sell, shows how this physical image applies to social and economic consequences. The term consistently points to fragmentation, whether of people, resources, or order.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pazar describes a forceful scattering, often carrying a sense of fragmentation or loss. In the Old Testament, it paints vivid pictures of people driven apart by judgment or nature’s raw power. Yet this same verb also appears in contexts of generosity, where giving freely leads to increase rather than depletion.
For your faith life, this duality offers comfort. Even when circumstances feel like they are pulling you apart, the God who scatters frost like ashes is the same God who gathers His people. Your sense of isolation does not define your standing with Him; His righteousness endures forever, even as seasons change.
Consider the promise in Psalms 112:9. The one who scatters his gifts to the poor finds honor and lasting legacy. This invites you to look beyond hoarding or fear, trusting that openness to others reflects a heart aligned with divine order.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- scattered2×
- he scatters2×
- they have been scattered1×
- and/ you have scattered1×
- [is one who] scatters1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פִּזַּ֤ר\׀1×
- פְזוּרָ֛ה1×
- נִפְזְר֥וּ1×
- מְפֻזָּ֤ר1×
- מְ֭פַזֵּר1×
- יְפַזֵּֽר\׃1×
- וַ/תְּפַזְּרִ֨י1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 112:9
He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor.
This verse uniquely applies the verb to generous giving, showing how scattering resources can lead to spiritual increase rather than loss.
-
Esther 3:8
Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different from other people’s. They don’t keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain.
Here the word describes the vulnerable state of a people dispersed among nations, highlighting the political and social fragility of being scattered.
-
Jeremiah 50:17
“Israel is a hunted sheep. The lions have driven him away. First, the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.”
Though the verb is not explicitly in this specific English rendering, the context of lions breaking bones and driving away aligns with the violent scattering described in the broader narrative of Israel's judgment.