פֶּ֫רֶד (pe.red)
pe.red
mule
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word for mule appears across a wide range of biblical scenes, from royal wealth to personal tragedy. In ancient Israel, these hybrid animals were prized for their strength and endurance, often serving as mounts for nobility or beasts of burden for trade. Their presence in texts like I Kings 10:25 signals the impressive scale of Solomon’s kingdom, where tribute included valuable livestock alongside gold and silver.
Yet the word also carries deeper spiritual weight. In Psalms 32:9, the mule is used as a metaphor for stubbornness, contrasting human willingness to listen to God with the animal’s need for physical control through bits and bridles. This image invites us to examine our own hearts: do we respond to God’s gentle guidance, or do we require force to stay on the right path?
Understanding this word helps us see how Scripture uses everyday objects to teach profound truths. Whether representing the height of earthly power or the depth of human resistance, the mule reminds us that true freedom comes not from being driven by external forces, but from a willing heart aligned with divine wisdom.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ mule3×
- and/ mules2×
- mules/ their1×
- mules1×
- mule/ his1×
- like/ a mule1×
- and/ the/ mule1×
- and/ on <the>/ mules1×
- and/ mule1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/פְרָדִ֑ים2×
- פִּרְדּ֖/וֹ1×
- פִּרְדֵי/הֶ֕ם1×
- פְּרָדִ֖ים1×
- כְּ/פֶרֶד֮1×
- וּ/בַ/פְּרָדִ֜ים1×
- וָ/פֶ֔רֶד1×
- וְ/הַ/פֶּ֥רֶד1×
- הַ/פֶּ֡רֶד1×
- הַ/פֶּ֙רֶד֙1×
- הַ/פֶּ֗רֶד1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 32:9
Don’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
This verse uses the mule as a metaphor for stubborn resistance to God's guidance, contrasting it with the willingness of those who listen.
-
II Samuel 18:9
Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was hanging between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
The mule here plays a tragic role in Absalom’s death, highlighting how his pride led him to a place where he was trapped and vulnerable.
-
I Kings 10:25
Year after year, every man brought his tribute, vessels of silver, vessels of gold, clothing, armor, spices, horses, and mules.
Mules are listed among the tributes brought to Solomon, illustrating the extent of his wealth and international influence.