פָּרָה (pa.rah)
pa.rah
heifer
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun parah refers to a young female cattle, specifically a heifer or cow. In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears in twenty-one verses, most frequently in Genesis and Numbers. It denotes a mature but not yet fully aged animal, often distinguished from the general term for oxen by its specific stage of growth and utility.
A defining moment for this word occurs in Genesis 41:2-4, where Pharaoh dreams of seven healthy heifers emerging from the Nile. These animals represent years of abundance, standing in stark contrast to the gaunt creatures that follow them. The imagery relies on the physical health and vitality of the young cow to symbolize prosperity and divine favor before a coming famine.
The term carries significant ritual weight in Numbers 19, where it describes the red heifer used for purification rites. Here, the animal must be without defect and never yoked, highlighting its purity and freedom from human labor. This specific usage underscores the requirement of perfection in objects dedicated to sacred cleansing, linking the physical state of the animal to spiritual hygiene.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word for heifer, parah, appears in contexts that highlight both divine provision and sacred ritual. In Genesis, Pharaoh’s dream uses healthy heifers to symbolize years of abundance, showing how God communicates through the natural world. These animals represent vitality and prosperity, reminding us that blessings often come in tangible, everyday forms.
In Numbers, a specific red heifer is used for purification rites. This animal must be without defect and never yoked, emphasizing purity and freedom from human labor. The ritual underscores the seriousness of spiritual cleansing, linking physical perfection to God’s holiness. Christians have understood this passage to mean that true cleansing comes from God alone, pointing forward to the perfect sacrifice of Christ.
Even in prophetic warnings, like Hosea’s comparison of Israel to a stubborn heifer, the word reminds us of our need for gentle guidance. Whether in dreams, rituals, or metaphors, parah helps us see how God uses creation to teach, cleanse, and direct His people toward hope and restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ cows9×
- cows7×
- the/ heifer4×
- like/ a heifer1×
- cow/ his1×
- and/ cow1×
- a heifer1×
- O cows of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פָּר֤וֹת2×
- פָּר֔וֹת2×
- פָרוֹת֙2×
- הַ/פָּר֔וֹת2×
- פָּרֹ֣ת1×
- פָּר֣וֹת1×
- פָּ֝רָת֗/וֹ1×
- פָרָ֨ה1×
- כְּ/פָרָ֣ה1×
- וּ/פָרָ֤ה1×
- הַ֨/פָּר֔וֹת1×
- הַ֠/פָּרוֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 41:2
Behold, seven cattle came up out of the river. They were sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass.
This verse introduces the heifer imagery in Pharaoh’s dream, where healthy animals symbolize years of divine provision before famine.
-
Numbers 19:2
“This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded. Tell the children of Israel to bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no defect, and which was never yoked.
Here the red heifer is commanded as a sin offering, requiring perfection and freedom from yoking to signify complete dedication to God’s purification rites.
-
Hosea 4:16
For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow?
Israel is compared to a stubborn heifer, illustrating how resistance to God’s guidance leads to spiritual wandering and need for restoration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does parah mean in the Bible?
Why was the red heifer important in Numbers 19?
How is parah different from other words for cattle?
Where else does parah appear in Scripture?
Every Occurrence (21 verses across 7 books)
Genesis 8 verses
Behold, seven cattle came up out of the river. They were sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass.
Genesis 41:3Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the…
Genesis 41:4The ugly and thin cattle ate up the seven sleek and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke.
Genesis 41:18and behold, seven fat and sleek cattle came up out of the river. They fed in the marsh grass;
Genesis 41:19and behold, seven other cattle came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I never saw in all the land of…
Genesis 41:20The thin and ugly cattle ate up the first seven fat cattle;
Genesis 41:26The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. The dream is one.
Genesis 41:27The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted…