פֶּ֫רֶז (pa.raz)
pa.raz
warrior
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun peretz appears only once in the Bible, in Habakkuk 3:14. The sources describe it as a warrior or chieftain, though its exact meaning remains uncertain. In this context, it likely refers to enemy leaders whose defeat demonstrates God’s power.
Because the word is so rare and its etymology unclear, translators must rely on the surrounding text. Most versions render it as "captains" or "chiefs," fitting the image of military defeat. This single usage highlights how specific terms can carry significant weight even when their broader linguistic history is lost.
The uncertainty of peretz reminds readers that some biblical details remain opaque. Yet its placement in a song of victory underscores the central theme: divine intervention overthrows human power structures, regardless of the specific titles used for those who oppose God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word peretz appears only once in Scripture, found in Habakkuk’s prayer of awe. It describes a warrior or leader whose defeat signals God’s decisive intervention. When enemies seem overwhelming, this verse reminds us that human strength is no match for divine power.
Even when the exact origin of a biblical term is lost to history, its message remains clear: God overthrows pride and protects the vulnerable. This single occurrence invites trust in His sovereignty, assuring believers that justice will prevail against those who seek harm.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- warriors/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פְּרָזָ֔י/ו1×
Key Verses
-
Habakkuk 3:14
You pierced the heads of his warriors with their own spears. They came as a whirlwind to scatter me, gloating as if to devour the wretched in secret.
The term identifies enemy leaders whose defeat demonstrates God's power to protect the vulnerable.