פְּרָזָה (pe.ra.zah)
pe.ra.zah
village
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun perazah refers to an open settlement, such as a hamlet or a village without defensive walls. Unlike fortified cities that served as administrative and military centers, these were smaller, more exposed communities scattered in the countryside.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Esther 9:19. The text contrasts those living in unwalled villages with residents of walled cities when describing how Purim was celebrated. This single usage highlights a social distinction: while city dwellers observed the festival on the fourteenth day, those in the open country celebrated on the fifteenth.
The term underscores the rural-urban divide in ancient Israelite society. It describes places where life was less centralized and more dependent on local agricultural cycles. The absence of walls symbolized both vulnerability and a different pace of communal life compared to the protected urban centers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word perazah describes a small, unwalled village in ancient Israel. Unlike fortified cities that served as administrative centers, these were open settlements scattered in the countryside. This distinction highlights the rural-urban divide in biblical times, where life was less centralized and more dependent on local agricultural cycles.
In Esther 9:19, this term appears when describing how Purim was celebrated. Residents of unwalled villages observed the festival on a different day than those in walled cities. This detail reminds us that God’s people lived in diverse settings, each with their own rhythms and challenges.
For your faith, this word invites reflection on community. Whether you are part of a large congregation or a small group, your place matters to God. The diversity of human settlement reflects the breadth of His creation and care for all His people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ open regions1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/פְּרָזוֹת֒1×
Key Verses
-
Esther 9:19
Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, a holiday, and a day of sending presents of food to one another.
This verse uses perazah to distinguish the celebration date for Jews in unwalled villages from those in walled cities, highlighting a social and logistical distinction in observing Purim.