פְּרָזוֹן (pe.ra.zon)
pe.ra.zon
villager
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun perazon refers to the rural population or the people living in unwalled villages. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, specifically within the book of Judges, where it distinguishes country dwellers from those in fortified cities.
Lexical sources note that its precise meaning is somewhat uncertain, though it generally denotes "rustics" or a collective rural group. In Judges 20:5 and 19:13, the term highlights the social divide between the isolated village life and the political center of Jerusalem, emphasizing the remoteness of the characters involved.
This rare word underscores the geographical and cultural tension in Israel’s early history. By identifying speakers as perazon, the text marks them as outsiders to the established urban power structures, a detail that drives the narrative conflict in these specific judicial accounts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word perazon points to those who live outside the walls, in the quiet of the countryside. It describes villagers rather than city dwellers, marking a life far from the noise and power of fortified centers. In Judges, this term highlights the distance between rural communities and the political heart of Jerusalem.
This distinction reminds us that God’s presence is not limited to grand temples or busy capitals. The story of the Levite in Judges 19 shows how isolation can lead to danger, yet it also reveals that faithfulness often happens in simple, overlooked places. Your daily life, wherever you are, holds value in God’s eyes.
Whether you live in a bustling town or a quiet village, your community matters. The biblical narrative respects the rural experience, showing that spiritual truth is not confined to urban elites. We find comfort knowing that God sees and cares for every corner of His creation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- rural people/ his1×
- rural people1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פִּרְזֹנ֖/וֹ1×
- פְרָז֛וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 5:7
The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel.
This verse contrasts the cessation of leadership with the arising of Deborah, implicitly highlighting the rural context where such leaders emerged from among the people rather than established urban hierarchies.
-
Judges 5:11
Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse Yahweh’s righteous acts, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. “Then Yahweh’s people went down to the gates.
The mention of 'places of drawing water' evokes the rural setting where villagers gathered, connecting the communal worship of Yahweh directly to the daily life of the countryside.