פָּרַט (pa.rat)
pa.rat
to divide
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb parat appears only once in the Old Testament, in Amos 6:5. Its exact meaning remains a subject of scholarly debate, with lexicons describing it as "very doubtful" or having an "uncertain" sense. The primary proposal is that it refers to dividing words into parts during musical performance, suggesting a casual or improvised style of chanting.
This interpretation fits the context of Amos’s critique of wealthy Israelites who treat worship as mere entertainment. By treating sacred songs as opportunities for improvisation rather than reverent proclamation, they trivialize their religious duties. The word likely conveys a sense of stammering or careless performance, contrasting with the solemnity expected in temple worship.
Translators often render it as "chant" or "improvise," reflecting the uncertainty of the root. Whether it implies technical musical innovation or spiritual carelessness, Amos uses this rare term to condemn those who prioritize personal expression over faithful obedience. The word serves as a sharp reminder that how worship is performed matters as much as what is sung.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word parat appears only once in Scripture, in Amos 6:5. Scholars debate its exact meaning, but it likely describes a careless or improvised style of musical performance. In this context, wealthy Israelites were treating worship as entertainment rather than reverent service.
This rare verb reminds us that how we approach God matters deeply. It is not enough to have the right instruments or songs; our hearts must be engaged with sincerity. Amos critiques those who prioritize personal expression over faithful obedience, showing that casualness in worship can trivialize sacred duties.
May your own worship reflect the seriousness and joy due to God. Let your service be an act of genuine devotion, not mere routine or performance for others to see.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- those/ [who] improvise1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/פֹּרְטִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 6:5
who strum on the strings of a harp, who invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;
This is the only occurrence of parat in the Old Testament, where it likely describes the careless improvisation of musical performance by the wealthy elite.