פְּרִי (pe.ri)
pe.ri
fruit
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 92 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun perîy primarily denotes physical produce, such as the crops of the field or the yield of a tree. In Genesis 1:11, it describes the vegetation created to bear seed, establishing a baseline meaning of tangible agricultural output. This concrete sense extends naturally to human reproduction, where it refers to offspring or children, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:13 when God promises to bless the people with numerous descendants.
Beyond the literal harvest and family line, the word carries significant metaphorical weight regarding consequences. It frequently represents the results of one’s actions or character. Proverbs 1:31 speaks of eating the fruit of one’s own ways, while Jeremiah 6:19 warns that people will eat the fruit of their evil deeds. This figurative usage links moral behavior directly to its inevitable outcomes, whether reward or punishment.
The term’s versatility allows it to bridge the gap between material provision and spiritual accountability. Whether referring to the literal fruit of a vineyard in Hosea 10:13 or the abstract fruit of pride in Isaiah 10:12, perîy consistently points to what grows from a source. It captures both the blessing of abundance and the reality of reaping what is sown.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word perîy begins with the simple reality of the earth yielding crops, as seen in Genesis 1:11. This physical harvest reminds us that God provides for our daily needs through tangible means. When we see fruit on a tree, it is a sign of life, growth, and divine care for the created world.
Beyond agriculture, this word often points to the results of our actions or character. Proverbs 1:31 speaks of eating the fruit of one’s own ways, showing that our choices grow into consequences we must face. This connection between behavior and outcome invites us to live with integrity, knowing that our lives produce something meaningful.
Whether referring to a literal harvest or the abstract results of our deeds, perîy teaches that life is generative. We are called to steward what God has given, trusting that He blesses both our physical provision and our spiritual walk. This balance helps us find hope in His provision and wisdom in His ways.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 92 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] fruit of22×
- fruit/ its15×
- fruit12×
- from/ [the] fruit of9×
- and/ [the] fruit of9×
- fruit of5×
- some of/ [the] fruit of4×
- fruit/ their4×
- and/ in/ [the] fruit of4×
- produce/ their2×
- in/ [the] fruit of2×
- according to/ [the] fruit of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פְּרִ֣י11×
- מִ/פְּרִ֣י8×
- מִ/פְּרִ֥י4×
- פִּרְיֽ/וֹ\׃3×
- פִּרְי֑/וֹ3×
- פְּרִי\־3×
- פְּרִֽי\־3×
- פְּרִ֥י3×
- וּ/פְרִ֣י3×
- פֶּֽרִי\׃2×
- פִּרְיָֽ/הּ\׃2×
- פִּרְיָ/הּ֙2×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 1:11
God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their seeds in it, on the earth;” and it was so.
This verse establishes the foundational meaning of perîy as physical produce created by God to sustain life.
-
Deuteronomy 7:13
He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your livestock and the young of your flock, in the land which he swore to your fathers to give you.
This occurrence links physical abundance with family blessing, showing God’s comprehensive care for His people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word perîy mean?
How is perîy used metaphorically in the Bible?
Where does perîy appear in the Old Testament?
Every Occurrence (92 verses across 20 books)
Genesis 8 verses
God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their…
Genesis 1:12The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after…
Genesis 1:29God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree,…
Genesis 3:2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden,
Genesis 3:3but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it. You shall…
Genesis 3:6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be…
Genesis 4:3As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.
Genesis 30:2Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in God’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the…