פָּרִיץ (pe.rits)
pe.rits
violent
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun pe·rits describes a person who acts with violence, specifically as a "breaker" or "robber." It does not refer to someone who simply makes a mistake, but to an aggressor who shatters boundaries through force. The sources define this figure as a violent one, often equating the term with a robber or murderer who violates social and moral order.
This word appears in four verses, primarily within the prophetic books of Jeremiah and Isaiah, as well as in the Psalms. In these contexts, it characterizes those who destroy peace and safety through their actions. The imagery is concrete: just as a wall is broken down by force, this person breaks through societal protections to commit theft or harm.
Its root sense of "breaking" highlights the destructive nature of the act. Translators typically render pe·rits as "violent one" or "robber," capturing the immediate threat such a figure poses to the community. The term serves as a sharp label for criminal aggression, distinguishing it from general conflict by emphasizing the unilateral violation of another’s rights.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pe·rits describes a person who shatters boundaries through force, acting like a robber or aggressor who violates social and moral order. It is not about making a mistake, but about deliberate destruction of peace and safety. In the Bible, this term labels criminal aggression that harms others for personal gain.
For your faith, this word reminds us of God's concern for justice and the vulnerable. When we see violence in the world or even in our own hearts, we can turn to God for protection and guidance. The Psalms show David choosing to stay away from such ways, trusting God to keep him safe.
This understanding helps us value peace and righteousness. It encourages us to reject harmful actions and seek God's way of living. By focusing on God's standards, we can find strength to live with integrity and care for others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- violent person[s]1×
- robbers1×
- and/ a violent one of1×
- [the] violent ones of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פָּרִצִ֗ים1×
- פָּרִיצֵ֣י1×
- פָּרִֽיץ\׃1×
- וּ/פְרִ֤יץ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 17:4
As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
David explicitly rejects the ways of the violent one, showing a conscious choice to avoid aggressive behavior.
-
Jeremiah 7:11
Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it,” says Yahweh.
God condemns the temple as a den of robbers, linking pe·rits with religious hypocrisy and exploitation.
-
Daniel 11:14
“In those times many will stand up against the king of the south. Also the children of the violent among your people will lift themselves up to establish the vision, but they will fall.
The children of the violent rise up to challenge authority, illustrating how aggression disrupts political order.