פֶּ֫רֶס (pe.res)
pe.res
vulture
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 pe.res refers to a bird of prey, likely the bearded vulture or ossifrage. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times within lists of unclean animals that Israelites were forbidden to eat (Leviticus 11:13 and Deuteronomy 14:12). The sources indicate that while it is clearly a scavenger or hunter, the exact species is uncertain, with some scholars suggesting it may even refer to an extinct animal whose precise identity has been lost.
This uncertainty does not diminish its theological function in these texts. By including pe.res among the forbidden creatures, the law draws a boundary between clean and unclean, using visible distinctions to teach holiness. The word’s rarity highlights how specific dietary laws targeted even obscure or dangerous birds, leaving no ambiguity about what was acceptable for communal life.
Translators often render pe.res as "vulture" or "ossifrage," though the Hebrew term itself carries no emotional weight beyond its classification. Its presence in Scripture serves primarily as a marker of ritual purity rather than a symbol with deeper metaphorical meaning. Christians and Jews alike recognize these lists as part of a broader system designed to set apart Israel from surrounding nations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pe.res appears only twice in Scripture, identifying a bird of prey that was strictly forbidden for Israel to eat. These dietary laws were not arbitrary restrictions but practical markers of holiness. By setting apart even the most dangerous scavengers as unclean, the law taught the people to live distinctly from their neighbors.
For believers today, this rarity reminds us that God’s commands often address the obscure details of life, not just the obvious ones. It invites reflection on how we maintain spiritual boundaries in a complex world. The focus remains on purity and separation, guiding the community toward a life set apart for God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ bearded vulture1×
- and/ the/ bearded vulture1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הַ/פֶּ֖רֶס1×
- הַ/פֶּ֔רֶס1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 11:13
“‘You shall detest these among the birds; they shall not be eaten because they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,
This verse lists pe.res as an abomination, establishing it as a clear boundary marker for ritual purity within the covenant community.
-
Deuteronomy 14:12
But these are they of which you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey,
Here the word is repeated in Deuteronomy to reinforce the prohibition, ensuring the new generation understands the same standards of holiness.