פֹּרֶכֶת (H6532) — Hebrew Lexicon

פֹּרֶכֶת

𐤐𐤓𐤊𐤕

pôreketh

H6532 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פרך to break, crush, oppress (root); (noun: curtain, screen)

Definition

A woven curtain or screen, most notably the inner curtain in the sanctuary—especially in the tabernacle or temple—that separated the most holy place (Holy of Holies) from the main hall (Holy Place). The פֹּרֶכֶת served as a physical barrier marking off sacred space, used exclusively in cultic contexts within the priestly traditions of Israelite religion. Its semantic range is limited to this specific function as a cultic divider or veil.

Semantic Range

inner curtain of sanctuary, veil separating holy places, sacred screen in cultic architecture

Root / Etymology

Root: פרך (uncertain here). The noun פֹּרֶכֶת appears formally related to the root פרך, which in its common usage means 'to break, crush, oppress,' found in contexts of forced labor or severity (see e.g. Exodus 1:13-14). However, a direct semantic development from this root to 'curtain' is uncertain. The form פֹּרֶכֶת may be an early borrowing or technical term whose precise derivation is unclear. Etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The פֹּרֶכֶת is mentioned exclusively in priestly and cultic texts, especially in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and 2 Chronicles, referring to the inner curtain dividing the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place within the desert tabernacle (mishkan) and, later, in Solomon's and Second Temple constructions. The object is not described in domestic or secular contexts. The פֹּרֶכֶת was made of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine twisted linen with cherubim worked into it (Exodus 26:31-34). Unlike the masak (screen/curtain for the entrance), the פֹּרֶכֶת is only for separating inner sancta. English versions often translate it 'veil' or 'curtain,' but this can obscure its unique, technical cultic function. In later translation and tradition, פֹּרֶכֶת became associated with the temple veil of the Second Temple period. The term does not occur outside cultic descriptions and has no broader usage in biblical Hebrew. In post-biblical Hebrew, it continued to mean a curtain for the Ark or Torah ark in synagogues, retaining its specialized sacred connotation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine active participle of the same as פֶּרֶךְ; a separatrix, i.e. (the sacred) screen; vail.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פרך (p-r-k) — to break, crush, oppress; (noun) curtain, screen

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H6531	פֶּרֶךְ	with crushing oppression

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H6532-02`	הַ/פָּרֹכֶת֮	haparokhet	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the veil	the inner sanctuary curtain	10
`H6532-03`	לַ/פָּרֹ֔כֶת	laparokhet	`HRd/Ncfsa`	the veil	to the sanctuary curtain	8
`H6532-05`	פָּרֹ֥כֶת	parokhet	`HNcfsc`	the veil	inner sanctuary curtain of	5
`H6532-01`	פָרֹ֗כֶת	farokhet	`HNcfsa`	a veil	inner sanctuary curtain	1
`H6532-04`	לְ/פָרֹ֨כֶת	lefarokhet	`HR/Ncfsc`	the veil	inner sanctuary curtain of	1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H6532-01`	Exodus 26:31	פָרֹ֗כֶת	farokhet	`HNcfsa`	a veil	inner sanctuary curtain
`H6532-02`	Exodus 26:33	הַ/פָּרֹכֶת֮	haparokhet	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the veil	the inner sanctuary curtain
`H6532-03`	Exodus 26:33	לַ/פָּרֹ֔כֶת	laparokhet	`HRd/Ncfsa`	the veil	to the sanctuary curtain
`H6532-02`	Exodus 26:33	הַ/פָּרֹ֨כֶת֙	haparokhet-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the veil	the inner sanctuary curtain
`H6532-03`	Exodus 26:35	לַ/פָּרֹ֔כֶת	laparokhet	`HRd/Ncfsa`	of the veil	to the sanctuary curtain
`H6532-03`	Exodus 27:21	לַ/פָּרֹ֜כֶת	laparokhet	`HRd/Ncfsa`	the veil	to the sanctuary curtain
`H6532-02`	Exodus 30:6	הַ/פָּרֹ֔כֶת	haparokhet	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the veil	the inner sanctuary curtain
`H6532-05`	Exodus 35:12	פָּרֹ֥כֶת	parokhet	`HNcfsc`	the veil	inner sanctuary curtain of
`H6532-02`	Exodus 36:35	הַ/פָּרֹ֔כֶת	haparokhet	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the veil	the inner sanctuary curtain
`H6532-02`	Exodus 38:27	הַ/פָּרֹ֑כֶת	haparokhet	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the veil	the inner sanctuary curtain
`H6532-05`	Exodus 39:34	פָּרֹ֥כֶת	parokhet	`HNcfsc`	veil	inner sanctuary curtain of
`H6532-02`	Exodus 40:3	הַ/פָּרֹֽכֶת	haparokhet	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the veil	the inner sanctuary curtain
`H6532-05`	Exodus 40:21	פָּרֹ֣כֶת	parokhet	`HNcfsc`	veil	inner sanctuary curtain of
`H6532-03`	Exodus 40:22	לַ/פָּרֹֽכֶת	laparokhet	`HRd/Ncfsa`	the veil	to the sanctuary curtain
`H6532-02`	Exodus 40:26	הַ/פָּרֹֽכֶת	haparokhet	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the veil	the inner sanctuary curtain
`H6532-05`	Leviticus 4:6	פָּרֹ֥כֶת	parokhet	`HNcfsc`	the veil	inner sanctuary curtain of
`H6532-02`	Leviticus 4:17	הַ/פָּרֹֽכֶת	haparokhet	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the veil	the inner sanctuary curtain
`H6532-03`	Leviticus 16:2	לַ/פָּרֹ֑כֶת	laparokhet	`HRd/Ncfsa`	the veil	to the sanctuary curtain
`H6532-03`	Leviticus 16:12	לַ/פָּרֹֽכֶת	laparokhet	`HRd/Ncfsa`	the veil	to the sanctuary curtain
`H6532-03`	Leviticus 16:15	לַ/פָּרֹ֑כֶת	laparokhet	`HRd/Ncfsa`	the-veil	to the sanctuary curtain
`H6532-02`	Leviticus 21:23	הַ/פָּרֹ֜כֶת	haparokhet	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the veil	the inner sanctuary curtain
`H6532-04`	Leviticus 24:3	לְ/פָרֹ֨כֶת	lefarokhet	`HR/Ncfsc`	the veil	inner sanctuary curtain of
`H6532-05`	Numbers 4:5	פָּרֹ֣כֶת	parokhet	`HNcfsc`	the veil	inner sanctuary curtain of
`H6532-03`	Numbers 18:7	לַ/פָּרֹ֖כֶת	laparokhet	`HRd/Ncfsa`	of the veil	to the sanctuary curtain
`H6532-02`	2 Chronicles 3:14	הַ/פָּרֹ֔כֶת	haparokhet	`HTd/Ncfsa`	veil	the inner sanctuary curtain

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