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פִּרְדָּה

𐤐𐤓𐤃𐤄

pirdâh

H6506 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פַּרַד to separate, to divide

Definition

A female mule—an animal resulting from the cross between a male donkey (Equus asinus) and a female horse (Equus caballus), specifically denoting the female offspring. The term refers to a domesticated draft and riding animal, whose hybrid nature prevents it from naturally reproducing.

Semantic Range

female mule, she-mule, female hybrid equid used as a riding or pack animal

Root / Etymology

פִּרְדָּה derives from the root פּרד (p-r-d), which means 'to separate, divide.' The masculine noun פֶּרֶד (pered) means 'mule'; פִּרְדָּה is the feminine form, denoting specifically a female mule. The connection to 'separation/division' is likely rooted in the animal's hybridity (the crossing of species).

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term פִּרְדָּה occurs only sparingly in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., 1 Kings 1:33, 38, 44; cf. the masculine פֶּרֶד). In the ancient Israelite context, mules were known and used for riding and transport, particularly by persons of high status. Horses were less commonly used until the monarchic period. The designation of male (פֶּרֶד) and female (פִּרְדָּה) mules is lexically distinct, though the practical difference in daily use may have been minor. The English term 'she-mule' or 'female mule' reflects the specificity of gender, but this is often lost in translations that merely say 'mule.' In these texts, the פִּרְדָּה used in royal contexts may signal the prestige associated with riding mules. In later periods, as horses became more common, the status significance of mules diminished. The term is not attested with broader metaphorical meaning in biblical usage. In rabbinic Hebrew and later Jewish literature, פִּרְדָּה continues to mean 'female mule.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of פֶּרֶד; a she-mule; mule.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פרד (p-r-d) — to separate, divide

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6504 פָּרַד in his causing separation
H6505 פֶּרֶד the separated hybrid
H6507 פְּרֻדָה separated grains
H6514 פְּרוּדָא Separated-One

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6506-02 פִּרְדַּ֖ת piredat HNcfsc mule divided-breed she-mule of 2
H6506-01 הַ/פִּרְדָּ֖ה hapiredah HTd/Ncfsa the mule the she-mule 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6506-01 1 Kings 1:33 הַ/פִּרְדָּ֖ה hapiredah HTd/Ncfsa the mule the she-mule
H6506-02 1 Kings 1:38 פִּרְדַּ֖ת piredat HNcfsc mule divided-breed she-mule of
H6506-02 1 Kings 1:44 פִּרְדַּ֥ת piredat HNcfsc mule of divided-breed she-mule of
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