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פְּרָזִי

𐤐𐤓𐤆𐤉

pᵉrâzîy

H6521 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פּרז to be open, to be unwalled, to be accessible

Definition

Denotes an inhabitant of the open country, specifically someone living outside fortified towns, i.e., a rural dweller or villager. In biblical usage, it distinguishes populations living in unfortified villages or hamlets from those inhabiting walled, protected cities. The term frequently functions as a socio-geographic designation, emphasizing lack of fortification rather than ethnic distinction.

Semantic Range

inhabitant of a rural settlement, villager, rustic, open-country dweller, non-urban inhabitant

Root / Etymology

From the root פְּרָזָה (perazah), meaning 'open village' or 'rural settlement.' Derived by the addition of the gentilic suffix –ִי (-î), signifying 'inhabitant of' or relating to a place. The root itself connotes openness, lack of walls or defenses.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פְּרָזִי (perāzî) appears primarily in post-Pentateuchal texts, notably in descriptions of the land in contrast to fortified urban centers (e.g., Zech 2:8[4], Ezek 38:11). It is not tied to distinct tribal or ethnic identity, but rather to settlement type. In the Book of Judges (5:7, 11), the term depicts a period when rural life was insecure, and travelers avoided exposed areas. In Esther 9:19, the distinction between פְּרָזִים (rural dwellers) and city dwellers forms the basis for differing observances of Purim, reflecting late biblical recognition of urban/rural divisions. English translations often render it as 'villager' or 'countryman,' but may obscure the nuance of vulnerability and social status implied by living outside city walls. The term does not indicate social inferiority but rather exposes the population's lack of military protection, which is the core contrast in biblical narrative between urban and non-urban Israelites.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or פְּרוֹזִי; from פְּרָזָה; a rustic; village.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פרז (p-r-z) — to be open, to be unwalled, to be accessible

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6518 פָּרָז his unwalled village
H6519 פְּרָזָה the unwalled settlements
H6520 פְּרָזוֹן unwalled settlement
H6522 פְּרִזִּי the open-country dweller

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6521-01 הַ/פְּרָזִ֖י haperazi HTd/Ncmsa unwalled the open-country dweller the open-country dweller 2
H6521-03 ה/פרוזים hfrvzym HTd/Ncmpa of the villages the unwalled villagers the unwalled villagers 1
H6521-02 הַ/פְּרָזִ֗ים haperazim HTd/Ncmpa the rural the open-country dwellers the open-country dwellers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6521-01 Deuteronomy 3:5 הַ/פְּרָזִ֖י haperazi HTd/Ncmsa unwalled the open-country dweller the open-country dweller
H6521-01 1 Samuel 6:18 הַ/פְּרָזִ֑י haperazi HTd/Ncmsa villages the open-country dweller the open-country dweller
H6521-03 Esther 9:19 ה/פרוזים hfrvzym HTd/Ncmpa of the villages the unwalled villagers the unwalled villagers
H6521-02 Esther 9:19 הַ/פְּרָזִ֗ים haperazim HTd/Ncmpa the rural the open-country dwellers the open-country dwellers
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