פֶּרֶךְ
𐤐𐤓𐤊
perek
H6531 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Forced labor involving harshness and severity; oppression or rigorous treatment, often associated with subjugating another through overwhelming, crushing force. Most commonly refers to the oppressive servitude imposed on the Israelites in Egypt, or to harsh, abusive treatment in the context of forced labor or servitude.
Semantic Range
crushing severity, harshness, oppression, enforced labor with cruelty, rigorous subjugation
Root / Etymology
The word פֶּרֶךְ (perek) is traditionally connected to a root meaning 'to break, break apart, crush,' although such a root does not occur in biblical Hebrew in attested form. Derivation is thus uncertain, but semantic association with breaking or crushing underlies its use.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פֶּרֶךְ appears primarily in the Exodus narrative to describe the imposed forced labor on the Israelites, emphasizing the harsh, crushing, or inhumanly severe nature of their servitude (Exod 1:13, 1:14, Lev 25:43, 25:46, 25:53, Ezek 34:4). The term contrasts with standard words for labor (עֲבֹדָה avodah), highlighting not merely work itself but its cruel and debilitating quality. This oppressiveness is distinctive, and the idea of brokenness or crushing severity is implicit. In post-biblical Hebrew, the connotation of harshness remains. English translations often use 'rigour' or 'cruelty,' but these may not fully convey the sense of subjection to overwhelming, soul-crushing oppression that פֶּרֶךְ indicates. The word appears predominantly in the context of the Israelite experience in Egypt and regulations about servitude among Israelites, underlining the prohibition of treating one's kin with פֶּרֶךְ.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to break apart; fracture, i.e. severity; cruelty, rigour.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פרך (p-r-kh) — to break, to crush, to fracture
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6532 | פֹּרֶכֶת | inner sanctuary curtain |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6531-01 |
בְּ/פָֽרֶךְ | befarekhe | HR/Ncmsa |
with rigor. | with crushing oppression | 4 |
H6531-02 |
בְּ/פֶ֖רֶךְ | beferekhe | HR/Ncmsa |
with rigor | with crushing oppression | 1 |
H6531-03 |
וּ/בְ/פָֽרֶךְ | uvefarekhe | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and with cruelty | and with crushing oppression | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6531-01 |
Exodus 1:13 | בְּ/פָֽרֶךְ | befarekhe | HR/Ncmsa |
with rigor. | with crushing oppression |
H6531-01 |
Exodus 1:14 | בְּ/פָֽרֶךְ | befarekhe | HR/Ncmsa |
with rigor. | with crushing oppression |
H6531-01 |
Leviticus 25:43 | בְּ/פָ֑רֶךְ | befarekhe | HR/Ncmsa |
with-rigor | with crushing oppression |
H6531-01 |
Leviticus 25:46 | בְּ/פָֽרֶךְ | befarekhe | HR/Ncmsa |
with rigor | with crushing oppression |
H6531-02 |
Leviticus 25:53 | בְּ/פֶ֖רֶךְ | beferekhe | HR/Ncmsa |
with rigor | with crushing oppression |
H6531-03 |
Ezekiel 34:4 | וּ/בְ/פָֽרֶךְ | uvefarekhe | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and with cruelty | and with crushing oppression |