פָּרַס
𐤐𐤓𐤎
Paras
H6539 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The term פָּרַס (Pâras) primarily denotes the ancient polity and region known as Persia, referring both to the land and, by extension, its ruling people during the period of the Israelite exile and subsequent return. In biblical usage, Pâras refers to the Median-Persian political entity and its inhabitants, not exclusively to ethnic Persians as later understood. The term functions as a geographic and political designation, often appearing with Media (מָדַי) to describe the combined empire.
Semantic Range
Persia (region), Persian Empire (particularly during the Achaemenid period), Persian inhabitants, Median-Persian polity, Persian administration
Root / Etymology
Of foreign (likely Old Persian or Elamite) origin; not derived from a known Hebrew verbal or nominal root. Entered Hebrew from the name of the territory and polity known in Old Persian as Pārsa, referring to the region and people of southwestern Iran. The word is a direct borrowing, not derived from a native Semitic/Hebrew root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּרַס always refers to the region and kingdom known in English as Persia, a major imperial power from the late 6th century BCE onward. In the Hebrew Bible, Pâras almost always appears in conjunction with Media (e.g., מָדַי וּפָרַס 'Media and Persia')—especially in exilic and post-exilic books such as Daniel, Ezra, Esther, and Chronicles. The biblical concept of 'Persian' is primarily political and geographic, designating members of the imperial administration or inhabitants of the region, and does not necessarily correspond to later ideas of 'Persian' ethnicity or language. Later English versions often translate פָּרַס as 'Persian' or 'Persia,' but these terms can obscure the ancient usage, which was more focused on political power and territory. In the prophetic books (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel), פָּרַס stands as both an imperial power and as a background for restoration and interaction with restored Israelite communities. The later term 'Persian' in Greco-Roman literature covers a wider semantic range than the biblical פָּרַס. There is no evidence in the biblical corpus for 'Persia' referring to later religious or ethnic identities associated with Iran or Zoroastrianism.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of foreign origin; Paras (i.e. Persia), an Eastern country, including its inhabitants; Persia, Persians.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
uncertain (Baleadan) — uncertain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1002 | בִּירָה | the citadel |
| H105 | אֲגַרְטָל | bowls of |
| H1081 | בַּלְאֲדָן | Baladan |
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6539-03 |
פָּרָֽס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras | 22 |
H6539-01 |
פָרָֽס | faras | HNp |
the Persians | Persia | Paras | 3 |
H6539-04 |
וּ/פָרָֽס | ufaras | HC/Np |
and Persia | and Persia | and Paras | 2 |
H6539-02 |
לְ/פָרַ֗ס | lefaras | HR/Np |
for Persia | to Persia | to Paras | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
28 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6539-03 |
Ezekiel 27:10 | פָּרַ֨ס | paras | HNp |
Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezekiel 38:5 | פָּרַ֛ס | paras | HNp |
Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Esther 1:3 | פָּרַ֣ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Esther 1:14 | פָּרַ֣ס | paras | HNp |
Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Esther 1:18 | פָּֽרַס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-01 |
Esther 1:19 | פָֽרַס | faras | HNp |
the Persians | Persia | Paras |
H6539-04 |
Esther 10:2 | וּ/פָרָֽס | ufaras | HC/Np |
and Persia | and Persia | and Paras |
H6539-04 |
Daniel 8:20 | וּ/פָרָֽס | ufaras | HC/Np |
and Persia | and Persia | and Paras |
H6539-03 |
Daniel 10:1 | פָּרַ֔ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Daniel 10:13 | פָּרַ֗ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-01 |
Daniel 10:13 | פָרָֽס | faras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Daniel 10:20 | פָּרָ֑ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-02 |
Daniel 11:2 | לְ/פָרַ֗ס | lefaras | HR/Np |
for Persia | to Persia | to Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezra 1:1 | פָּרַ֔ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezra 1:1 | פָּרַ֔ס | paras-2 | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezra 1:2 | פָּרַ֔ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezra 1:8 | פָּרַ֔ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezra 3:7 | פָּרַ֖ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezra 4:3 | פָּרָֽס | paras | HNp |
Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezra 4:5 | פָּרַ֔ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezra 4:5 | פָּרָֽס | paras-2 | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezra 4:7 | פָּרָ֑ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
Ezra 7:1 | פָּרָ֑ס | paras | HNp |
of-Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-01 |
Ezra 9:9 | פָרַ֜ס | faras | HNp |
Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
2 Chronicles 36:20 | פָּרָֽס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
2 Chronicles 36:22 | פָּרַ֔ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
2 Chronicles 36:22 | פָּרַ֔ס | paras-2 | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |
H6539-03 |
2 Chronicles 36:23 | פָּרַ֗ס | paras | HNp |
of Persia | Persia | Paras |