פַּרְעֹשׁ
𐤐𐤓𐤏𐤔
Pareosh
H6551 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun used as a personal or clan name in post-exilic Israelite records, likely denoting the head of a family group or clan named Parʻôsh. The primary sense is that of a personal or ancestral name, without indication of a wider general meaning in biblical usage. The term itself does not possess a lexical meaning beyond its use as a proper name.
Semantic Range
personal name, clan name, ancestor of post-exilic Israelite group; as common noun (not as proper name): flea (insect)
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root פָּרְעֹשׁ (root: פרעשׁ), which in its noun form means 'flea'. The use of this common noun as a personal or clan name may reflect a pattern in Hebrew nomenclature of adopting animal and insect names as nicknames or clan names. However, there is no broader associated lexical meaning for this proper noun beyond its role in genealogical lists.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פַּרְעֹשׁ occurs exclusively in post-exilic literature (Ezra, Nehemiah) as the head of one of the Israelite family groups who returned from Babylonian exile. The name appears in lists of returnees and clan heads, indicating an established family or ancestral group identified as descendents of Parʻôsh. The use of the name parallels other Israelite clan or family names derived from animal or insect terminology (e.g., צִפֹּר - tzippor, 'bird'). Later English translations occasionally render the name as 'Parosh' or 'Pharosh,' but these are transliterations; they do not convey the etymological meaning of 'flea.' There is no indication in biblical usage that the name carried any pejorative, metaphorical, or symbolic significance for the bearers themselves, nor is it connected to the English word 'Jew' or later religious identities. The name's appearance is confined to genealogical and administrative contexts after the exile, especially in lists concerning the rebuilding of the Jerusalem community.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as פַּרְעֹשׁ; Parosh, the name of our Israelite; Parosh, Pharosh.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פרעש (p-r-ʿ-š) — to jump, to leap, flea
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6551-01 |
פַרְעֹ֔שׁ | fareosh | HNp |
Parosh | Parosh | 4 |
H6551-02 |
פַּרְעֹֽשׁ | pareosh | HNp |
Parosh | Parosh | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6551-01 |
Ezra 2:3 | פַרְעֹ֔שׁ | fareosh | HNp |
Parosh | Parosh |
H6551-01 |
Ezra 8:3 | פַרְעֹ֖שׁ | fareosh | HNp |
Parosh | Parosh |
H6551-01 |
Ezra 10:25 | פַרְעֹ֡שׁ | fareosh | HNp |
Parosh | Parosh |
H6551-02 |
Nehemiah 3:25 | פַּרְעֹֽשׁ | pareosh | HNp |
Parosh | Parosh |
H6551-01 |
Nehemiah 7:8 | פַרְעֹ֔שׁ | fareosh | HNp |
Parosh | Parosh |
H6551-02 |
Nehemiah 10:15 | פַּרְעֹשׁ֙ | pareosh | HNp |
Parosh | Parosh |