פַּרְשְׁדֹן
𐤐𐤓𐤔𐤃𐤍
parshᵉdôn
H6574 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A specific anatomical region referring to the lower part of the body where the legs diverge, particularly the perineum or crotch area, sometimes extending to mean the buttocks or anus. In certain contexts, it can euphemistically refer to filth or excrement associated with this area, though its primary sense is anatomical.
Semantic Range
crotch, perineum, buttocks, anus, (euphemistically) excrement, filth
Root / Etymology
Root/Etymology uncertain. The word appears to be a compound or blend of the roots פָּרָשׁ (parash, 'to divide, separate, spread') and פָּרַד (parad, 'to separate, divide'), possibly with influence from related terms like פַּרְשֵׁז (parshēz, 'thigh'). The form itself does not have clear parallels in attested Semitic cognates, and its derivation is debated.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פַּרְשְׁדֹן (parshᵉdôn) occurs only once in the Hebrew Bible (Judges 3:24), in the context of describing the location outside Eglon's chamber where attendants presume their king to be 'covering his feet' — a Hebrew euphemism for relieving oneself. The word appears to refer to the private anatomical area relevant to bodily functions, which could shift in meaning to refer metonymically to filth or excrement, following typical patterns of euphemistic speech in Biblical Hebrew. The connection to dirt arises secondarily from the anatomical association, rather than from a base sense of 'dirt' or 'filth.' English translations often render this as 'privy,' 'latrine,' or 'cool chamber,' but these shift the focus from the original anatomical reference to the physical space or its purpose. The term is thus more directly anatomical and euphemistic in Hebrew than in many English versions. Comparison to later Hebrew and Aramaic words suggests ongoing development of euphemisms for bodily functions in biblical and post-biblical usage. The precise delimitation (crotch, perineum, anus) is debated, but the general region is clear from context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps by compounding פָּרָשׁ and פָּרַד (in the sense of straddling) (compare פַּרְשֵׁז); the crotch (or anus); dirt.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פרשד (p-r-sh-d) — divide, split, spread apart
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6574-01 |
הַֽ/פַּרְשְׁדֹֽנָ/ה | hapareshedonah | HTd/Ncmsa/Sd |
the excrement | the crotch-region | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6574-01 |
Judges 3:22 | הַֽ/פַּרְשְׁדֹֽנָ/ה | hapareshedonah | HTd/Ncmsa/Sd |
the excrement | the crotch-region |