Lexical Summary
parach: To sprout, to blossom, to flourish, to break forth
Original Word:פָרַח
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:parach
Pronunciation:pah-rahkh
Phonetic Spelling:(paw-rakh')
KJV: X abroad, X abundantly, blossom, break forth (out), bud, flourish, make fly, grow, spread, spring (up)
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom
2. (generally) to spread
3. (specifically) to fly (as extending the wings)
4. (figuratively) to flourish
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
abroad, abundantly, blossom, break forth out, bud, flourish, make fly, grow,
A primitive root; to break forth as a bud, i.e. Bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the wings); figuratively, to flourish -- X abroad, X abundantly, blossom, break forth (out), bud, flourish, make fly, grow, spread, spring (up).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (NT Hiph`il = Biblical Hebrew ; Ecclus
=flourish,
causative, Ecclesiasticus 49:10; Ecclesiasticus 40:19; Arabic
II.hatch, alsosprout,
young of bird (see below),twig, sprout; Assyrianpir—u, nounsprout; — on meaning compare GFMJBL x (1891), 57); —
Perfect3masculine singularEzekiel 7:10 +, etc;Imperfect3masculine singularHosea 14:6 +, 3 feminine pluralIsaiah 66:14, etc.;Infinitive absoluteIsaiah 35:2; constructPsalm 92:8;Participle feminineGenesis 40:10; —bud, sprout, send out shoots, of vineGenesis 40:10 (E),Hosea 14:8 (simile),Songs 6:11;Songs 7:13; fig-treeHabakkuk 3:17 (< We Now ); rodsNumbers 17:20;Numbers 17:23; metaphor of restored IsraelHosea 14:6;Isaiah 27:6, compare of bonesIsaiah 66:14 (); of righteousPsalm 72:7;Psalm 92:13;Proverbs 11:28; of wicked ()Psalm 92:8; also of steppe ()Isaiah 35:1,Isaiah 35:2; figurative of judgmentHosea 10:4 (; but on text see Now); of (q. v. p. 268)Ezekiel 7:10.
Perfect1singularEzekiel 17:24;ImperfectJob 14:9, etc.; —
cause to bud orsprout, with accusativeEzekiel 17:24,Isaiah 17:11, both figurative
shew buds, sprouts, of treeJob 14:9; figurative of righteousPsalm 92:14; = flourish, of ,Proverbs 14:11 (all
in according to BaZMG xliii (1889), 180 f.).
II. , of leprosy and like eruptions (in P) (usually taken as = I. , but dubious; Late Hebrewid., alsodecay, ferment VogelstLandwirthschaft 22; Syriac
spread, of leprosy, etc.; NS.
leprous spots); —
Perfect3masculine singularLeviticus 13:39 (of ), consecutiveLeviticus 14:43 (of ); of 3feminine singularLeviticus 13:20,25, alsoImperfect3feminine singular +Infinitive absoluteLeviticus 13:12, andParticiple feminine see 42; ofParticiple masculineExodus 9:9,10.
III. [] , Aramaism, si vera lectio (Late Hebrewid., especiallyfly away; Aramaic ,
fly;
insect, bird); —
Participle feminine pluralEzekiel 13:20 (twice in verse)for (like ?)flying things, i. e. birds, but strike out Hi Siegf in va (where probably insert from vb); Co Toy Berthol Krae in va; vb.
Topical Lexicon
Agricultural Imagery of Life and VitalityThe verb פָּרַח consistently depicts the first visible evidence of life in plants—buds, shoots, blossoms, or new growth. From Joseph’s description of Pharaoh’s cupbearer’s vine (Genesis 40:10, 12) to the lily in Hosea (Hosea 14:5), the word pictures the Creator’s ongoing provision and the life-cycles He built into creation. Its distribution across narrative, poetry, and prophecy underscores the universality of God’s sustaining care for the land and all who depend on it.
Signs and Wonders Confirming Divine Choice
When Israel questioned the legitimacy of Aaron’s priesthood, the Lord ordered each tribal leader to lay a rod before the Ark. “The staff of the man I choose will blossom” (Numbers 17:5). By morning “the staff of Aaron … had sprouted, put forth buds, bloomed blossoms, and produced almonds” (Numbers 17:8). The verb marks every stage—sprouting, budding, blossoming—compressing an entire season’s growth into one night to vindicate God’s appointed mediator. The rod was then placed “in front of the testimony” (Numbers 17:10) as an enduring witness, prefiguring the resurrection power that authenticates the final High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Prophetic Assurance of National Restoration
Isaiah employs the root in a cluster of restoration oracles. “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it will bloom abundantly” (Isaiah 35:1-2). Here פָּרַח frames a two-fold promise: transformation of creation’s curse and Israel’s return from exile. Later, “In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole world with fruit” (Isaiah 27:6). The imagery affirms that the nation chosen to bear covenant fruit will yet fulfill that destiny, despite temporary barrenness.
Messianic and Eschatological Hope
Though several messianic texts use other Hebrew terms for “Branch,” the occurrences of פָּרַח create the backdrop against which the Messiah’s advent is envisioned—a world where death and exile are reversed by divine life. Isaiah’s desert blossoming and Hosea’s lily (“He will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon,”Hosea 14:5) anticipate a global flowering under the reign of David’s greater Son, parallelingPsalm 72:7, “May the righteous flourish in his days.”
The Righteous vs. The Wicked
Wisdom literature sets flourishing in stark contrast. “Though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed” (Psalm 92:7). By contrast, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree” (Psalm 92:12, a different root for flourish, yet the parallel intensifies the moral divide). The short-lived blossom of the wicked is a caution against misplaced confidence; enduring fruit belongs only to those rooted in God.
Human Frailty and the Need for Redemption
Job laments that man “comes forth like a flower and withers” (Job 14:2); “It is like a flower that blooms, but then is cut down” (Job 14:2, cf.Psalm 103:15). פָּרַח highlights both the beauty and brevity of life, driving the reader to the only One who “renews your youth like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5) and grants eternal life beyond the withering of mortal flesh.
Liturgical and Artistic Symbolism
The menorah was fashioned with cups shaped like almond blossoms—each branch “embellished with buds and blossoms” (Exodus 25:33-34; 37:19-20). The continuous bloom in the sanctuary lamp symbolizes the perpetual light and life that God intends to shine from His presence. Because almonds are the earliest trees to bud in Israel, the motif carries the idea of watchful readiness (cf.Jeremiah 1:11-12).
Pastoral and Discipleship Applications
1. Authentic ministry must be marked by God-given life, not manufactured results (Numbers 17:8-10).
2. Seasons of barrenness are not final; the Lord can make deserts bloom (Isaiah 35:1-2).
3. Believers are called to cultivate lives that “blossom” in righteousness, knowing that wicked prosperity is temporary (Psalm 92:7).
4. The brevity of human flourishing (Job 14:2) urges readiness for eternity and dependence on the risen Christ, the true and abiding Branch.
Summary
Across its approximately thirty-six occurrences, פָּרַח weaves a unified biblical testimony: God alone initiates, sustains, and vindicates true life. Whether in budding vines, almond rods, or desert flowers, every blossoming points beyond itself to the ultimate revelation of life in the resurrection of Jesus and the coming restoration of all creation.
Forms and Transliterations
בִּפְרֹ֤חַ בפרח הֲפָֽרְחָ֣ה הפרחה וְהִפְרַ֖חְתִּי וְיִפְרְח֣וּ וְתִפְרַ֖ח וּפָרַ֖ח וּפָרַ֣ח וּפָרַ֤ח והפרחתי ויפרחו ופרח ותפרח יִֽפְרַח־ יִפְרַ֖ח יִפְרָ֑ח יִפְרָֽחוּ׃ יַפְרִ֑חַ יַפְרִֽיחַ׃ יַפְרִֽיחוּ׃ יפרח יפרח־ יפרחו׃ יפריח׃ יפריחו׃ כְפֹרַ֙חַת֙ כפרחת לְפֹ֣רְח֔וֹת לְפֹרְחֹֽת׃ לפרחות לפרחת׃ פָּֽרְחָ֤ה פָּר֨וֹחַ פָּרַ֖ח פָּרַ֥ח פָּרָ֑חָה פָּרָֽחָה׃ פָּרֹ֨חַ פֹּרֵ֕חַ פֹּרֵ֛חַ פֹּרַ֖חַת פֹּרַ֙חַת֙ פרוח פרח פרחה פרחה׃ פרחת תִּפְרַ֜ח תִּפְרַ֤ח תִפְרַ֑חְנָה תִפְרָ֗ח תַּפְרִ֑יחִי תפרח תפרחנה תפריחי bifRoach bip̄·rō·aḥ bip̄rōaḥ chefoRachat hă·p̄ā·rə·ḥāh hafareChah hăp̄ārəḥāh ḵə·p̄ō·ra·ḥaṯ ḵəp̄ōraḥaṯ lə·p̄ō·rə·ḥō·wṯ lə·p̄ō·rə·ḥōṯ leForeChot ləp̄ōrəḥōṯ ləp̄ōrəḥōwṯ pā·rā·ḥāh pā·raḥ pā·rə·ḥāh pā·rō·aḥ pā·rō·w·aḥ paRach paRachah pāraḥ pārāḥāh pareChah pārəḥāh paRoach pārōaḥ pārōwaḥ pō·ra·ḥaṯ pō·rê·aḥ poRachat pōraḥaṯ poReach pōrêaḥ tafRichi tap̄·rî·ḥî tap̄rîḥî tifRach tifRachnah tip̄·raḥ ṯip̄·rāḥ ṯip̄·raḥ·nāh tip̄raḥ ṯip̄rāḥ ṯip̄raḥnāh ū·p̄ā·raḥ ufaRach ūp̄āraḥ vehifRachti vetifRach veyifreChu wə·hip̄·raḥ·tî wə·ṯip̄·raḥ wə·yip̄·rə·ḥū wəhip̄raḥtî wəṯip̄raḥ wəyip̄rəḥū yafRiach yafRichu yap̄·ri·aḥ yap̄·rî·aḥ yap̄·rî·ḥū yap̄riaḥ yap̄rîaḥ yap̄rîḥū yifRach yifRachu yip̄·rā·ḥū yip̄·raḥ yip̄·rāḥ yip̄·raḥ- yip̄raḥ yip̄rāḥ yip̄raḥ- yip̄rāḥū
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