Lexical Summary
Parosh: Parosh
Original Word:פַרְעשׁ
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Par`osh
Pronunciation:pah-ROSH
Phonetic Spelling:(par-oshe')
KJV: Parosh, Pharosh
NASB:Parosh
Word Origin:[the same asH6550 (פַּרעוֹשׁ - flea)]
1. Parosh, the name of our Israelite
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Parosh, Pharosh
The same aspar'osh; Parosh, the name of our Israelite -- Parosh, Pharosh.
see HEBREWpar'osh
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
paroshDefinitiontwo Isr.
NASB TranslationParosh (6).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. , etc., (flea; compare Gray
Prop. N. 94); —
Ezra 2:3 =Nehemiah 7:8;Ezra 8:3;Ezra 10:25;Nehemiah 3:25.
Nehemiah 10:15.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewParosh designates a post-exilic family whose members appear in all three major restoration lists of Ezra and Nehemiah. Their account traces a progression from return, through renewal, to covenant commitment, reflecting the broader narrative of Israel’s restoration after the Babylonian captivity.
Genealogical Context and Return from Exile
•Ezra 2:3 andNehemiah 7:8 record “the descendants of Parosh, 2,172,” placing the clan among the first wave that came back with Zerubbabel around 538 BC. Their sizeable number underscores both the mercy of God in preserving them in exile and their determination to re-establish life in the land promised to their fathers.
• Several decades later another contingent joined Ezra: “of the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were registered 150 men” (Ezra 8:3). Their willingness to uproot once more and endure the perilous journey across the desert shows continuing zeal for the worship of the Lord at Jerusalem.
Role in Temple and City Restoration
Nehemiah’s wall-building narrative highlights individual service from this family: “Pedaiah son of Parosh” helped repair a strategic section near the royal palace (Nehemiah 3:25). The record draws attention to a people not merely settling in the land but laboring for the security and testimony of God’s house. Their participation illustrates how ordinary Israelites shared the heavy physical and financial burden of reconstruction (compareNehemiah 4:6).
Repentance from Foreign Marriages
During Ezra’s reform “the descendants of Parosh” were the first group named among those who had taken foreign wives (Ezra 10:25). The listing of individual offenders—and, more importantly, their agreement to “put away” the unlawful unions—demonstrates responsive hearts when confronted by Scripture. Their example affirms both the seriousness with which post-exilic Israel guarded covenant identity and the possibility of restoration through confession and obedience.
Participation in Covenant Renewal
When Nehemiah led the nation in a solemn covenant, the family’s leadership again surfaces: “the leaders of the people were: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu…” (Nehemiah 10:14). By affixing their seal, the heads of Parosh pledged themselves to walk “in the Law of God” (Nehemiah 10:29), promising to observe Sabbath regulations, protect the temple tithe, and uphold marital purity. Their public commitment capped a century-long journey from exile to faithful citizenship under the Law.
Lessons for Faith and Ministry Today
1. Preservation: God keeps entire households through judgment and exile, proving His faithfulness across generations.
2. Zeal: Successive departures from Babylon show that spiritual passion can be renewed long after an initial return.
3. Service: The name Parosh appears amid beams, gates, and towers, reminding believers that tangible labor for God’s kingdom often defines enduring legacy.
4. Repentance: Being first on a list of sin did not bar them from future usefulness; swift confession opened the way for ongoing ministry.
5. Covenant Loyalty: Sealing their names to the covenant illustrates the value of accountable, corporate promises in sustaining long-term obedience.
Thus the Parosh family stands as a multi-generational witness to restoration, work, repentance, and covenant fidelity—an enduring encouragement for all who labor to rebuild and maintain the testimony of God among His people.
Forms and Transliterations
פַּרְעֹֽשׁ׃ פַּרְעֹשׁ֙ פַרְעֹ֔שׁ פַרְעֹ֖שׁ פַרְעֹ֡שׁ פרעש פרעש׃ farOsh p̄ar‘ōš p̄ar·‘ōš parOsh
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
