Topical Encyclopedia
The Perizzites were one of the ancient Canaanite tribes mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. They are often listed among the inhabitants of the land of Canaan that the Israelites encountered upon their entrance into the Promised Land. The name "Perizzite" is thought to mean "villagers" or "dwellers in the open country," suggesting that they lived in rural areas rather than fortified cities.
Biblical ReferencesThe Perizzites are first mentioned in
Genesis 13:7, where a conflict arises between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot: "And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and Perizzites were dwelling in the land" . This indicates their presence in the land even during the time of the patriarchs.
In
Genesis 15:18-21, God makes a covenant with Abram, promising him the land of various peoples, including the Perizzites: "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites'" .
The Perizzites are also mentioned in the context of the conquest of Canaan. In
Exodus 3:8, God speaks to Moses about delivering the Israelites from Egypt and bringing them to a land flowing with milk and honey, "the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites" .
During the conquest under Joshua, the Perizzites are again listed among the peoples to be driven out.
Joshua 3:10 states, "Joshua continued, 'By this you will know that the living God is among you, and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites'" .
Role in Israel's HistoryThe Perizzites, like other Canaanite tribes, were to be dispossessed by the Israelites as part of God's judgment on the Canaanites for their iniquity (
Genesis 15:16). However, the Israelites did not fully obey God's command to drive out all the inhabitants of the land.
Judges 1:4-5 records that the Israelites fought against the Canaanites and Perizzites, but they did not completely eliminate them: "When Judah attacked, the LORD delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek" .
The failure to fully remove the Perizzites and other Canaanite peoples led to ongoing issues for Israel, as these groups often influenced the Israelites to turn away from God and follow pagan practices. This is highlighted in
Judges 3:5-6: "Thus the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. And they took the daughters of these people in marriage, gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods" .
Cultural and Religious InfluenceThe Perizzites, like other Canaanite tribes, practiced polytheism and were known for their idolatrous worship, which included rituals that were abominable to the Israelites. The influence of the Perizzites and other Canaanite peoples posed a significant threat to the religious purity and covenant faithfulness of Israel. The Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting the customs and religious practices of the Canaanites, including the Perizzites, as seen in passages like
Deuteronomy 20:17-18.
LegacyThe Perizzites, as a distinct people, eventually disappear from the biblical narrative, likely due to assimilation and intermarriage with other groups. Their presence and the challenges they posed to Israel serve as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's commands and the dangers of compromising with surrounding cultures. The account of the Perizzites is a testament to the broader theme of Israel's struggle to maintain its identity and covenant relationship with God amidst the influences of the surrounding nations.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Perizzitesdwelling in villages
ATS Bible Dictionary
PerizzitesGenesis 15:20, ancient inhabitants of Palestine, who had mingled with the Canaanites, or were themselves descendants of Canaan. They appear to have dwelt in the center of Canaan, Gen 34...30; Jos 11...3; 17.15; Jud 1...4-5; but there were some of them on each side of the river Jordan, in the mountains, and in the plains. In several places of Scripture, the Canaanites and Perizzites are mentioned as the chief people of the country; as in the time of Abraham and Lot,Genesis 13:7. Some remnants of this race existed in Solomon's day, and were subjected by him to a tribute of service,1 Kings 9:20. See CANAANITES.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Villagers; dwellers in the open country, the Canaanitish nation inhabiting the fertile regions south and south-west of Carmel. "They were the graziers, farmers, and peasants of the time." They were to be driven out of the land by the descendants of Abraham (
Genesis 15:20;
Exodus 3:8, 17;
23:23;
33:2;
34:11). They are afterwards named among the conquered tribes (
Joshua 24:11). Still lingering in the land, however, they were reduced to servitude by Solomon (
1 Kings 9:20).
Strong's Hebrew
6522. Perizzi -- a people in the land of Canaan... Word Origin perhaps from the same as perazah Definition a people in the land of
Canaan NASB Word Usage Perizzite (13),
Perizzites (10). Perizzite.
...Library
Chapter xiii
... This additional statement does not, therefore, give indication of a time when
Canaanites andPerizzites were no longer in the land, and does not, therefore...
"It is I, be not Afraid. " Extracted from Knox's Admonition to...
... house for fear of his brother Esau; when he returned from Laban; and when he feared
the inhabitants of the region of the Canaanites andPerizzites for the...
Joshua's Conquest.
... While there were many war-like people crowded into Palestine, seven, the Hittites,
the Girgashites, thePerizzites, the Hivites, the Jebusites, the Amorites...
'The Waters Saw Thee; they were Afraid'
... living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you
the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and thePerizzites, and the...
The Call of Moses
... have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and thePerizzites, and the...
Of the Meaning of the Sacrifice Abraham was Commanded to Offer...
... from the river of Egypt unto the great river Euphrates: the Kenites, and the Kenizzites,
and the Kadmonites, and the Hittites, and thePerizzites, and the...
Here Next Followeth the History of Moses
... this land into a good land and spacious, into a land that floweth milk and honey,
unto the places of Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites,Perizzites, Hivites and...
Moses
... land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and thePerizzites, and the...
Divine Sovereignty.
... But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the
Canaanites, and thePerizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, as the Lord...
Chapter xxxiv
... Simeon and unto Levi: Ye have brought trouble upon me by causing me to become odious
to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites andPerizzites, whereas I...
Thesaurus
Perizzites (23 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Perizzites (23 Occurrences).
... (BBE NIV). Genesis 15:20 the
Hittites, the
Perizzites, the Rephaim, (WEB KJV DBY WBS NIV).
...Hivites (24 Occurrences)
... land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and thePerizzites, and the...
Jebusites (29 Occurrences)
... land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and thePerizzites, and the...
Perizzite (22 Occurrences)
... in Genesis 10, and is also coupled with the Canaanite (Genesis 13:7; Genesis
34:30 Judges 1:4). We hear, accordingly, of Canaanites andPerizzites at Shechem...
Per'izzites (21 Occurrences)
Per'izzites.Perizzites, Per'izzites. Perjured . Multi-Version Concordance
Per'izzites (21 Occurrences). Genesis 13:7 And there...
Girgashites (7 Occurrences)
... to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the
Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and thePerizzites, and the...
Hittite (45 Occurrences)
... Hittite (45 Occurrences). Genesis 15:20 the Hittites, thePerizzites, the Rephaim,
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Jeb'usites (30 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 9:20 All the people that were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the
Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel...
Hivite (25 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:5 The children of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and
the Amorites, and thePerizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites: (Root in...
Jebusite (39 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:5 The children of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and
the Amorites, and thePerizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites: (Root in...
Resources
Who were the Perizzites in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Adoni-Bezek? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did the Israelites have to abandon their foreign wives and children? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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