פֶּ֫רֶק
pe.req
plunder
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Analysis of Hebrew *Peraq* (H6563) The Hebrew word *peraq* carries the meaning of "plunder"—goods or property forcibly taken from others, typically in contexts of violence or conflict. This definition aligns with the word's semantic field, which encompasses the seizure and removal of valuables as spoils. The term appears only twice in the biblical text, indicating it was not a commonly used word in Hebrew literature, though its presence suggests specific conceptual importance when employed. Given its limited attestation (two occurrences), *peraq* likely functioned as a specialized term reserved for particular narrative or legal contexts where the concept of seized goods required explicit naming. The rarity of the word suggests that biblical Hebrew had other, perhaps more frequent, vocabulary for related concepts of taking or stealing, making *peraq* distinct in some way—possibly emphasizing the violent, organized, or large-scale nature of the taking, as opposed to individual theft or more general appropriation. Without access to the specific biblical passages where *peraq* appears, the full contextual range and nuanced application of the term cannot be determined from the lexical data alone. However, the straightforward definition of "plunder" establishes that the word was used to denote property unlawfully and forcibly removed, a concept with clear relevance to biblical narratives of warfare, conflict, and social transgression.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences across the text