Lexical Summary pere: Wild donkey Original Word: פֶרֶא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wild ass Or pereh (Jeremiah 2:24) {peh'-reh}; from para' in the secondary sense of running wild; the onager -- wild (ass). see HEBREW para' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a wild donkey NASB Translation wild donkey (6), wild donkeys (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs מֶּ֫רֶא noun masculineJob 39:5 (masculine and feminine Jeremiah 2:24, but feminine probably erroneous, compare KöSynt. 157 AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 68) wild ass (probably from swiftness); — ׳פ absolute Hosea 8:9 + (so Jeremiah 2:24 Gi; van d. H. Baer מֶּרֶךְ), construct Genesis 16:12; plural מְּרָאִים Jeremiah 14:6 +; — wild ass Jeremiah 14:6; Job 6:5; Job 39:5; Isaiah 32:14; Psalm 104:11; ׳עַיִר פ Job 11:12 wild ass's colt; אָדָם ׳פ Genesis 16:12 (J) a wild ass of a man (Ishmael as a free nomad); figurative of wilfulness Hosea 8:9 (see I. בָּדַד); of lust Jeremiah 2:24 (i.e. Israel's love of idolatry); of poor desert-dwellers Job 24:5. Topical Lexicon Natural and Cultural Background פֶרֶא denotes the wild donkey that roams the Middle Eastern deserts in small, loosely organized bands. Agile, swift, and fiercely independent, the animal thrives where domesticated beasts cannot, subsisting on sparse vegetation and finding water in hidden places. In biblical times it was renowned for its refusal to accept a yoke, becoming a living metaphor for unbridled freedom and unwillingness to submit to restraint (cf. Job 39:5–8). Occurrences in Scripture 1. Genesis 16:12 – the prophetic description of Ishmael. Themes of Independence and Untamed Spirit • Genesis 16:12: “He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” Ishmael’s descendants would mirror the animal’s independence and resilience, living on the margins yet surviving by God’s providence. Divine Care for the Wild and Forsaken Job 39:5–8 reminds Job that it is the LORD who set the wild donkey free and allotted its desert home—evidence that even the most untamable life is under divine governance. Psalm 104:11 echoes the same: “They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.” These texts balance the motif of rebellion with assurance that God sustains the unmastered, highlighting His universal providence. Warnings and Judgment Imagery Isaiah 32:14 foretells Jerusalem’s devastation: “The citadel will be forsaken… a haunt for wild donkeys,” signaling social collapse so complete that only desert animals remain. Jeremiah 14:6 depicts drought-stricken Judah where the wild donkey gasps for air on barren heights—an emblem of covenant curse. Hosea 8:9 uses the solitary donkey wandering to Assyria to portray Israel’s reckless alliances. Pastoral and Homiletical Insights • Human autonomy apart from God quickly degenerates into spiritual wildness (Job 11:12; Jeremiah 2:24). Summary פֶרֶא functions in Scripture as a vivid emblem of unrestrained independence—sometimes admirable, often perilous. It illustrates Ishmael’s destiny, humanity’s need for divine wisdom, God’s universal provision, and the frightening results of covenant infidelity. Recognizing these layers deepens appreciation for God’s sovereignty, the seriousness of rebellion, and the grace that calls the wildest heart to willing obedience in Christ. Forms and Transliterations וּפְרָאִים֙ ופראים פְּרָאִ֖ים פְּרָאִ֨ים ׀ פְרָאִ֣ים פֶּ֖רֶא פֶּ֝֗רֶא פֶּ֣רֶא פֶּ֣רֶה ׀ פֶּ֥רֶא פרא פראים פרה feraIm pə·rā·’îm p̄ə·rā·’îm pe·re pe·reh pərā’îm p̄ərā’îm peraIm pere pereh ū·p̄ə·rā·’îm uferaIm ūp̄ərā’îmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 16:12 HEB: וְה֤וּא יִהְיֶה֙ פֶּ֣רֶא אָדָ֔ם יָד֣וֹ NAS: He will be a wild donkey of a man, KJV: And he will be a wild man; his hand INT: he will be a wild of a man his hand Job 6:5 Job 11:12 Job 24:5 Job 39:5 Psalm 104:11 Isaiah 32:14 Jeremiah 2:24 Jeremiah 14:6 Hosea 8:9 10 Occurrences |
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