6516. Parvayim

Lexical Summary

Parvayim: Parvaim

Original Word: פַרְוַיִם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Parvayim
Pronunciation: par-vah-yeem
Phonetic Spelling: (par-vah'-yim)
KJV: Parvaim
NASB: Parvaim
Word Origin: [of foreign origin]

1. Parvajim, an Oriental region

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Parvaim

Of foreign origin; Parvajim, an Oriental region -- Parvaim.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a region from which Solomon obtained gold for the temple
NASB Translation
Parvaim (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מַּרְוָ֑יִם proper name, of a location ׳זְהַב פ2Chronicles 3:6, Φαρουαιμ; in Arabia ? Sprenger^{Alte Geogr. Arabic 54 f.} identification with Farwa in Yemen, Gl^{Skizze ii. 347} (less probably) with S⇠el Farwain in Yemama (Nejd).

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrence

Parvaim appears once in Scripture, in the record of Solomon’s construction of the temple: “He adorned the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold he used was gold from Parvaim” (2 Chronicles 3:6). The verse treats the name not as a metaphor but as the designation of a real geographic source for an exceptionally pure variety of gold that enhanced the beauty and sanctity of the temple.

Geographic Identity

Although the precise location of Parvaim is uncertain, the context suggests a region on, or accessible from, the Arabian Peninsula. Ancient writers linked Parvaim with Arabia Felix (modern Yemen) or with the hinterlands bordering the Red Sea, areas famous for gold and frankincense (1 Kings 10:2; Job 28:1). The association with maritime trade routes also aligns it with Ophir and Sheba, ports from which Solomon’s fleet imported gold and exotic goods (1 Kings 10:11; 2 Chronicles 9:10). Whether inland or coastal, Parvaim clearly lay within the sphere of international commerce that Solomon cultivated to supply the temple’s lavish materials.

Historical Significance

Solomon’s reign witnessed unparalleled economic expansion (1 Kings 4:21–24), enabling long-distance trade. Gold from Parvaim testifies to Israel’s far-reaching connections and the strategic alliances Solomon forged to secure precious resources (1 Kings 10:22). Archaeological discoveries of South-Arabian trade colonies on the Red Sea confirm the plausibility of such commerce in the tenth century BC, reinforcing the biblical narrative.

Theological Emphasis

1. Calling to Excellence: Only the finest materials were acceptable for the dwelling place of the Lord (Exodus 25:3–7; 1 Chronicles 29:2). Parvaim’s gold underscores the divine requirement of unblemished offerings.
2. Foreshadowing Christ’s Glory: The temple prefigured the incarnation, wherein “something greater than the temple is here” (Matthew 12:6). The unparalleled fineness of Parvaim’s gold anticipates the surpassing worth of Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).
3. Continuity with Eschatological Hope: The temple’s splendor points forward to the New Jerusalem, whose streets are “pure gold, like clear glass” (Revelation 21:21). The same motif of perfected gold frames both Solomon’s temple and the consummated kingdom.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Stewardship: Believers are prompted to offer God their best—time, talent, and treasure—recognizing that excellence in worship glorifies Him (Malachi 1:8–11; Romans 12:1).
• Generosity: Solomon’s procurement of distant resources illustrates sacrificial giving that advances corporate worship. Local churches today invest in missions, facilities, and ministries that exalt Christ among the nations (2 Corinthians 9:6–8).
• Holiness: Just as Parvaim’s gold was set apart for holy use, believers are called to pursue purity, knowing they are “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Related Scriptures

1 Kings 10:10–11; 2 Chronicles 9:9–10 — Gold shipments in Solomon’s era

Psalm 96:9 — “Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness”

Haggai 2:8–9 — “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,” declares the LORD

Revelation 3:18 — Counsel to buy refined gold from Christ

Summary

Parvaim represents more than an exotic locale; it signifies the global reach of God’s purposes, the call to worship Him with the utmost excellence, and the anticipation of future glory. Its single biblical mention, nestled within the temple narrative, affirms both the historical reliability of Scripture and the enduring theological truths embedded in the details of redemptive history.

Forms and Transliterations

פַּרְוָֽיִם׃ פרוים׃ par·wā·yim parVayim parwāyim

Englishman's Concordance

2 Chronicles 3:6
HEB: וְהַזָּהָ֖ב זְהַ֥ב פַּרְוָֽיִם׃
NAS: and the gold was gold from Parvaim.
KJV: and the gold [was] gold of Parvaim.
INT: and the gold was gold Parvaim

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 6516
1 Occurrence

par·wā·yim — 1 Occ.