Lexical Summary perazi: Villager, inhabitant of unwalled towns Original Word: פְרָזִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance village Or prowziy {per-o-zee'}; from prazah; a rustic -- village. see HEBREW prazah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as perazah Definition hamlet dweller NASB Translation country (1), rural areas (1), unwalled (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְּרָזִי noun [masculine] hamlet-dweller; — collective with article ׳כֹּפֶר הַמּ 1 Samuel 6:18 (opposed to עִיר מִבְצָר), ׳עָרֵי הַמּ Deuteronomy 3:5 (opposed to ׳עָרִים בְּצֻרֹת חוֺמָה וגו); plural הַמְּרָזִים Esther 9:19 Qr (Kt הפרוזים). Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew term פְרָזִי (Strong’s 6521) designates rural inhabitants or unwalled settlements—communities beyond the protection of a city wall. Biblically, it marks a contrast between fortified urban centers and open villages whose safety depended chiefly on the LORD’s providential care rather than on man-made defenses. Occurrences and Contexts 1. Deuteronomy 3:5 identifies “very many unwalled villages” among the conquered Amorite territories, underscoring the completeness of Israel’s victory. Historical Significance Israel’s settlement pattern blended walled cities with open villages. While walls symbolized security and civic identity, unwalled hamlets fostered agrarian life and mutual dependence. During the monarchy, these villages fed urban centers and supplied military levies (Judges 5:7; 1 Chronicles 27:25-31). Their vulnerability also made them early targets in invasions (2 Kings 17:5-6), driving home the need for covenant fidelity so that the LORD Himself would be “a wall of fire around her” (Zechariah 2:5). Theological Themes • Reliance on Divine Protection Unwalled settlements illustrate faith that safety ultimately rests in God (Psalm 127:1). Deuteronomy purposefully lists them to magnify the LORD’s hand in conquest; without Him, such places would be indefensible. • Inclusiveness of Judgment and Mercy The Philistine episode shows that plague and atonement reached from fortified capitals to remote villages, teaching that no community lies outside divine oversight (Jeremiah 23:23-24). • Community and Celebration Esther 9:19 roots the joy of Purim in small towns, affirming that spiritual milestones are not confined to metropolitan elites but belong to every believer, however obscure. Ministry Implications 1. Shepherding the Overlooked Modern ministry must attend to rural congregations and small groups, valuing them as God does. Spiritual resources should flow beyond prominent centers to the “villages” of contemporary society. 2. Cultivating Dependence on God Churches, regardless of budgets or buildings, are reminded that true security is in the Lord. Programs and structures serve, but they do not replace faith. 3. Encouraging Communal Celebration Purim’s village observance encourages localized expressions of corporate joy—seasonal gatherings, testimony nights, and shared meals that reinforce identity in Christ. Related Passages for Study Ezekiel 38:11; Zechariah 2:4-5; Psalm 48:12-14; Hebrews 13:14. Key Takeaway פְרָזִי focuses attention on life lived without visible defenses—whether physical walls or spiritual self-reliance—inviting God’s people in every era to trust His guardianship, care for scattered brethren, and celebrate redemption wherever they dwell. Forms and Transliterations הַפְּרָזִ֑י הַפְּרָזִ֖י הַפְּרָזִ֗ים הפרזי הפרזים hap·pə·rā·zî hap·pə·rā·zîm happeraZi happərāzî happeraZim happərāzîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 3:5 HEB: לְבַ֛ד מֵעָרֵ֥י הַפְּרָזִ֖י הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃ NAS: a great many unwalled towns. KJV: and bars; beside unwalled towns INT: alone towns unwalled many A great 1 Samuel 6:18 Esther 9:19 3 Occurrences |
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