Lexical Summary peret: Gleanings Original Word: פֶרֶט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance grape From parat; a stray or single berry -- grape. see HEBREW parat NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom parat Definition the broken off NASB Translation fallen fruit (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מֶּ֫רֶט noun [masculine] the broken off, i.e. fallen grapes; — construct כַּרְמְךָ ׳פ Leviticus 19:10. מְּרִי see פרה. I. פרך (√ of following; Late Hebrew מָּרַךְ rub, chafe, crumble; Assyrian parâku, display violence; Arabic Topical Lexicon Meaning and Agricultural Context פֶרֶט denotes the individual grapes that fall to the ground or are left behind on the vines after the main harvest. In ancient Israel, vineyards were typically harvested by hand. What could not be gathered in the first pass, whether single berries knocked loose or small loose clusters, was called פֶרֶט. Rather than being viewed as waste, these remnants were intentionally left as part of an established social practice grounded in covenant law. Biblical Usage Leviticus 19:10 is the sole occurrence of the term: “You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner; I am the LORD your God.”. Here פֶרֶט functions within a wider harvest ethic that also includes standing grain at the edges of a field (Leviticus 19:9) and what remains on olive trees (Deuteronomy 24:20). Though the word appears only once, its concept permeates the agricultural laws of the Torah. Relation to Israel’s Social Legislation 1. Provision for Vulnerable Groups פֶרֶט therefore embodies God’s concern that every household, regardless of status, share in the produce of the land. 2. Built-in Margin The command prescribes deliberate restraint. Landowners were to leave an unharvested margin (grain) and refrain from a second sweep (vineyards and olive groves). By legislating limits on personal gain, the law cultivated generosity and guarded against greed. 3. Covenant Motivation Each injunction is sealed with “I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:10). Social compassion is presented not as philanthropy but as covenant obedience rooted in God’s character and His redemptive acts (Leviticus 19:36; Deuteronomy 24:18, 22). Theological Significance • Divine Ownership and Stewardship: Land and harvest ultimately belong to the LORD (Leviticus 25:23). The practice of leaving פֶרֶט acknowledges the owner’s stewardship rather than sovereignty. Intertextual Connections • Ruth 2 presents the living illustration: Ruth, a Moabite widow, finds sustenance through gleaning. While Ruth’s harvest is barley, the principle mirrors that of פֶרֶט—gratuitous provision that ultimately weaves her into the lineage of Messiah (Matthew 1:5). Implications for Christian Ministry 1. Intentional Margin: Churches and families can translate פֶרֶט into present-day patterns—budget lines, food pantries, or time allocations reserved for those in need. Summary Although פֶרֶט appears only once, its theological weight is extensive. The single fallen grape represents an enduring biblical ethic: God’s people, living on God’s land, are called to reflect God’s heart by making room for the vulnerable. In obeying this command, Israel testified to the LORD’s justice and mercy; in applying the principle today, believers continue that testimony, demonstrating the grace that has been lavishly given to them in Christ. Forms and Transliterations וּפֶ֥רֶט ופרט ū·p̄e·reṭ uFeret ūp̄ereṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 19:10 HEB: לֹ֣א תְעוֹלֵ֔ל וּפֶ֥רֶט כַּרְמְךָ֖ לֹ֣א NAS: shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; KJV: neither shalt thou gather [every] grape of thy vineyard; INT: Nor glean the fallen of your vineyard nor 1 Occurrence |
    |
rub and press, also hate violently; Aramaic מְּרַךְ 
rub, crumble).