Lexical Summary perek: Harshness, severity, rigor Original Word: פֶרֶךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cruelty, rigor From an unused root meaning to break apart; fracture, i.e. Severity -- cruelty, rigour. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition harshness, severity NASB Translation rigorously (2), severity (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs מֶּ֫רֶךְ noun [masculine] harshness, severity; — in phrase ׳בְּפ Leviticus 25:33, בְּפָ֑רֶךְ Leviticus 25:43; Leviticus 25:46; (H P), Ezekiel 34:4 (all with רדה rule harshly); Exodus 1:13 (with וַיַּעֲבִדוּ), Exodus 1:14 (with עֲכֹדָה; both P). II. פרך (√ of following; compare Assyrian parâku, bar, shut off; parakku, apartment, shrine; Syriac Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew noun פֶרֶךְ (péreḵ) portrays labor or rule that crushes, breaks, or tyrannizes. Though it appears only six times, it gathers around it a rich theology of oppression, deliverance, and covenant ethics that reaches from the bricks of Egypt to the Good Shepherd of John 10. Literary Setting and Observations 1. Exodus 1:13–14 anchors the word in Israel’s slavery: “So the Egyptians worked the Israelites ruthlessly” (Exodus 1:13). The “crushing labor” is elaborated in verse 14. Across these passages two motifs emerge: (a) foreign oppression that demands divine intervention, and (b) domestic oppression that violates covenant brotherhood. Covenantal Ethics of Work and Authority The Exodus account transforms péreḵ from mere description to moral paradigm. God responds to cries raised under péreḵ (Exodus 2:23-25), setting a template for His concern for the crushed. Consequently, Leviticus 25 embeds the opposite ethic into Israel’s social structure. Jubilee laws limit long-term servitude, enforce rest, and forbid Israelite-over-Israelite péreḵ. Work remains, but harsh domination is outlawed. Theological Significance 1. Revelation of God’s Character. The Lord is shown as the Defender of the oppressed: “I have surely seen the affliction of My people” (Exodus 3:7). By reacting against péreḵ, He reveals His justice and compassion. Prophetic Reproof and Pastoral Application Ezekiel 34 lifts péreḵ from the marketplace to the pulpit. Leaders who exploit the flock, whether politically or spiritually, reenact Egypt. The passage anticipates the arrival of the Messianic Shepherd who will “search for My flock and seek them out” (Ezekiel 34:11). Ministry today must therefore reject manipulative control, coercive discipline, and legalistic burdens that crush souls (Matthew 23:4). Practical Implications for Today • Labor Practices: Employers and supervisors are called to treat workers as image-bearers, providing just compensation and humane conditions (James 5:4). Redemptive Rest in Christ Where péreḵ grinds down, Jesus offers rest: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Sabbath and Jubilee find their fulfillment in Him. The believer’s freedom from sin’s tyranny and from legalistic religion completes the trajectory begun in Exodus. Related New Testament Concepts • δουλεία (slavery) in Romans 8:15 contrasts the Spirit-led life with bondage. Summary פֶרֶךְ exposes the ugliness of oppression and magnifies God’s commitment to liberty and justice. It warns leaders, guides labor ethics, and ultimately invites all to the freedom purchased by the true Deliverer, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light. Forms and Transliterations בְּפֶ֖רֶךְ בְּפָ֑רֶךְ בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃ בפרך בפרך׃ וּבְפָֽרֶךְ׃ ובפרך׃ bə·p̄ā·reḵ bə·p̄e·reḵ beFarech beFerech bəp̄āreḵ bəp̄ereḵ ū·ḇə·p̄ā·reḵ ūḇəp̄āreḵ uveFarechLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 1:13 HEB: בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃ NAS: of Israel to labor rigorously; KJV: of Israel to serve with rigour: INT: the sons of Israel rigorously Exodus 1:14 Leviticus 25:43 Leviticus 25:46 Leviticus 25:53 Ezekiel 34:4 6 Occurrences |
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shrine (see RSJPhil 13, 283); see also Muss-ArnJBL xi (1892), 77 Köii. 1, 201).