6547. Paroh

Lexical Summary

Paroh: Pharaoh

Original Word: פַרְעֹה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: Par`oh
Pronunciation: pah-ROH
Phonetic Spelling: (par-o')
KJV: Pharaoh
NASB: Pharaoh, Pharaoh's
Word Origin: [of Egyptian derivation]

1. Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Pharaoh

Of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings -- Pharaoh.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a title of Eg. kings
NASB Translation
Pharaoh (214), Pharaoh's (53).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מַּרְעה₂₇₅ noun masculine Pharaoh, Φαραω, title of Egyptain kings (Egyptian pr-±o, great house, of royal court, and (in new kingdom) of king Griffith^{Hastings DB} Mey^{Geschichte. Alt. i. 59} Steind^{BAS. i. 343}; in Assyrian pir°u according to most, compare COT^Glossary Steind^l.c., but see Wkl^{MVAG. 1898. 3f.}); — ׳פ Genesis 12:15 (3 t. in verse); Genesis 12:17 212t. Hexateuch 19 t. Kings, Isaiah 19:11 (twice in verse) + 3t., Jeremiah 25:19 10t., Ezekiel 17:17 12t., Nehemiah 9:10; 1 Chronicles 4:18; 2Chronicles 8:11; Psalm 135:9; Psalm 136:15; Songs 1:9; + מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם (not early) Jeremiah 25:19; Jeremiah 46:17; Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 11:3; Ezekiel 29:2,3; Ezekiel 30:21,22; Ezekiel 31:2; 1 Kings 3:1; 1 Kings 9:16; 1 Kings 11:18; 2 Kings 17:7; 2 Kings 18:21 = Isaiah 36:6; Genesis 41:46 (E), Exodus 6:11,13,27,29; Exodus 14:8 (all P); with proper name חָפְרַע ׳פ Jeremiah 44:30, נְכֹה ׳פ Jeremiah 46:2; 2 Kings 23:29,33,34,35.

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Scope

פַרְעֹה (Pharaoh) is the royal title borne by the monarchs of Egypt throughout the Old Testament record (about 268 references). Scripture treats each Pharaoh as the supreme human authority of Egypt, yet consistently sets him beneath the sovereign rule of the LORD. The word never appears with a personal name in Hebrew narrative until much later history (e.g., “Pharaoh Neco,” “Pharaoh Hophra”), underlining the biblical emphasis on the office more than the individual.

Pharaohs in the Pentateuch

1. Pharaoh of Abram and Sarai (Genesis 12:10-20) – This ruler’s household is struck with plagues when he takes Sarai; the episode foreshadows later judgments on Egypt.
2. Pharaohs of Joseph’s career (Genesis 37–50) – The first purchases Joseph (Genesis 37:36); the second dreams of cows and grain, exalts Joseph to vizier, and becomes God’s instrument to preserve Jacob’s family (Genesis 41:15-46; 45:8). The covenant people find protection in Goshen (Genesis 47:6).
3. Pharaoh of the Oppression (Exodus 1:8-22) – “A new king who did not know Joseph” enslaves Israel and commands the death of male infants, prompting God’s deliverance plan.
4. Pharaoh of the Exodus (Exodus 2–14) – Confronted by Moses and Aaron, he repeatedly hardens his heart and is likewise hardened by God (Exodus 7:3-4). The ten plagues culminate in the death of Egypt’s firstborn and the Red Sea judgment. “The LORD hurled Pharaoh and his army into the sea” (Exodus 15:4).

Pharaohs in the Historical Books

1. Pharaoh of Solomon’s alliance (1 Kings 3:1; 9:16) – Gives his daughter in marriage to Solomon and captures Gezer.
2. Shishak (1 Kings 11:40; 14:25; 2 Chronicles 12:2-9) – Shelters Jeroboam and later raids Jerusalem during Rehoboam’s reign, stripping the temple of treasure.
3. Pharaoh Neco (2 Kings 23:29-35; 2 Chronicles 35:20-24) – Kills Josiah at Megiddo, deposes Jehoahaz, and imposes tribute on Judah.
4. Pharaoh Hophra (Jeremiah 44:30) – Also called Apries, he fails to save Jerusalem or the Judean refugees in Egypt, fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy.

Pharaoh in the Psalms and Wisdom Literature

Psalm 136:15 celebrates God’s overthrow of Pharaoh as an enduring testimony of steadfast love. Proverbs 21:1 applies the lesson universally: “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.”

Pharaoh in the Prophets

Isaiah rebukes Judah’s trust in Egypt: “The protection of Pharaoh will become your shame” (Isaiah 30:3).

Jeremiah foretells Egypt’s defeat at Carchemish under Pharaoh Neco (Jeremiah 46:2) and later predicts Hophra’s downfall (Jeremiah 44:30).

Ezekiel devotes four chapters (29–32) to Pharaoh as the proud “great monster lying in the midst of his rivers” (Ezekiel 29:3), announcing judgment so that “all the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 30:19).

Hosea 7:11 likens fickle Ephraim to “a dove easily deceived, calling to Egypt.” Pharaoh thus functions as a perennial emblem of misplaced trust.

Recurring Themes and Theology

1. Divine Sovereignty – God raises up Pharaoh “for this very purpose” (Exodus 9:16; Romans 9:17) to display His power and spread His name.
2. Hardness of Heart – Pharaoh becomes the chief biblical example of persistent resistance to divine revelation, warning against stiff-necked unbelief.
3. Salvation History – The Exodus establishes the paradigm of redemption, later fulfilled in Christ’s deliverance from sin and death (Luke 9:31, Greek exodus).
4. Judgment on Pride – Prophetic oracles portray Pharaoh’s hubris as archetypal, assuring believers that worldly powers cannot thwart God’s plan.
5. Missionary Witness – Rahab the Egyptian (Psalm 87:4) and the mixed multitude exiting Egypt (Exodus 12:38) illustrate God’s outreach even within Pharaoh’s domain.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Preaching – The Exodus narrative encourages believers to trust God amid oppression and to declare His mighty works to the next generation (Psalm 78:13-14).
• Counseling – Pharaoh’s hardened heart warns against habitual sin and the presumption of repeated chances to repent.
• Worship – Hymns of deliverance (Exodus 15; Psalm 136) invite corporate remembrance of God’s victory over every “Pharaoh” that exalts itself.
• Missions – Israel’s liberation anticipates the call to proclaim freedom in Christ to captives worldwide (Acts 7:34).

Summary

Pharaoh stands in Scripture as the quintessential earthly monarch who confronts the living God and loses. Across Law, Prophets, and Writings, his title epitomizes proud opposition, while his defeat magnifies the LORD’s supremacy, covenant faithfulness, and saving power.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּ֝פַרְעֹ֗ה בְּפַרְעֹ֔ה בְּפַרְעֹ֤ה בְּפַרְעֹ֥ה בְּפַרְעֹה֙ בפרעה וּפַרְעֹ֖ה וּפַרְעֹ֣ה ופרעה כְּפַרְעֹֽה׃ כפרעה׃ לְפַרְעֹ֑ה לְפַרְעֹ֔ה לְפַרְעֹ֖ה לְפַרְעֹ֗ה לְפַרְעֹ֣ה לְפַרְעֹ֥ה לְפַרְעֹֽה׃ לְפַרְעֹה֒ לְפַרְעֹה֮ לפרעה לפרעה׃ מִפַּרְעֹ֖ה מִפַּרְעֹ֛ה מפרעה פַּרְעֹ֑ה פַּרְעֹ֔ה פַּרְעֹ֖ה פַּרְעֹ֗ה פַּרְעֹ֛ה פַּרְעֹ֜ה פַּרְעֹ֞ה פַּרְעֹ֣ה פַּרְעֹ֤ה פַּרְעֹ֥ה פַּרְעֹ֧ה פַּרְעֹ֨ה פַּרְעֹֽה׃ פַּרְעֹה֒ פַּרְעֹה֙ פַּרְעֹה֮ פַרְעֹ֑ה פַרְעֹ֔ה פַרְעֹ֖ה פַרְעֹ֗ה פַרְעֹ֛ה פַרְעֹ֜ה פַרְעֹ֣ה פַרְעֹ֤ה פַרְעֹֽה׃ פַרְעֹה֙ פַרְעֹה֮ פרעה פרעה׃ bə·p̄ar·‘ōh befarOh bəp̄ar‘ōh farOh kə·p̄ar·‘ōh kefarOh kəp̄ar‘ōh lə·p̄ar·‘ōh lefarOh ləp̄ar‘ōh mip·par·‘ōh mippar‘ōh mipparOh par‘ōh p̄ar‘ōh par·‘ōh p̄ar·‘ōh parOh ū·p̄ar·‘ōh ufarOh ūp̄ar‘ōh

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 12:15
HEB: אֹתָהּ֙ שָׂרֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וַיְהַֽלְל֥וּ אֹתָ֖הּ
NAS: Pharaoh's officials saw
KJV: The princes also of Pharaoh saw
INT: saw officials Pharaoh's her and praised her before

Genesis 12:15
HEB: אֹתָ֖הּ אֶל־ פַּרְעֹ֑ה וַתֻּקַּ֥ח הָאִשָּׁ֖ה
NAS: her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman
KJV: her before Pharaoh: and the woman
INT: her and praised her before Pharaoh was taken and the woman

Genesis 12:15
HEB: הָאִשָּׁ֖ה בֵּ֥ית פַּרְעֹֽה׃
NAS: was taken into Pharaoh's house.
KJV: was taken into Pharaoh's house.
INT: and the woman house Pharaoh's

Genesis 12:17
HEB: יְהוָ֧ה ׀ אֶת־ פַּרְעֹ֛ה נְגָעִ֥ים גְּדֹלִ֖ים
NAS: struck Pharaoh and his house
KJV: plagued Pharaoh and his house
INT: struck the LORD Pharaoh plagues great

Genesis 12:18
HEB: וַיִּקְרָ֤א פַרְעֹה֙ לְאַבְרָ֔ם וַיֹּ֕אמֶר
NAS: Then Pharaoh called Abram
KJV: And Pharaoh called Abram,
INT: called Pharaoh Abram and said

Genesis 12:20
HEB: וַיְצַ֥ו עָלָ֛יו פַּרְעֹ֖ה אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ
NAS: Pharaoh commanded [his] men
KJV: And Pharaoh commanded [his] men
INT: commanded concerning Pharaoh men escorted

Genesis 37:36
HEB: לְפֽוֹטִיפַר֙ סְרִ֣יס פַּרְעֹ֔ה שַׂ֖ר הַטַּבָּחִֽים׃
NAS: to Potiphar, Pharaoh's officer,
KJV: an officer of Pharaoh's, [and] captain
INT: to Potiphar officer Pharaoh's the captain of the bodyguard

Genesis 39:1
HEB: פּוֹטִיפַר֩ סְרִ֨יס פַּרְעֹ֜ה שַׂ֤ר הַטַּבָּחִים֙
NAS: officer of Pharaoh, the captain
KJV: an officer of Pharaoh, captain
INT: and Potiphar officer of Pharaoh the captain of the bodyguard

Genesis 40:2
HEB: וַיִּקְצֹ֣ף פַּרְעֹ֔ה עַ֖ל שְׁנֵ֣י
NAS: Pharaoh was furious with his two
KJV: And Pharaoh was wroth against
INT: was furious Pharaoh against his two

Genesis 40:7
HEB: אֶת־ סְרִיסֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אִתּ֧וֹ
NAS: He asked Pharaoh's officials who
KJV: And he asked Pharaoh's officers
INT: asked officials Pharaoh's who in

Genesis 40:11
HEB: וְכ֥וֹס פַּרְעֹ֖ה בְּיָדִ֑י וָאֶקַּ֣ח
NAS: Now Pharaoh's cup was in my hand;
KJV: And Pharaoh's cup [was] in my hand:
INT: cup now Pharaoh's my hand took

Genesis 40:11
HEB: אֶל־ כּ֣וֹס פַּרְעֹ֔ה וָאֶתֵּ֥ן אֶת־
NAS: and squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup,
KJV: and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup,
INT: about cup Pharaoh's put the cup

Genesis 40:11
HEB: עַל־ כַּ֥ף פַּרְעֹֽה׃
NAS: the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
KJV: the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
INT: and hand Pharaoh's

Genesis 40:13
HEB: יָמִ֗ים יִשָּׂ֤א פַרְעֹה֙ אֶת־ רֹאשֶׁ֔ךָ
NAS: days Pharaoh will lift
KJV: days shall Pharaoh lift up
INT: days will lift Pharaoh your head and restore

Genesis 40:13
HEB: וְנָתַתָּ֤ כוֹס־ פַּרְעֹה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ כַּמִּשְׁפָּט֙
NAS: and you will put Pharaoh's cup
KJV: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup
INT: will put cup Pharaoh's his hand custom

Genesis 40:14
HEB: וְהִזְכַּרְתַּ֙נִי֙ אֶל־ פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְהוֹצֵאתַ֖נִי מִן־
NAS: by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get
KJV: I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me
INT: mentioning to Pharaoh and get at

Genesis 40:17
HEB: מִכֹּ֛ל מַאֲכַ֥ל פַּרְעֹ֖ה מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֹפֶ֑ה
NAS: food for Pharaoh, and the birds
KJV: of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds
INT: of all food Pharaoh act of baked

Genesis 40:19
HEB: יָמִ֗ים יִשָּׂ֨א פַרְעֹ֤ה אֶת־ רֹֽאשְׁךָ֙
NAS: days Pharaoh will lift
KJV: days shall Pharaoh lift up
INT: days will lift Pharaoh your head and

Genesis 40:20
HEB: הֻלֶּ֣דֶת אֶת־ פַּרְעֹ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה
NAS: day, [which was] Pharaoh's birthday,
KJV: day, [which was] Pharaoh's birthday,
INT: day bear Pharaoh's made A feast

Genesis 40:21
HEB: עַל־ כַּ֥ף פַּרְעֹֽה׃
NAS: the cup into Pharaoh's hand;
KJV: the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
INT: and hand Pharaoh's

Genesis 41:1
HEB: שְׁנָתַ֣יִם יָמִ֑ים וּפַרְעֹ֣ה חֹלֵ֔ם וְהִנֵּ֖ה
NAS: years that Pharaoh had a dream,
KJV: years, that Pharaoh dreamed:
INT: years full Pharaoh had and behold

Genesis 41:4
HEB: וְהַבְּרִיאֹ֑ת וַיִּיקַ֖ץ פַּרְעֹֽה׃
NAS: and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.
KJV: and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
INT: and fat awoke Pharaoh

Genesis 41:7
HEB: וְהַמְּלֵא֑וֹת וַיִּיקַ֥ץ פַּרְעֹ֖ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה חֲלֽוֹם׃
NAS: ears. Then Pharaoh awoke,
KJV: ears. And Pharaoh awoke,
INT: and full awoke Pharaoh and behold a dream

Genesis 41:8
HEB: חֲכָמֶ֑יהָ וַיְסַפֵּ֨ר פַּרְעֹ֤ה לָהֶם֙ אֶת־
NAS: its wise men. And Pharaoh told
KJV: and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told
INT: wise told and Pharaoh his dreams there

Genesis 41:8
HEB: פּוֹתֵ֥ר אוֹתָ֖ם לְפַרְעֹֽה׃
NAS: who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
KJV: but [there was] none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
INT: there interpret to Pharaoh

268 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6547
268 Occurrences

bə·p̄ar·‘ōh — 6 Occ.
p̄ar·‘ōh — 54 Occ.
kə·p̄ar·‘ōh — 1 Occ.
lə·p̄ar·‘ōh — 25 Occ.
mip·par·‘ōh — 2 Occ.
par·‘ōh — 177 Occ.
ū·p̄ar·‘ōh — 3 Occ.