Lexical Summary Partsi: Parzite Original Word: פַרְצִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Pharzites Patronymically from Perets; a Partsite (collectively) or descendants of Perets -- Pharzites. see HEBREW Perets NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Perets Definition desc. of Perez NASB Translation Perezites (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַּרְצִי adjective, of a people of II מֶּרֶץ 1, with article as collective noun Numbers 26:20. Topical Lexicon Genealogical Background The single biblical occurrence of פַּרְצִי (Parzi, “Perezite”) appears in the clan census of Numbers 26:20. It designates the descendants of Perez, the first of the twin sons born to Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38). Perez’s unexpected emergence at birth—his “breaking through” ahead of his brother Zerah—became emblematic of God’s providential overruling of human expectations. Subsequent genealogies (Ruth 4:18 – 22; 1 Chronicles 2:4 – 15) trace a direct line from Perez through Boaz to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3; Luke 3:33), underscoring the clan’s enduring place in redemptive history. Census and Tribal Organization During Israel’s final wilderness encampment on the plains of Moab, Moses and Eleazar numbered the fighting men of every tribe to determine future land allotments (Numbers 26:1 – 56). “The descendants of Perez were the Perezite clan” (Numbers 26:20). Within Judah’s total of 76,500 men (26:22), the Perezites were represented further by two sub-clans, the Hezronites and Hamulites (26:21). Their inclusion guaranteed Perez’s line a distinct inheritance south of Jerusalem when the land was divided (Joshua 15). Role in the Conquest and Settlement Judah led Israel’s advance into Canaan (Judges 1:1 – 4). As part of Judah, Perezite warriors participated in early victories such as the capture of Hebron and Debir. After settlement, members of the clan populated key Judean towns (1 Chronicles 4:1 – 23). Their agricultural holdings and fortified cities provided strategic depth along Judah’s western foothills and central highlands, areas later vital to the united monarchy. Lineage Leading to the Monarchy and the Messiah Perez’s offspring supplied the covenant line through which the scepter promise to Judah (Genesis 49:10) was realized. The Perezite Boaz redeemed Ruth, preserving both the family property and the messianic line (Ruth 4:9 – 10). David, called “son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah” (adapted from Ruth 4:18 – 22), embodies the culmination of Perezite prominence in Israel’s monarchy. The New Testament writers anchor Jesus’ legal and biological descent in this same genealogy, affirming divine continuity from Judah through Perez to Christ. Theological Reflections for Ministry 1. Grace amid irregular beginnings: Perez was conceived in circumstances that violated social norms, yet his line became central to God’s saving purposes. This affirms that divine grace is not thwarted by human failure. Summary The Perezite clan, referenced only once by name yet echoed throughout the genealogies, illustrates how a single family line can carry immense theological weight. From wilderness census to Bethlehem’s manger, the descendants of Perez bear witness to God’s unwavering commitment to fulfill His redemptive plan through chosen instruments across generations. Forms and Transliterations הַפַּרְצִ֑י הפרצי hap·par·ṣî happarṣî happarTziLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 26:20 HEB: לְפֶ֕רֶץ מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַפַּרְצִ֑י לְזֶ֕רַח מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת NAS: the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, KJV: the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, INT: of Perez the family of the Perezites of Zerah the family 1 Occurrence |
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