BIBLE HEBREW WORD STUDY
Parash (H6571) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Parash (פָּרָשׁ, H6571) is a Hebrew noun rendered 'horsemen' in the KJV, pointing to mounted troops or cavalry in the context of chariot warfare.
Meaning of the word
The lemma פָּרָשׁ (Strong's H6571) is glossed in the lexicon entry as 'a steed' and, by implication, 'a driver (in a chariot), i.e. (collectively) cavalry.' The notion is of a horse used in harness with a vehicle rather than a mount for single riding.
In the example verses the plural form פָּרָשִׁים (parashim) is rendered 'horsemen,' and the noun functions as a collective term for mounted chariot forces, not for individually ridden horses.
Usage in Scripture
All six occurrences provided for בריאה appear in Exodus 14, the account of the Egyptians pursuing Israel at the Red Sea. In each verse the word is paired with 'chariots' (rekeb) and 'horses' (sus), describing the components of Pharaoh's army: 'all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen' (Exodus 14:9).
The repeated pairing shows that parashim denotes the chariot-borne armed force that follows the chariot teams. The drowning of this army is described in Exodus 14:28: 'the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea.' The lemma is used to emphasize the completeness of the destruction of Pharaoh's military power.
The word in detail
- H6571 H6571 (פָּרָשׁ) is glossed as 'a steed' and, by implication, 'a driver (in a chariot), i.e. (collectively) cavalry.' In the example verses the plural form is rendered 'horsemen.'
Example verses
- Exodus 14:9 The word appears in the list of Pharaoh's forces: 'all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen,' pairing parashim with chariot and horse as parts of one army.
- Exodus 14:17 God says He will gain honor 'upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen,' listing parashim among the targets of divine judgment.
- Exodus 14:26 Moses is told to stretch out his hand 'over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen,' again naming parashim as a distinct element of the Egyptian force.
- Exodus 14:28 The waters cover 'the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh,' using parashim to describe the totality of the army that perished in the sea.
Common questions
What does parash (H6571) mean?
According to the lexicon entry, H6571 means 'a steed,' and by implication 'a driver (in a chariot), i.e. (collectively) cavalry.' The example verses render the plural form as 'horsemen.'
Where does parash appear in the Bible?
The example verses provided show the plural form parashim in Exodus 14:9, 14:17, 14:18, 14:23, 14:26, and 14:28, each time paired with Pharaoh's chariots and horses.
Is parash the same as the generic word for horse?
The lexicon entry describes H6571 as 'a steed,' with an implication of a driver in a chariot or collective cavalry, rather than a simple term for a horse used for ordinary riding. In the example verses it is used as a collective term for mounted chariot forces.