Lexical Summary Perizzi: Perizzite Original Word: פְרִזִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Perizzite For praziy; inhabitant of the open country; a Perizzite, one of the Canaanitish tribes -- Perizzite. see HEBREW praziy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originperhaps from the same as perazah Definition a people in the land of Canaan NASB Translation Perizzite (13), Perizzites (10). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְּרִזִּי23 adjective, of a people Perizzite (possibly, but not certainly, connected with above √); — only ׳הַמּ as proper name collective ὁ (οἱ) Φερεζαῖος (#NAME?), of ancient inhabitants of Canaan, + הַכְּנַעֲנִי [q. v.] Genesis 13:7; Genesis 34:30 (J), Judges 1:4,5; also in list of peoples dispossessed by Israel Genesis 15:20; Exodus 3:8 17t. Topical Lexicon Ethnic Identity and Meaning within Scripture The Perizzites appear exclusively as a native people of Canaan, always grouped with other inhabitants whom the Lord vowed to dispossess before Israel. Unlike the Hittites or Amorites, they are never given a genealogy, suggesting that the term may describe a socio-political class—rural villagers who lived in unwalled settlements—rather than a distinct bloodline. Their very name becomes a symbol of the unsecured, open country that the Lord would gift to His covenant people. Patriarchal Era: Co-Tenants of the Land The first mention, Genesis 13:7, situates the Perizzites alongside the Canaanites as occupants of the land during Abram’s sojourn. A generation later Jacob laments, “You have brought trouble on me by making me odious to the inhabitants of the land—the Canaanites and Perizzites” (Genesis 34:30). Through these two passages the text underscores that the promise of land was made in full knowledge of entrenched residents; the coming miracle would not be an empty grant but a divine displacement. Covenant Promise and Exodus Hope At Sinai the Perizzites are placed under the ban of divine judgment. Exodus 3:8 records God’s pledge “to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians… to a land flowing with milk and honey—the place of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.” Their repeated appearance in Exodus 3:17; 23:23; 33:2; and 34:11 makes them a litmus test for Israel’s faith: if Israel obeys, a people with no fortified cities will certainly be overcome. Conquest under Joshua Joshua 3:10 previews victory: “By this you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.” Subsequent references (9:1; 11:3; 12:8; 17:15; 24:11) show that while sweeping triumphs occurred, pockets of Perizzite population endured. The tribe of Manasseh in particular had to confront their remaining strongholds (Joshua 17:15), illustrating that God’s promises invite human obedience and perseverance. Judges: The Cost of Compromise Judges 1:4-5 narrates early victories, yet 3:5 marks a tragic reversal: “And the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.” Intermarriage and idolatry followed, confirming the warning of Deuteronomy 7:1-4. The Perizzites thus stand as a moral caution: incomplete obedience breeds spiritual syncretism. United Monarchy: Forced Labor, Not Fellowship Solomon conscripted the remaining Perizzites for building projects (1 Kings 9:20; 2 Chronicles 8:7). While this secured external peace, it also highlighted that vestiges of pagan nations lingered because earlier generations failed to eradicate them fully. Post-Exilic Reflection Centuries later, Ezra 9:1 lists the Perizzites among the peoples whose abominations threatened a new wave of compromise. Nehemiah 9:8 recounts God’s faithfulness “to give his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites,” invoking their name as a testimony to covenant reliability in spite of Israel’s repeated lapses. Geographical Footprint Scripture places Perizzite settlements chiefly in the hill country of Judah and Ephraim—the very heartland of Israel’s inheritance (Joshua 11:3; Judges 1:4-5). Their unwalled villages contrast vividly with the fortified cities of other Canaanite groups, revealing why they are often mentioned when the terrain is rural or agrarian. Theological and Ministry Significance 1. Assurance of Divine Promise: The dispossession of a people who relied on open environs rather than fortifications magnifies God’s sovereignty; no human wall can stand when He acts, and none is needed when He protects. Summary The Perizzites, though a relatively shadowy group, serve as a narrative thread by which Scripture weaves together promise, conquest, compromise, and covenant faithfulness. Their presence from Genesis to Nehemiah confirms the unity of God’s saving plan and provides enduring counsel for the Church: trust wholly, obey fully, and guard the inheritance that God graciously bestows. Forms and Transliterations הַפְּרִזִּ֔י הַפְּרִזִּ֖י הַפְּרִזִּ֣י הַפְּרִזִּֽי׃ הַפְּרִזִּי֙ הפרזי הפרזי׃ וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֖י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֗י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֛י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֜י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֥י וְהַפְּרִזִּי֙ וּבַפְּרִזִּ֑י ובפרזי והפרזי hap·pə·riz·zî happerizZi happərizzî ū·ḇap·pə·riz·zî ūḇappərizzî uvapperizZi vehapperizZi wə·hap·pə·riz·zî wəhappərizzîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 13:7 HEB: ל֑וֹט וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י אָ֖ז יֹשֵׁ֥ב NAS: Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling KJV: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled INT: of Lot's now the Canaanite and the Perizzite then were dwelling Genesis 15:20 Genesis 34:30 Exodus 3:8 Exodus 3:17 Exodus 23:23 Exodus 33:2 Exodus 34:11 Deuteronomy 7:1 Deuteronomy 20:17 Joshua 3:10 Joshua 9:1 Joshua 11:3 Joshua 12:8 Joshua 17:15 Joshua 24:11 Judges 1:4 Judges 1:5 Judges 3:5 1 Kings 9:20 2 Chronicles 8:7 Ezra 9:1 Nehemiah 9:8 23 Occurrences |
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