6535. Parnak
Lexical Summary
Parnak: Parnak

Original Word: פַרְנַךְ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Parnak
Pronunciation: par-nak'
Phonetic Spelling: (par-nak')
KJV: Parnach
NASB: Parnach
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. Parnak, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Parnach

Of uncertain derivation; Parnak, an Israelite -- Parnach.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a man of Zebulun
NASB Translation
Parnach (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מַּרְנָךְ proper name, masculine of Zebulun Numbers 34:25, Φαρ(α)ναχ. **compare Palmyrene פרנך Lzb354 Cooke298.

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrence

Numbers 34:25: “and from the tribe of Zebulun, the leader Elizaphan son of Parnach.”

Historical Context

Numbers 34 sets forth the divine instructions for apportioning Canaan just before Israel crossed the Jordan. Twelve leaders—one from each tribe except Levi—were appointed to work with Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. Parnach is identified as the father of Zebulun’s representative, Elizaphan. His name anchors the record to an identifiable family living during the final months of Moses’ wilderness leadership (circa 1406 BC).

Genealogical Significance

By naming Parnach, Scripture links Elizaphan’s delegated authority to a respected Zebulunite household. The precision supports the historicity of Israel’s land inheritance and preserves a vital genealogical link between the exodus generation and the settled tribes. Although Parnach’s personal deeds remain unrecorded, his family lineage qualified his son to act as tribal nasi (prince) in one of Israel’s most consequential administrative tasks.

Role in the Division of Canaan

The twelve commissioners measured, surveyed, and ratified the boundaries God had promised (Genesis 15:18; Deuteronomy 1:8). Through Elizaphan, Parnach’s house helped translate covenant promise into tangible inheritance, a foreshadowing of the believer’s “inheritance kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). Parnach’s inclusion underscores that faithful family lines further God’s redemptive program, even when the individual’s own actions remain hidden from the biblical narrative.

The Tribe of Zebulun

Jacob prophesied that Zebulun would “dwell by the seashore and become a haven for ships” (Genesis 49:13). Moses later blessed the tribe with abundance and joy (Deuteronomy 33:18-19). Participation in the allocation committee enabled Zebulun to secure its Galilean territory, fulfilling those ancestral blessings. Parnach’s household thus stood at the junction of prophecy and fulfillment.

Spiritual Lessons

1. Faithful Parenting: While Scripture is silent on his achievements, Parnach evidently fostered a character in his son worthy of national trust. Modern believers are reminded to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
2. Divine Record-Keeping: Even a single mention affirms that God notices every member of His covenant people (Malachi 3:16). No act of faith is insignificant to Him.
3. Orderly Stewardship: The distribution of land required integrity, collaboration, and fidelity to God’s word. The church likewise manages spiritual and material resources “as faithful stewards of God’s grace” (1 Peter 4:10).

Connections with Other Leaders

The surrounding verses mention Jephunneh, Ammihud, Chislon, Jogli, Ephod, Shiphtan, Azzan, Shelomi, and another Ammihud—fathers of tribal princes who joined Elizaphan. Together they form a unity of twelve, reflecting the solidarity of Israel’s tribes under covenant authority and offering a template for cooperative ministry among God’s people.

Conclusion

Though Parnach appears only once, his family contributed decisively to Israel’s settlement in the promised land. His brief mention testifies that God weaves even the most obscure lives into His grand design, encouraging believers to practice quiet faithfulness, assured that “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown” (Hebrews 6:10).

Forms and Transliterations
פַּרְנָֽךְ׃ פרנך׃ par·nāḵ parNach parnāḵ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Numbers 34:25
HEB: אֱלִיצָפָ֖ן בֶּן־ פַּרְנָֽךְ׃
NAS: Elizaphan the son of Parnach.
KJV: Elizaphan the son of Parnach.
INT: Elizaphan the son of Parnach

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 6535
1 Occurrence


par·nāḵ — 1 Occ.

6534
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