Original Word: פֶרֶס
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: perec
Pronunciation: peh'-res
Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-res)
KJV: claw, ossifrage
NASB: vulture
Word Origin: [from H6536 (פָּרַס - divide)]

1. a claw
2. also a kind of eagle

claw, ossifrage

From parac; a claw; also a kind of eagle -- claw, ossifrage.

see HEBREW parac

Word Origin
from paras
Definition
(a bird of prey) perhaps bearded vulture
NASB Translation
vulture (2).

מֶּ֫רֶס noun [masculine] a bird of prey, perhaps bearded vulture (gypaelus barbatus, 'ossifrage' (Tristr^{NHB 171; FFP 94}; from tearing its prey); — for bidden as food Deuteronomy 14:12 = Leviticus 11:13 (H).

Definition and Identification

Peres designates a large raptor most commonly associated with the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), though some English versions render it “osprey” or “black vulture.” The bird’s carrion-feeding habits, bone-cracking technique, and preference for high crags fit the geographic profile of the land promised to Israel, from the cliffs of Lebanon to the escarpments of the Negev.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Leviticus 11:13
• Deuteronomy 14:12

In each list of forbidden foods the peres stands alongside other birds of prey, serving as a representative example of creatures that live on carcasses or blood and are therefore classified as ceremonially unclean.

Natural History and Characteristics

The bearded vulture’s wingspan can exceed nine feet, allowing it to soar effortlessly on mountain thermals. Ancient observers would have noted its reddish plumage (stained by iron-rich dust baths) and its dramatic habit of dropping bones from great heights to shatter them and extract marrow. Because it feeds largely on carcass remains, it functions as a natural scavenger, a trait that underlies its exclusion from Israel’s diet.

Role in Mosaic Dietary Regulations

The dietary laws of Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 do more than protect health; they train the covenant people to distinguish between the holy and the common (Leviticus 10:10). Birds that consume flesh already tainted by death graphically symbolize impurity. By refusing such meat, Israel rehearsed daily the call to separate from moral corruption and to pursue holiness that mirrors the character of the LORD.

Leviticus 11:13 reads, “These you are to detest among the birds; they must not be eaten, for they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture….” The presence of peres at the head of the list underscores its emblematic status among scavengers.

Symbolic and Theological Significance

1. Reminder of Death’s Defilement. In biblical thought, contact with death defiles (Numbers 19). A bird uniquely adapted to thrive on bones and carrion embodies the very condition from which God redeemed His people.
2. Picture of Divine Judgment. Prophetic oracles often picture raptors gathering over the slain in scenes of eschatological reckoning (Isaiah 18:6; Revelation 19:17-18). The peres thus foreshadows the fate of those who reject God’s covenant.
3. Contrast with the Clean Offering. Whereas clean birds like the dove appear in sacrificial worship (Leviticus 1:14-17), the peres remains forever barred from the altar, illustrating the absolute distinction between what God accepts and what He rejects.

Historical Observations

Early Jewish commentators, including Josephus, identified the bird as a variety of eagle found in the highlands of Judea. Rabbinic tradition amplified its forbidden status by extending the ban to any dish seasoned with the fat of such birds. In the Second Temple period, the peres was occasionally invoked in parables to depict rapacious foreign powers threatening Israel, reinforcing its negative association.

Practical Ministry Insights

• Teaching Holiness: Preachers may draw on the peres to illustrate the New Testament call to avoid spiritual contamination (2 Corinthians 6:17).
• Stewardship of Creation: Although unclean for food, the bird serves an ecological purpose by disposing of carcasses; God’s law balances human holiness with the preservation of His created order.
• Counseling and Discipleship: The peres can become a vivid metaphor for habits that feed on decay—gossip, pornography, bitterness—helping believers identify and forsake practices that defile conscience.

Christological and Redemptive Reflections

The unapproachable peres highlights the contrast between sinful humanity and the sinless Savior. Jesus Christ, “who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21), offered Himself as the clean, acceptable sacrifice. By His death He fulfilled the shadow-themes of the dietary laws, opening a way for all nations—including those once regarded as “unclean”—to be reconciled to God (Acts 10:9-16, 28).

Related Terms and References

• Nesher (eagle) – Leviticus 11:13; Deuteronomy 14:12
• Ozniyyah (black vulture) – Leviticus 11:13; Deuteronomy 14:12
• Unclean Animals – Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14
• Birds of Prey and Judgment – Isaiah 46:11; Revelation 19:17-18

הַפֶּ֔רֶס הפרס וְהַפֶּ֖רֶס והפרס hap·pe·res happeres vehapPeres wə·hap·pe·res wəhapperesInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts