What does פַּר (par) mean in the Bible?
H6499 names a young bull or bullock. Bulls represented substantial agricultural and economic value and appear in offerings, royal provision, livestock lists, prophetic images, and idolatrous contests.
Hebrew · H6499
פַּר
A bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof)
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פַּרH6499
Pronunciationpar
What does פַּר (par) mean in the Bible?
H6499 names a young bull or bullock. Bulls represented substantial agricultural and economic value and appear in offerings, royal provision, livestock lists, prophetic images, and idolatrous contests.
Reader summary
Full entry for פַּר (H6499) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6499?
The BSB source-word alignment has 133 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include bull (29), bulls (26), the bull (16), for the bulls (7), a bull (6).
Where does פַּר (par) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 32:15. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (52), Leviticus (30), Ezekiel (13), Exodus (9).
What This Word Actually Means
H6499 names a young bull or bullock. Bulls represented substantial agricultural and economic value and appear in offerings, royal provision, livestock lists, prophetic images, and idolatrous contests. In Lev. 4. 3, an anointed priest whose sin brings guilt on the people must present an unblemished young bull as a sin offering, showing that leadership failure carries communal consequence.
In 1Kgs. 18. 23, Elijah and Baal's prophets each prepare a bull while the unanswered and answered offerings expose which deity truly acts. In Isa. 1. 11, the Lord rejects multiplied bulls, lambs, and goats from a people whose worship accompanies injustice. H6499 opens teaching on costly worship, accountable leaders, true allegiance, and ethical obedience. It does not make sacrifice a technique for commanding God, validate spectacle as the normal test of truth, or approve violence against religious opponents.
How the Bible Uses It
H6499 is frequent in sin, burnt, peace, dedication, festival, and restoration offerings, while narrative and poetry use bulls for wealth, strength, contest, threatening enemies, and judgment. Ritual details and genre govern interpretation.
- Lev.4.3
If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without blemish as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.
An anointed priest whose sin brings guilt on the people must present an unblemished young bull as the prescribed sin offering.
- 1Kgs.18.23
Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire.
Two bulls are prepared in the Carmel contest so that the God who answers by fire is publicly acknowledged as God.
- Isa.1.11
“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
The Lord rejects an abundance of animal sacrifices from worshipers whose hands and society are marked by injustice.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itbull29×Exodus 29:1, Leviticus 4:21, Numbers 7:15, Numbers 7:21
bulls26×Genesis 32:15, Numbers 7:87, Numbers 7:88, Numbers 23:1
the bull16×Exodus 29:10, Exodus 29:11, Leviticus 4:4, Leviticus 4:8
for the bulls7×Numbers 29:18, Numbers 29:21, Numbers 29:24, Numbers 29:27
a bull6×Exodus 29:36, Numbers 23:2, Numbers 23:4, Numbers 23:14
a young bull4×Leviticus 4:3, Numbers 8:8, Ezekiel 43:25, Ezekiel 45:18
some of the bull’s4×Leviticus 4:5, Leviticus 4:16, Leviticus 16:14, Leviticus 16:18
with the bull4×Numbers 29:3, Numbers 29:9, Ezekiel 43:22, Ezekiel 46:7
young bull4×Leviticus 23:18, Numbers 8:8, Numbers 15:24, Judges 6:25
of the bull3×Exodus 29:12, Exodus 29:14, Leviticus 4:11
. . .2×Leviticus 4:14, Numbers 29:14
the bull’s2×Leviticus 4:4, Leviticus 4:15
with a young bull2×Leviticus 16:3, 2 Chronicles 13:9
with each bull2×Numbers 28:14, Numbers 28:20
young bulls2×Exodus 24:5, Numbers 29:17
-1×Leviticus 8:14
[its]1×Exodus 29:10
[Moses] then brought the bull1×Leviticus 8:14
along with the bull1×Exodus 29:3
and bulls1×Ezekiel 39:18
and it1×Leviticus 4:15
for a bull1×Psalms 50:9
for each bull1×Ezekiel 45:24
her young bulls1×Jeremiah 50:27
it1×Leviticus 4:4
more than a bull1×Psalms 69:31
of bulls1×Isaiah 1:11
of the bull’s1×Leviticus 4:7
of the bulls1×Numbers 8:12
the fruit1×Hosea 14:2
the rest of the bull1×Leviticus 4:12
the young bulls1×Isaiah 34:7
this bull1×Leviticus 4:20
with a bull1×Ezekiel 46:11
with the bull’s1×Leviticus 16:15
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 32:15וּפָרִ֣יםtobullsConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralExodus 24:5פָּרִֽים׃toyoung bullsNoun - masculine pluralExodus 29:1פַּ֣רtobullNoun - masculine singularExodus 29:3הַפָּ֔רtoalong with the bullArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:10הַפָּ֔רtothe bullArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:10הַפָּֽר׃to[its]Article | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:11הַפָּ֖רtothe bullArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:12הַפָּ֔רtoof the bullArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:14הַפָּר֙toof the bullArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:36וּפַ֨רtoa bullConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 32:15
Aligned rows133
Books represented16
Genesis1Exodus9Leviticus30Numbers52Judges41 Samuel21 Kings61 Chronicles22 Chronicles4Ezra1Job1Psalms4Isaiah2Jeremiah1Ezekiel13Hosea1
Source forms
פַּ֣ר19xparExodus 29:1, Leviticus 4:3, Leviticus 8:2, Leviticus 8:14
הַפָּ֔ר7xhap·pārExodus 29:3, Exodus 29:10, Exodus 29:12, Leviticus 4:4
פַּ֥ר7xparLeviticus 4:8, Leviticus 8:14, Leviticus 16:6, Leviticus 16:11
לַ֠פָּרִים6xlap·pā·rîmNumbers 29:18, Numbers 29:21, Numbers 29:24, Numbers 29:27
הַפָּ֣ר5xhap·pārLeviticus 4:21, Judges 6:26, Judges 6:28, 1 Kings 18:23
פָּרִ֧ים5xpā·rîmNumbers 28:19, Numbers 28:27, Numbers 29:13, Numbers 29:17
פָּרִ֥ים5xpā·rîmNumbers 29:20, Numbers 29:23, Numbers 29:26, Numbers 29:29
הַפָּ֖ר4xhap·pārExodus 29:11, Leviticus 4:4, Leviticus 4:15
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - masculine singular31xExodus 29:3, Exodus 29:10, Exodus 29:11, Exodus 29:12
Noun - masculine plural30xExodus 24:5, Numbers 7:87, Numbers 7:88, Numbers 23:1
Noun - masculine singular30xExodus 29:1, Leviticus 4:3, Leviticus 4:14, Numbers 7:15
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular12xLeviticus 4:20, Numbers 28:12, Numbers 28:14, Numbers 28:20
Noun - masculine singular construct10xLeviticus 4:8, Leviticus 8:2, Leviticus 8:14, Leviticus 16:6
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural6xNumbers 29:18, Numbers 29:21, Numbers 29:24, Numbers 29:27
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular3xLeviticus 23:18, Numbers 8:8, Ezekiel 43:25
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural2xGenesis 32:15, Isaiah 34:7
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not recreate Carmel through dangerous demonstrations, threats, or violence toward people of another religion.
- Do not protect a religious leader from investigation by claiming that ministry role, costly offerings, or public success cancels communal harm.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that H6499 inherently symbolizes strength, a nation, a leader, or Christ; most occurrences name actual bulls.
- Do not claim that sacrificing something expensive obligates God to answer in the manner a worshiper requests.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Young bull embodying raw, untamed strength; frequently sacrificial animal in covenant rituals and atonement.
Source Gloss
a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Young bull embodying raw, untamed strength; frequently sacrificial animal in covenant rituals and atonement.
a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof) BDB: young bull Usage: ( young) bull(-ock), calf, ox.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Young bull offered as a sin offering for the high priest on Day of Atonement
Young bull used in priestly ordination sacrifice, emphasizing ritual consecration
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 133 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
פַּר is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
H6499 makes the cost and seriousness of worship tangible. A priest's sin offering requires a valuable bull because his failure brings guilt into a representative office and community; the ritual names responsibility rather than making leaders immune. On Carmel, identical animals and altars expose the difference between frantic manipulation and the Lord who answers.
Elijah's scene is a unique covenant confrontation in Israel, not a template for staging danger or attacking neighbors. Isaiah then declares that even abundant bulls disgust God when worshipers refuse justice, defense of the oppressed, and repentance. Sacrifice is faithful only within the relationship and obedience God commands. The animal itself carries no power to force divine response.
Christian readers receive these patterns through Christ's sufficient sacrifice and the continuing call to truthful worship, accountable leadership, and justice. Costly religious production cannot compensate for exploited people or unrepentant institutions.
Anchor passage
Lev.4.3
Doctrinal connections
- H6499: an anointed leader's sin can burden the community and therefore requires honest recognition and prescribed atonement.
- H6499: valuable offerings acknowledge the seriousness of sin without purchasing God's cooperation.
- H6499: the Carmel contest exposes Baal's silence and the Lord's covenant authority over fire, rain, and Israel's allegiance.
- H6499: religious intensity, bodily frenzy, and spectacle cannot make a nonexistent god answer.
- H6499: God rejects multiplied sacrifices when worshipers resist cleansing, justice, and care for the oppressed.
- H6499: Christ fulfills sacrificial hope, leaving the church no warrant to restore animal blood as a means of atonement.
H6499 is a Hebrew noun for a young bull or bullock. Legal passages specify condition and offering function, while plurals can name livestock wealth or supply animal imagery for rulers and enemies.
From Old to New Testament
Hebrews reads Israel's animal sacrifices in relation to Christ's once-for-all self-offering, while the New Testament continues prophetic demands for mercy, justice, repentance, and worship in truth. The fulfillment does not trivialize the Old Testament rituals.