What does פָּרָה (pārāh) mean in the Bible?
פָּרָה (pārāh): Denotes productive growth from within; used of both biological fertility and covenant blessing's multiplication through generations.
Hebrew · H6509
פָּרָה
To bear fruit (literally or figuratively)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
פָּרָהH6509
Pronunciationpārāh
What does פָּרָה (pārāh) mean in the Bible?
פָּרָה (pārāh): Denotes productive growth from within; used of both biological fertility and covenant blessing's multiplication through generations.
Full entry for פָּרָה (H6509) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6509?
The BSB source-word alignment has 29 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Be fruitful (5), fruitful (3), and be fruitful (2), and make you fruitful (2), a fruitful (1).
Where does פָּרָה (pārāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 1:22. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (15), Isaiah (4), Exodus (2), Ezekiel (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItBe fruitful5×Genesis 1:22, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 9:1, Genesis 9:7
fruitful3×Genesis 17:6, Psalms 105:24, Ezekiel 19:10
and be fruitful2×Genesis 8:17, Ezekiel 36:11
and make you fruitful2×Genesis 28:3, Leviticus 26:9
a fruitful1×Genesis 49:22
and became fruitful1×Genesis 47:27
and increase1×Jeremiah 3:16
and we will be fruitful1×Genesis 26:22
for the fruitful1×Isaiah 32:12
has made me fruitful1×Genesis 41:52
I will make him fruitful1×Genesis 17:20
I will make you fruitful1×Genesis 48:4
is a fruitful1×Genesis 49:22
may sprout1×Isaiah 45:8
on its fruitful1×Isaiah 17:6
that bears1×Deuteronomy 29:18
were fruitful1×Exodus 1:7
where they will be fruitful1×Jeremiah 23:3
will be like a fruitful1×Psalms 128:3
will bear fruit1×Isaiah 11:1
you become fruitful1×Exodus 23:30
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 1:22פְּר֣וּtoBe fruitfulVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralGenesis 1:28פְּר֥וּtoBe fruitfulVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralGenesis 8:17וּפָר֥וּtoand be fruitfulConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralGenesis 9:1פְּר֥וּtoBe fruitfulVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralGenesis 9:7פְּר֣וּtobe fruitfulVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralGenesis 17:6וְהִפְרֵתִ֤יtofruitfulConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularGenesis 17:20וְהִפְרֵיתִ֥יtoI will make him fruitfulConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularGenesis 26:22וּפָרִ֥ינוּtoand we will be fruitfulConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common pluralGenesis 28:3וְיַפְרְךָ֖toand make you fruitfulConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singularGenesis 35:11פְּרֵ֣הtoBe fruitfulVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 1:22
Aligned rows29
Books represented8
Genesis15Exodus2Leviticus1Deuteronomy1Psalms2Isaiah4Jeremiah2Ezekiel2
Source forms
וּפָר֥וּ2xū·p̄ā·rūGenesis 8:17, Jeremiah 23:3
פְּר֣וּ2xpə·rūGenesis 1:22, Genesis 9:7
פְּר֥וּ2xpə·rūGenesis 1:28, Genesis 9:1
הִפְרַ֥נִי1xhip̄·ra·nîGenesis 41:52
וְהִפְרֵיתִ֥י1xwə·hip̄·rê·ṯîGenesis 17:20
וְהִפְרֵיתִ֣י1xwə·hip̄·rê·ṯîLeviticus 26:9
וְהִפְרֵתִ֤י1xwə·hip̄·rê·ṯîGenesis 17:6
וַיֶּ֣פֶר1xway·ye·p̄erPsalms 105:24
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural4xGenesis 1:22, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 9:1, Genesis 9:7
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular4xPsalms 128:3, Isaiah 17:6, Isaiah 32:12, Ezekiel 19:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular3xGenesis 17:6, Genesis 17:20, Leviticus 26:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural3xGenesis 8:17, Jeremiah 23:3, Ezekiel 36:11
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct2xGenesis 49:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular1xGenesis 28:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xPsalms 105:24
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xIsaiah 45:8
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Denotes productive growth from within; used of both biological fertility and covenant blessing's multiplication through generations.
Strong'sH6509
Lexical occurrences29 versesWord forms1 form15 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkGenesis 1:26-28Source Gloss
to bear fruit (literally or figuratively)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Denotes productive growth from within; used of both biological fertility and covenant blessing's multiplication through generations.
to bear fruit (literally or figuratively) BDB: bear fruit Usage: bear, bring forth (fruit), (be, cause to be, make) fruitful, grow, increase.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms15
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense15×
Participle activeDeut 29:17 · Ezek 19:10 · Gen 49:22 · Isa 17:6 · Isa 32:12 · Ps 128:37×
Sequential imperfectGen 1:22 · Gen 1:28 · Gen 9:1 · Gen 9:7 · Gen 35:115×
ImperfectExod 23:30 · Isa 11:12×
PerfectExod 1:71×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Divine command for humanity to multiply and fill the earth
Renewal of blessing to Noah's descendants to be fruitful and multiply
Land's abundant production of grain during years of plenty in Egypt
Israelites multiply and become numerous, fulfilling the ancestral blessing
God's promise to Jacob that he will be fruitful and multiply into nations
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 29 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
פָּרָה is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.