6554. Parpar
Lexical Summary
Parpar: Parpar

Original Word: פַרְפַר
Part of Speech: Proper Name
Transliteration: Parpar
Pronunciation: PAR-par
Phonetic Spelling: (par-par')
KJV: Pharpar
NASB: Pharpar
Word Origin: [probably from H6565 (פָּרַר - To break) in the sense of rushing]

1. rapid
2. Parpar, a river of Syria

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Pharpar

Probably from parar in the sense of rushing; rapid; Parpar, a river of Syria -- Pharpar.

see HEBREW parar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a river near Damascus
NASB Translation
Pharpar (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מַּרְמַּר proper name, of a river near Damascus 2 Kings 5:12 (A) φαρφαρ; A φαρφαρα; perhaps modern 'Awaj, south of Damascus Rob BRiii. 447 f.

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Setting

Pharpar appears a single time in the Old Testament, within Naaman’s narrative.

“Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?” (2 Kings 5:12).

Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army, utters these words when Elisha’s prescription to dip in the Jordan seems beneath his dignity. Pharpar therefore serves as a foil to the Jordan, highlighting the issue of human pride versus humble obedience to God’s word.

Geographical and Historical Profile

Pharpar (modern Awaj) flows south of Damascus, rising in the Anti-Lebanon range, crossing fertile plains before dissipating into marshlands on the edge of the Syrian Desert. Together with the Abanah (modern Barada), it formed the lifeline of ancient Damascus, supporting extensive irrigation canals attested by classical writers and continuing today. The river’s dependable, clear waters made it a point of civic pride for Syrians. To Naaman, Pharpar symbolized sophistication and military success, in contrast to the modest, muddy Jordan of Israel.

Theological Themes

1. Humility and Obedience. Naaman’s preference for Pharpar underscores the perennial temptation to trust in the impressive, the familiar, or the culturally esteemed. God calls him instead to Jordan, proving that cleansing is received by faith, not by human valuation (2 Kings 5:13–14).
2. Universality of Grace. When Jesus refers to Naaman in Luke 4:27, He shows that God’s mercy is not limited by ethnicity or geography. Pharpar thus forms part of a wider biblical testimony that nations outside Israel are within the reach of divine compassion.
3. Foreshadowing Baptism. The contrast between Pharpar and Jordan prefigures the New Testament teaching that spiritual cleansing is linked to believing response rather than the physical quality of water (Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).

Ministry Significance

• Evangelistic Appeal. Pharpar reminds believers that people often cling to respectable substitutes—education, culture, ritual—when God offers a simple gospel remedy.
• Pastoral Counsel. Those struggling with obedience may identify with Naaman’s reluctance. The narrative encourages submission to God’s means, even when they seem unimpressive.
• Mission Perspective. The inclusion of a Syrian commander anticipates the Great Commission. Discipleship transcends rivers, borders, and prejudices.

Archaeological and Cultural Notes

Ancient canal systems known as the Nahr el-Awaj canals, some still traceable, channeled Pharpar’s waters to Damascus’ orchards, fulfilling Isaiah’s description of Damascus as “a city of rejoicing” (Isaiah 17:13). Roman engineers later extended these channels, confirming the river’s agricultural value reputed in Naaman’s time.

Devotional Reflection

Pharpar’s pristine flow could not heal leprosy; only the word of the LORD, accepted in humility, could do that. In every age God still confronts human pride with a call to simple trust: “Wash and be cleansed.”

Forms and Transliterations
וּפַרְפַּ֜ר ופרפר ū·p̄ar·par ufarPar ūp̄arpar
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Kings 5:12
HEB: (אֲמָנָ֨ה ק) וּפַרְפַּ֜ר נַהֲר֣וֹת דַּמֶּ֗שֶׂק
NAS: Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers
KJV: [Are] not Abana and Pharpar, rivers
INT: better Abana and Pharpar the rivers of Damascus

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 6554
1 Occurrence


ū·p̄ar·par — 1 Occ.

6553
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