פּוּר

From the study of Psalm 33:10

Range of meaning

In the causative form the verb means to break, invalidate, annul or frustrate. It is used for: breaking a covenant (Gen 17:14; Lev 26:15, 44; Jer 31:32); a father or husband annulling a vow (Num 30:8, 12–15); and defeating or bringing to nothing someone's counsel or plans (2 Sam 15:34; 17:14; Ezra 4:5; Neh 4:15; Job 5:12; Prov 15:22; Isa 8:10; 14:27).

Against the English

'Frustrates' (BSB) and 'thwarts' suggest an attempt that is blocked partway. 'Bringeth to nought' (KJV), 'brings to nothing' (WEB) and 'made void' (YLT) come closer to the legal and covenant sense: something formally binding is declared empty and without force.

How it drifted

Modern 'frustrate' has drifted toward an emotional sense ('I'm frustrated'). The verb here is about making something ineffective, not about feelings.

Used elsewhere in the period

The exact phrase 'break the counsel' is a fixed Hebrew idiom. David prays that Ahithophel's counsel be 'broken' (2 Sam 15:34), and the narrator says 'YHWH had ordained to defeat (lehāpēr) the good counsel of Ahithophel' (2 Sam 17:14). Job 5:12 is a close parallel: God 'breaks the plans (maḥšəbôt) of the crafty.' Isa 8:10: 'Take counsel together, but it will be broken.' The Septuagint here uses diaskedazei, 'scatters, disperses.'

From the study of Psalm 89:33

Range of meaning

In the causative form: to break, frustrate, annul, make void. Used of breaking covenants (Gen 17:14; Lev 26:15, 44; Deut 31:16, 20; Jer 11:10; 31:32), frustrating plans (Ps 33:10; 2 Sam 15:34), and annulling vows (Num 30:8–15).

Against the English

BSB 'withdraw', ESV 'remove', NIV 'take', KJV 'utterly take'. All make it a picture of removal. YLT 'break' and NASB 'break off' keep the legal, covenant-breaking force.

How it drifted

Renderings with 'remove/take' may follow the proposed reading 'āsîr ('remove', from 2 Sam 7:15). Or they may simply prefer the smoother English. Either way, the overtone of annulling a covenant gets lost.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDB and HALOT treat this form as a variant of pārar, the regular verb for treaty-breaking. The Septuagint renders it diaskedasō, 'scatter, break up, annul', which is also its usual equivalent for pārar.