Hebrew word · H6538

פֶּ֫רֶס

vehaperes

vulture

Occurs only here and in Lev 11:13. Usually linked to the root p-r-s, 'to break, split'. Hence 'the breaker', most likely the bearded vulture or lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), known for dropping bones onto rocks to split them.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) bird of prey

1a) perhaps bearded vulture or ossifrage

1b) perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning unknown

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Deuteronomy 14:12

Range of meaning

Occurs only here and in Lev 11:13. Usually linked to the root p-r-s, 'to break, split'. Hence 'the breaker', most likely the bearded vulture or lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), known for dropping bones onto rocks to split them.

Against the English

KJV and YLT have 'ossifrage', a Latin-based word meaning 'bone-breaker' that is now obscure. BSB and ESV have 'bearded vulture'. WEB and NIV just say 'vulture', which is accurate but less specific.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Septuagint renders it gryps ('griffin', a name for a hooked-beak raptor) and the Latin Vulgate has grypem. Both point to a large hooked-beak bird. The 'bone-breaker' explanation rests on the root, matched with the bird's known behaviour.

From the study of Leviticus 11:13

Range of meaning

A large bird of prey, probably the bearded vulture or lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus). The name likely comes from the root p-r-s, 'to break or split'.

Against the English

KJV and YLT: 'ossifrage' (Latin for 'bone-breaker'). BSB and ESV: 'bearded vulture'. WEB and NIV: 'vulture'. NASB: 'vulture'. The old 'ossifrage' keeps the 'breaker' idea, even though few readers today know the word.

Used elsewhere in the period

Only here and in Deut 14:12. The Greek has gryps (griffin or vulture) and the Latin has gryps/grypem. The bearded vulture really does carry bones up high and drop them onto rocks to get the marrow. That fits the 'breaker' name well, though the link is an inference, not certain.

Where it appears

Leviticus · 1

  1. Leviticus 11:13 הַפֶּ֔רֶס the bearded vulture

    Additionally, you are to detest the following birds, and they must not be eaten because they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,

    Here: Probably from the root 'to break'. The name fits the bearded vulture, which drops bones onto rocks to smash them and eat the marrow. That is the source of the older English 'ossifrage', meaning 'bone-breaker'.

Deuteronomy · 1

  1. Deuteronomy 14:12 וְהַפֶּ֖רֶס and the bearded vulture

    but these you may not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,

    Here: Probably from a root meaning 'to break'. This fits the bearded vulture, which drops bones from a height to shatter them and eat the marrow, hence the old English 'ossifrage' ('bone-breaker'). The identification is likely but not certain.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.