Lexical Summary
paar: To beautify, glorify, adorn
Original Word: פָאַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pa'ar
Pronunciation: pah-ar
Phonetic Spelling: (paw-ar')
KJV: beautify, boast self, go over the boughs, glorify (self), glory, vaunt self
NASB: glorified, beautify, adorn, become boastful, boast, glorify, honor
Word Origin: [a primitive root]
1. to gleam, i.e. (causatively) embellish
2. (figuratively) to boast
3. also to explain (i.e. make clear) oneself
4. denominative from H6288, to shake a tree
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
beautify, boast self, go over the boughs, glorify self, glory, vaunt self
A primitive root; to gleam, i.e. (causatively) embellish; figuratively, to boast; also to explain (i.e. Make clear) oneself; denominative from p'orah, to shake a tree -- beautify, boast self, go over the boughs, glorify (self), glory, vaunt self.
see HEBREW p'orah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto beautify, glorify
NASB Translationadorn (1), beautify (2), become boastful (1), boast (1), glorified (4), glorify (1), honor (1), show my glory (1), shows forth his glory (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [] ; —
Perfect3masculine singular suffix (object Israel)
Isaiah 55:5;
Isaiah 60:9; with accusative of temple;
Imperfect1singular
Isaiah 60:7;
Infinitive construct Isaiah 60:13;
Ezra 7:27; so
Psalm 149:4.
glorify oneself, with person: = boast, Imperfect3masculine singular Judges 7:2; Isaiah 10:15; as polite address to king, Imperative masculine singular Exodus 8:5 (J), assume the honour over me (to decide) when, etc.
get glory to oneself, be glorified, by means of (), of , Isaiah 44:23, Songs 1 singular Isaiah 49:3; of people [by ], Infinitive construct Isaiah 60:21; Isaiah 61:3.
[] ; — Imperfect2masculine singular Deuteronomy 24:20 thou shalt not go over the boughs after thee (i.e. glean).
Topical Lexicon
Overview Paʾar (פָאַר, Strong’s 6286) expresses the idea of enhancing, adorning, boasting in, or displaying splendor. Scripture applies the verb both to misplaced human self-exaltation and, pre-eminently, to the rightful revelation of God’s glory in His people, His house, and His saving acts.
Misplaced Human Boasting
• Exodus 8:9 grants Pharaoh the “honor” of choosing the time for relief from frogs, exposing the futility of his imagined authority.
• Judges 7:2 records the LORD’s reduction of Gideon’s army “lest Israel boast against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’”
• Isaiah 10:15 rebukes arrogant Assyria: “Does an axe raise itself above him who chops with it? Or a saw magnify itself against him who swings it?”
Boasting in self rather than in the LORD invites judgment, underscoring that glory belongs to God alone.
Divine Glory Bestowed on His People
• Psalm 149:4: “He adorns the humble with salvation.” Redemption itself clothes the lowly in beauty.
• Isaiah 44:23; 49:3 portray the LORD “displaying His glory in Israel.”
• Isaiah 55:5 explains Israel’s future attractiveness to the nations “for He has endowed you with splendor.”
The pattern is consistent: God glorifies the people He redeems, that they in turn might glorify Him.
Temple and Worship Beautified
• Ezra 7:27 praises God “to glorify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem,” fulfilled in the temple’s restoration.
• Isaiah 60:7, 13 picture international resources flowing “to adorn My glorious house” and “beautify the place of My sanctuary.”
Divine worship is never drab; the Lord Himself beautifies His dwelling, inviting His people to join in reverent excellence.
Zion’s Transformation and Universal Mission
Isaiah 60–61 clusters seven uses of paʾar, climaxing in 61:3: “so they will be called oaks of righteousness… that He may be glorified.” The restored city and its inhabitants become a living display of God’s splendor, drawing distant nations (60:9) and fulfilling the promise to Abraham that all families of the earth be blessed.
Social Compassion and Humility
Deuteronomy 24:20 commands Israel not to “go over the boughs again,” leaving olives for the vulnerable. The same verb that can mean “beautify” also describes beating branches; glory is relinquished so that the needy may eat. True honor before God is inseparable from generosity and justice.
Messianic Fulfillment
Luke 4:18–19 cites Isaiah 61. The Messiah proclaims good news, turns ashes to beauty, and embodies the ultimate “planting of the LORD” in whom God is glorified. Through Christ, the Church inherits the calling to radiate divine splendor to the ends of the earth (compare 2 Corinthians 4:6).
Ministry Implications
1. Guard against self-exaltation; every gift and victory is from the Lord (Judges 7:2).
2. Pursue excellence in worship and church life, reflecting God’s own commitment to adorn His house (Ezra 7:27; Isaiah 60:13).
3. Embrace compassionate generosity; relinquished privilege becomes a means of beautifying others (Deuteronomy 24:20; Psalm 149:4).
4. Cultivate missionary vision—God glorifies His people so that nations may see His light (Isaiah 55:5; 60:9).
5. Offer comfort to the broken; in Christ a “crown of beauty” replaces ashes, proving that the Lord takes pleasure in adorning the humble with salvation (Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 149:4).
Forms and Transliterations
אֲפָאֵֽר׃ אֶתְפָּאָֽר׃ אפאר׃ אתפאר׃ הֲיִתְפָּאֵר֙ הִתְפָּאֵ֣ר היתפאר התפאר יְפָאֵ֥ר יִתְפָּאֵ֨ר יִתְפָּאָֽר׃ יפאר יתפאר יתפאר׃ לְהִתְפָּאֵֽר׃ לְפָאֵ֕ר לְפָאֵר֙ להתפאר׃ לפאר פֵאֲרָֽךְ׃ פארך׃ תְפָאֵ֖ר תפאר ’ă·p̄ā·’êr ’ăp̄ā’êr ’eṯ·pā·’ār ’eṯpā’ār afaEr etpaAr feaRach hă·yiṯ·pā·’êr hăyiṯpā’êr hayitpaEr hiṯ·pā·’êr hiṯpā’êr hitpaEr lə·hiṯ·pā·’êr lə·p̄ā·’êr lefaEr ləhiṯpā’êr lehitpaEr ləp̄ā’êr p̄ê’ărāḵ p̄ê·’ă·rāḵ ṯə·p̄ā·’êr tefaEr ṯəp̄ā’êr yə·p̄ā·’êr yefaEr yəp̄ā’êr yiṯ·pā·’ār yiṯ·pā·’êr yiṯpā’ār yiṯpā’êr yitpaAr yitpaEr
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