Original Word: פְרִי
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: priy
Pronunciation: peh-ree
Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee')
KJV: bough, ((first-)) fruit((-ful)), reward
NASB: fruit, produce, offspring, fruitful, fruits, results, foliage
Word Origin: [from H6509 (פָּרָה - fruitful)]

1. fruit (literally or figuratively)

bough, firsfruit, reward

From parah; fruit (literally or figuratively) -- bough, ((first-)) fruit((-ful)), reward.

see HEBREW parah

Word Origin
from parah
Definition
fruit
NASB Translation
earnings* (1), foliage (1), fruit (84), fruitful (2), fruits (2), fruits* (1), offspring (11), price (1), produce (12), product (1), results (2), reward (1).

מְּרִי₁₁₉ noun masculine^{Hos 14:9} fruit; — absolute ׳פ Hosea 9:16 +, מֶּ֑רִי Jeremiah 12:12 +; especially construct מְּרִי Genesis 4:3 +; suffix מִּרְיִי Proverbs 8:19, מֶּרְיְךָ Hosea 14:9, מִּרְיוֺ Genesis 3:6 +, וּפֶרְיְכֶם Ezekiel 36:8, מְּרִיהֶם Amos 9:14, מִּרְיָם Lamentations 2:20 +, מִּרְיָמוֺ Psalm 21:11, מְּרִיהֶן Jeremiah 29:28, מִּרְיָן Jeremiah 29:5, etc.; —

1 מְּרִי הָאֲרָמָה Genesis 4:3 (J), fruit of the ground, of produce in General, so Deuteronomy 7:13 9t. Deuteronomy + 3t.; הָאֶרֶץ ׳פ Numbers 13:20,26,27 (JE) + 5 t., compare Ezekiel 25:4; fruit of vineyard 2 Kings 19:29 = Isaiah 37:30; Zechariah 8:12; Isaiah 65:21; Songs 8:11,12, in figure Hosea 10:11 5t. + Ezekiel 17:14 (but strike out ᵐ5 Co and others); especially הָעֵץ ׳פ Genesis 3:2,3,6; Exodus 10:15 (all J) + 21 t., also, in figure, Amos 2:9; Hosea 9:16 4t. + Ezekiel 17:23 (read מּאֹרָה branches Co and others); of gardens Amos 9:14; Jeremiah 29:5,28, figurative Songs 4:12,16; עֵץ מְּרִי is fruit-tree Genesis 1:11; Psalm 148:9, compare Ecclesiastes 2:5; אֶרֶץ מְּרִי Psalm 107:34; מְּרִי תְּבוּאָךְ Psalm 107:37 fruit of (consisting in) a crop; Psalm 72:16 is dubious; Che Du interpret as

2; Bae proposes יִפְרוּ.

2 = offspring: fruit of womb (בֶּטֶן) Genesis 30:2; Deuteronomy 7:13 9t., compare Lamentations 2:20; Psalm 21:11; of cattle (בְּהֵמָה) Deuteronomy 28:4,11,51; Deuteronomy 30:9; of serpent, figurative of power conquering Philistia Isaiah 14:29.

3 figurative of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences: good Isaiah 3:10; Psalm 58:12; bad Hosea 10:13; Proverbs 1:31; Micah 7:13, of thoughts Jeremiah 6:19; of result of removing sin Isaiah 27:9; result of labour (fruit of hands) Proverbs 31:16,31; product of works of ׳י Psalm 104:13, of wisdom Proverbs 8:19; צְדָקָה ׳פ Amos 6:12, compare צַדִּיק ׳פ Proverbs 11:30 (read צֶדֶק ᵐ5 Hi Toy); of doings (i.e. course of life, or character) Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 21:14; Jeremiah 32:19; פִיאִֿישׁ ׳פ i.e. speech Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 13:2; Proverbs 18:20; fruit of arrogance Isaiah 10:12 is arrogant speech; fruit of tongue Proverbs 18:21 #NAME?

I, II. מָּרָה see III. פרר. מֶּרֶה see מֶּרֶא.

[מֵּרָה], מֵּרוֺת Isaiah 2:20 see [ חֲפַרְמָּרָה].

Overview of Biblical Usage

The noun פְרִי (periy) appears roughly one hundred and nineteen times in the Hebrew canon and consistently conveys the idea of that which is produced—whether from soil, body, behavior, or divine blessing. While most occurrences speak of literal produce, the term is equally at home in covenantal, ethical, prophetic, and eschatological settings, where “fruit” becomes a theological shorthand for life under God’s rule.

Agricultural and Dietary Significance

From the opening chapter of Genesis, פְרִי stands at the heart of creation’s provision. “Then God said, ‘Let the earth sprout vegetation, seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit according to their kinds.’” (Genesis 1:11). This bounty is immediately assigned to humanity for sustenance (Genesis 1:29). As Israel settles in Canaan, the goodness of the land is measured by its פְרִי (Numbers 13:26–27; Deuteronomy 8:8). Kings celebrate national prosperity through abundant harvests (Psalm 72:16), while prophets threaten famine and blight as covenant sanctions (Habakkuk 3:17).

Liturgical and Covenant Contexts

1. Firstfruits and Tithes: The “first of the fruit of the ground” belongs to the LORD (Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 23:10). Presenting פְרִי at the sanctuary acknowledged God as giver and secured the worshiper’s ongoing blessing (Proverbs 3:9–10).
2. Sabbatical Rhythms: During sabbatical and jubilee years, land and trees were allowed to rest; what the soil produced without cultivation remained “holy,” underscoring God’s ownership of the earth’s fruit (Leviticus 25:1–12).
3. Blessing and Curse Formulas: The covenant lists “the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your land, and the fruit of your livestock” among the promised blessings (Deuteronomy 28:4), while disobedience reverses the list (Deuteronomy 28:18, 33).

Figurative Dimensions

1. Offspring: Children are called “fruit” (Genesis 30:2; Psalm 127:3). This image situates birth within God’s creative abundance.
2. Moral Conduct: “From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is satisfied” (Proverbs 18:20). Speech, choices, and attitudes yield consequences as surely as orchards yield produce (Isaiah 3:10; Jeremiah 17:10).
3. Worship and Praise: Hosea entreats repentant Israel, “Take words of repentance with you and return to the LORD... so we may offer the fruit of our lips.” (Hosea 14:2).
4. Divine Works: Creation itself is called “the fruit of His works” (