1) Always a wise decision to compare various Bible versions when studying a text.
(AV 1873) And when Moses saw that the people
were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame amongst their enemies
(NIV 2011) Moses saw that the people
were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies.
(NASB 2020) Now when Moses saw that the people
were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to the point of being an object of ridicule among their enemies—
(ESV 2025) And when Moses saw that the people
had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose, to the derision of their enemies),
2) Other passages where the same word is used:
Leviticus 10:6
Leviticus 13:25
Leviticus 21:10
Numbers 5:18
2 Chronicles 28:19
3) Lexicon:
פָּרַע:
qal: pf. פּ׳, פְּרָעֹה; impf. יִפְרָֽע, אֶפְרַע, תִּפְרְעוּ, תִּפְרָֽעוּ; impv. פְּרָעֵהוּ; inf. פְּרוֹעַ; pt. פּוֹרֵעַ, pass. פָּרֻעַ:—1.
let s.one
(hang) loose Jb 33:24 (if mss correct); oft. w.
rōʾš let the hair of the head
hang loose Lv 10:6;
untie (or
unbraid) the hair Nu 5:18; cogn. acc. Ju 5:2;—2. w. acc.
let s.one
go out of control, run wild Ex 32:25;—3. w. acc.
ignore, neglect Pr 1:25.
hif.: pf. הִפְרִיעַ; impf. תַּפְרִיעוּ:—1. w. acc. &
min:
make (let) s.one
be negligent of Ex 5:4;—2. abs.
allow depravity to spread 2 C 28:19. †
Holladay, William Lee, and Ludwig Köhler. 2000. In A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, 298. Leiden: Brill.
7277 II. פָּרַע (
pā·rǎʿ): v.; ≡ Str 6544; TWOT 1822—
1. LN 39.42–39.44 (qal)
be out of control, i.e., have a mob or group have no restraint in activities, implying open defiance of a known standard or authority (Ex 32:25b+); (qal pass.)
be running wild (Ex 32:25a+); (nif)
be unrestrained, be lawless (Pr 29:18+); (hif)
cause disorder, promote wickedness (2Ch 28:19+);
2. LN 30.39–30.52 (qal)
ignore, disregard, i.e., pay no attention or give no serious thought to proper actions or response (Pr 1:25; 8:33; 13:18; 15:32+);
3. LN 49 (qal)
be unkept, i.e., pertaining to a state of the hair that ranges from wild and uncombed to merely long hair not bound in some fashion (Lev 10:6; 21:10; Nu 5:18+), note: used in some contexts as a signal of a diseased, possibly infectious person; (qal pass.)
unkept (Lev 13:45+);
4. LN 34.40–34.41 (qal)
avoid, i.e., keep away from an association as a figurative extension of not walking down a common trail or path (Pr 4:15+);
5. (hif)
set free from, take away from, i.e., cease from an activity, as an extension of letting an object run free (Ex 5:4+);
6. LN 38.14–38.20 unit: לֹא פָּרַע (
lō(ʾ) pā·rǎʿ) be just, formally, not be out of control, i.e., give recompense in a measured, just manner (Eze 24:14+), note: niv translates “hold back,” apparently with the meaning of beginning an activity, see also domain LN 68.1–68.10, note: see also 7276
Swanson, James. 1997. In Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), electronic ed. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
4) Commentary:
NET Bible notes:
54
tn The word is difficult to interpret. There does not seem to be enough evidence to justify the KJV’s translation “naked.” It appears to mean something like “let loose” or “lack restraint” (Prov 29:18). The idea seems to be that the people had broken loose, were undisciplined, and were completely given over to their desires.
Biblical Studies Press. 2006. The NET Bible First Edition Notes. Biblical Studies Press.
Rob
