The Hebrew verb parah (פָּרָה) means to bear fruit, to be fruitful, or to multiply. It is the verbal root behind God's foundational blessing to humanity and to the patriarchs: 'Be fruitful and multiply' (peru urevu). The word appears about 29 times and is closely connected to themes of blessing, fertility, and covenant abundance.
From its first occurrence in Genesis 1:22, parah is embedded in the theology of divine blessing. God's intent for creation is fruitfulness — and this extends beyond biology to encompass spiritual and social flourishing. God repeatedly renews this blessing to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, connecting parah to covenant faithfulness. When Israel obeys, they flourish; in exile, the blessing is suspended but not revoked. Ezekiel uses this word to describe the coming restoration when Israel will multiply like a flock. The New Testament equivalent is bearing 'much fruit' — the evidence of abiding in Christ (John 15:5).