Peresh is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Peresh was a descendant of Machir, the son of Manasseh, and he appears in the genealogies recorded in 1 Chronicles. His father was Machir, and his mother was Maachah. According to 1 Chronicles 7:16, Maachah, the wife of Machir, bore a son and named him Peresh. This places Peresh within the tribe of Manasseh, one of the two half-tribes that settled east of the Jordan River. The Chronicler includes him in a lineage that traces the growth and structure of Manasseh’s clan during Israel’s early history.
The passage also records that Peresh had a brother named Sheresh, and that Sheresh’s sons were Ulam and Rakem. Peresh himself is mentioned only once in the entire King James Bible, in this single verse. Scripture records no deeds, no journeys, and no words from Peresh. He is simply named as a son of Machir and Maachah, a link in the family line of Manasseh.
What Scripture says of him is therefore limited to his place in the genealogy: he was a son, a brother, and a member of a clan within Manasseh. His inclusion in the Chronicler’s record shows that he was counted among the families of Israel, and that his name was preserved as part of the heritage of his people.
The Name
The Hebrew name Peresh is not one whose meaning is clearly established. Unlike some biblical names that carry an obvious and well-attested sense in Hebrew, the meaning of Peresh is uncertain, and scholars have not reached a firm consensus on it. Some have suggested possible connections to roots involving separation or distinction, but these remain conjectural rather than established. It is better to say plainly that the meaning of this name is not clearly recoverable from the text or from reliable lexical evidence, and no certain meaning should be assigned to it.
A Closing Thought
Most of us will never be remembered by crowds or chronicled for great deeds. Peresh appears once, named only as a son in a long family line, yet his name was kept. That is a quiet comfort: God’s record is not measured by fame or accomplishment. He knows the ordinary members of ordinary families, the ones whose stories are only a single verse. If your life feels hidden and small, take heart. You are not forgotten by the One who numbers the stars and calls them each by name.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 7:16 — And Maachah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.