6348. pachaz

Lexicon

pachaz: Recklessness, wantonness, instability

Original Word: פָחַז
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pachaz
Pronunciation: pah-khaz'
Phonetic Spelling: (paw-khaz')
Definition: Recklessness, wantonness, instability
Meaning: to bubble up, froth, to be unimportant

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

light

A primitive root; to bubble up or froth (as boiling water), i.e. (figuratively) to be unimportant -- light.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be wanton or reckless
NASB Translation
reckless (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[מָּחַז] verb be wanton, reckless (Late Hebrew id. (rare); Arabic be haughty, boastful, reckless; ᵑ7 מְּחַז, Syriac be lascivious, in derived species and derivatives ); —

Qal Participle אֲנָשִׁים רֵיקִים וּפֹחֲזִים Judges 9:4; of prophets Zephaniah 3:4 extravagant ("" אַנְשֵׁי בֹּגְדוֺת).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • The corresponding Greek entry in Strong's Concordance is G2284 (θροέω, throeō), which means "to be troubled" or "to be disturbed." While not a direct translation, it shares a thematic connection in terms of emotional or psychological instability, reflecting a state of agitation or unrest.

Usage: The term פָחַז is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe actions or characteristics that are considered unstable or lacking in seriousness. It is often associated with behaviors that are impulsive or lacking in depth.

Context: • The root פָחַז (pachaz) appears in the Hebrew Bible in contexts that emphasize instability or lack of seriousness. It is used to describe actions that are rash or impulsive, often with a negative connotation. The imagery of "bubbling up" or "frothing" suggests a lack of control or permanence, akin to the fleeting nature of bubbles or froth.
• In Genesis 49:4, the term is used in Jacob's blessing to describe Reuben: "Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!" (BSB). Here, the instability of water is a metaphor for Reuben's impulsive and reckless behavior, which ultimately leads to his loss of preeminence.
• The concept of פָחַז is often linked with moral or ethical instability, highlighting the consequences of actions that are not grounded in wisdom or foresight. It serves as a caution against behaviors that are driven by immediate desires or emotions without consideration of long-term effects.

Forms and Transliterations

וּפֹ֣חֲזִ֔ים ופחזים פֹּֽחֲזִ֔ים פחזים pō·ḥă·zîm pochaZim pōḥăzîm ū·p̄ō·ḥă·zîm uFochaZim ūp̄ōḥăzîm

Englishman's Concordance

Judges 9:4
HEB: אֲנָשִׁ֤ים רֵיקִים֙ וּפֹ֣חֲזִ֔ים וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ אַחֲרָֽיו׃
NAS: worthless and reckless fellows,
KJV: vain and light persons,
INT: persons worthless and reckless along him

Zephaniah 3:4
HEB: נְבִיאֶ֙יהָ֙ פֹּֽחֲזִ֔ים אַנְשֵׁ֖י בֹּֽגְד֑וֹת
NAS: Her prophets are reckless, treacherous
KJV: Her prophets [are] light [and] treacherous
INT: her prophets are reckless persons treacherous

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6348
2 Occurrences

pō·ḥă·zîm — 1 Occ.
ū·p̄ō·ḥă·zîm — 1 Occ.