6452. pacach

Lexicon

pacach: To pass over, to spare, to skip

Original Word: פָסַח
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pacach
Pronunciation: pah-sakh'
Phonetic Spelling: (paw-sakh')
Definition: To pass over, to spare, to skip
Meaning: to hop, skip over, to hesitate, to limp, to dance

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

halt, become lame, leap, pass over

A primitive root; to hop, i.e. (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication, to hesitate; also (literally) to limp, to dance -- halt, become lame, leap, pass over.

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. מָּסַח verb pass or spring over; —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳פ Exodus 12:27, ׳וּפ consecutive V:23 (J); 1 singular וּפָסַחְתִּ֫י Exodus 12:13 (P), all with עַל, of ׳י passing over (sparing) houses of Israel; Infinitive absolute מָּסוֺחַ Isaiah 31:5 a passing over (SC. עַליְֿרוּשָׁלַםִ).

II. [מָּסַח] verb limp (Thes below I. ׳פ but dubious; Arabic is dislocate; according to Gerber⁷³ II. ׳פ is denominative from מִּסֵּחַ [and this below I. ׳פ?]); —

Qal Participle plural מֹּסְחִים עַלשְֿׁתֵּי הַסְּעַמִּים 1 Kings 18:21 figurative (see [ סְעִמָּה]).

Niph`al Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִּמֹּל וַיִּמָּסֵחַ 2 Samuel 4:4 and he fell and was made limping (lame).

Pi`el Imperfect3masculine plural וַיְפַסְּחוּ עַלהַֿמִּזְבֵּחַ 1 Kings 18:26 they went limping (along by the altar), i.e. probably in their dance, see Kit Pietschm^{Phön. 220} (Gr ויפסעו [ = וַיִּפְשְׂעוּ] stepped).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G3928 (παρέρχομαι • parerchomai): This Greek term means "to pass by" or "to pass over," and it can be used in contexts similar to פָסַח (pasach), particularly in the sense of passing by or sparing.
• G4046 (περιπατέω • peripateo): While primarily meaning "to walk" or "to walk around," this term can also convey the idea of movement or action, akin to the physical actions described by פָסַח (pasach) such as limping or dancing.

In summary, פָסַח (pasach) is a versatile Hebrew verb with applications ranging from the significant theological event of the Passover to everyday physical actions and metaphorical expressions of indecision. Its usage in the Hebrew Bible underscores themes of divine protection, human choice, and physical movement.

Usage: The verb פָסַח (pasach) is used in various contexts within the Hebrew Bible, including the Passover event where the Lord "passed over" the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, sparing them from the plague of the firstborn. It is also used metaphorically to describe indecision or hesitation, as well as physical actions like limping or dancing.

Context: • Passover Context: The most notable use of פָסַח (pasach) is in the context of the Passover (Exodus 12:13, 23, 27). Here, it describes the Lord's action of "passing over" the houses of the Israelites, sparing them from the plague that struck the Egyptians. This event is foundational to the Jewish celebration of Passover, commemorating God's deliverance of His people from slavery.
• Metaphorical Use: In 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah challenges the Israelites, asking, "How long will you waver between two opinions?" Here, פָסַח (pasach) is used metaphorically to describe the people's indecision or hesitation in choosing between worshiping the Lord or Baal.
• Physical Actions: The term is also used to describe physical actions such as limping or dancing. In 2 Samuel 4:4, it describes Mephibosheth, who was lame in his feet. In 1 Kings 18:26, it describes the prophets of Baal as they "leaped" around the altar.

Forms and Transliterations

וְהַפִּסְחִים֙ וַֽיְפַסְּח֔וּ וַיִּפָּסֵ֖חַ וּפָסַ֤ח וּפָסַחְתִּ֖י והפסחים ויפסח ויפסחו ופסח ופסחתי פָּ֠סַח פָּסֹ֥חַ פֹּסְחִים֮ פסח פסחים pā·saḥ pā·sō·aḥ Pasach pāsaḥ paSoach pāsōaḥ pō·sə·ḥîm poseChim pōsəḥîm ū·p̄ā·saḥ ū·p̄ā·saḥ·tî ufaSach ufasachTi ūp̄āsaḥ ūp̄āsaḥtî vaiyippaSeach vayfasseChu vehappisChim way·p̄as·sə·ḥū way·yip·pā·sê·aḥ wayp̄assəḥū wayyippāsêaḥ wə·hap·pis·ḥîm wəhappisḥîm

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 12:13
HEB: אֶת־ הַדָּ֔ם וּפָסַחְתִּ֖י עֲלֵכֶ֑ם וְלֹֽא־
NAS: the blood I will pass over
KJV: the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague
INT: see the blood will pass over and no

Exodus 12:23
HEB: שְׁתֵּ֣י הַמְּזוּזֹ֑ת וּפָסַ֤ח יְהוָה֙ עַל־
NAS: the LORD will pass over
KJV: the LORD will pass over the door,
INT: the two doorposts will pass the LORD over

Exodus 12:27
HEB: לַֽיהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּ֠סַח עַל־ בָּתֵּ֤י
NAS: to the LORD who passed over the houses
KJV: passover, who passed over the houses
INT: to the LORD who passed over the houses

2 Samuel 4:4
HEB: לָנ֛וּס וַיִּפֹּ֥ל וַיִּפָּסֵ֖חַ וּשְׁמ֥וֹ מְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת׃
NAS: he fell and became lame. And his name
KJV: that he fell, and became lame. And his name
INT: to flee fell and became and his name was Mephibosheth

2 Samuel 5:6
HEB: הֱסִֽירְךָ֗ הַעִוְרִ֤ים וְהַפִּסְחִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹֽא־
INT: will turn the blind halt thinking cannot

1 Kings 18:21
HEB: מָתַ֞י אַתֶּ֣ם פֹּסְחִים֮ עַל־ שְׁתֵּ֣י
NAS: long [will] you hesitate between
KJV: How long halt ye between two
INT: How you hesitate between two

1 Kings 18:26
HEB: וְאֵ֣ין עֹנֶ֑ה וַֽיְפַסְּח֔וּ עַל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ
NAS: answered. And they leaped about
KJV: nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar
INT: was no answered leaped about the altar

Isaiah 31:5
HEB: גָּנ֥וֹן וְהִצִּ֖יל פָּסֹ֥חַ וְהִמְלִֽיט׃
NAS: and deliver [it]; He will pass over and rescue
KJV: also he will deliver [it; and] passing over he will preserve
INT: will protect and deliver will pass and rescue

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6452
8 Occurrences

pā·saḥ — 1 Occ.
pā·sō·aḥ — 1 Occ.
pō·sə·ḥîm — 1 Occ.
ū·p̄ā·saḥ — 1 Occ.
ū·p̄ā·saḥ·tî — 1 Occ.
way·yip·pā·sê·aḥ — 1 Occ.
way·p̄as·sə·ḥū — 1 Occ.
wə·hap·pis·ḥîm — 1 Occ.