6454. Paseach
Lexical Summary
Paseach: Paseach

Original Word: פָסֵחַ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Paceach
Pronunciation: pah-SAY-akh
Phonetic Spelling: (paw-say'-akh)
KJV: Paseah, Phaseah
NASB: Paseah
Word Origin: [from H6452 (פָּסַח - To pass over)]

1. limping
2. Paseach, the name of two Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Paseah, Phaseah

From pacach; limping; Paseach, the name of two Israelites -- Paseah, Phaseah.

see HEBREW pacach

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from pasach
Definition
"limper," three Isr.
NASB Translation
Paseah (4).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מַּסֵחַ proper name, masculine (limper); —

1 in Judah 1 Chronicles 4:12, Βεσσηε, Φεσση, etc.

2 head of post-exilic family Ezra 2:49 = Nehemiah 7:51, Φισον, etc., ᵐ5L Φασσα.

3 father of wall-builder Nehemiah 3:6, Φασεκ, Φεσσε.

Topical Lexicon
Name and Meaning

Paseah (פָסֵחַ) is commonly understood to carry the idea of “lame” or “limping.” Though an apparently humble designation, the name becomes a testimony to the way God weaves seemingly insignificant people into the redemptive fabric of Israel’s history.

Biblical Appearances

1 Chronicles 4:12 – Listed among the post-exilic descendants of Judah through Shelah.
Ezra 2:49 – “the descendants of Paseah” return from Babylon as temple servants (Nethinim).
Nehemiah 3:6 – “Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate”.
Nehemiah 7:51 – Parallels Ezra’s list of returnees: “the descendants of Paseah, three hundred and twenty-four.”

Historical Setting

1. Tribal Genealogy (1 Chronicles 4:12)

Paseah appears in the Chronicler’s extensive Judahite record, a reminder that even after the exile Judah’s tribal identity endured. The Chronicler’s concern to trace these lines underscores the Lord’s covenant faithfulness and His intention to preserve a people for the coming Messiah.

2. Post-Exilic Return (Ezra 2:49; Nehemiah 7:51)

The “descendants of Paseah” are counted among the Nethinim—temple servants assigned generations earlier by the leaders and confirmed by David (Ezra 8:20). Their return signals three realities:
• Covenant Mercy: God provoked Persian kings to release not only priests and Levites but also humble servants, so that worship could resume in full order.
• Community Wholeness: The restored community included every tier of society, reflecting the body-life ideal that “the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you.’”
• Numerical Precision: The lists in Ezra and Nehemiah preserve exact counts (324 in Nehemiah; 282 in Ezra, when Ezra’s list omits some families), evidencing the reliability of Scripture and the careful stewardship of genealogical memory.

3. Rebuilding the Walls (Nehemiah 3:6)

Joiada son of Paseah participates in restoring Jerusalem’s Old Gate. His work stood opposite the Temple Mount, providing secure access for commerce and worship. By recording his contribution, Nehemiah spotlights the willingness of ordinary families to shoulder strategic tasks. This underscores the priesthood-of-all-believers principle foreshadowed in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New.

Theological and Ministry Significance

• God’s Care for the Lowly: The “lame” name of Paseah and his identification among temple servants reveal the Lord’s regard for those society might overlook. He calls, equips, and records their service for posterity.
• Continuity of Redemptive History: From Judah’s early settlements to the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem, the line of Paseah illustrates how God preserves families through judgment and restoration, validating the overarching unity of Scripture.
• Corporate Responsibility: Paseah’s descendants model communal obedience. Whether serving in the Temple’s menial roles or laying stone in Jerusalem’s gates, they demonstrate that every believer’s labor, however modest, contributes to God’s kingdom purposes.

Lessons for Today

1. Celebrate Hidden Service: Modern ministry often elevates visible roles, yet Paseah’s account encourages recognition of behind-the-scenes faithfulness.
2. Honor Generational Faith: Recording lineage is not antiquated sentimentality but acknowledgment that God works through households. Discipling children and grandchildren remains vital kingdom work.
3. Rebuild Together: Just as Joiada enlisted with others to fortify Jerusalem, the contemporary church must unite across demographics to advance Gospel witness in both spiritual and practical arenas.

Key Verse for Reflection

“Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate; they built it and installed its doors with their bolts and bars.” (Nehemiah 3:6)

The brief biblical footprint of Paseah thus magnifies a God who remembers names, redeems families, and assigns meaningful service to every willing heart.

Forms and Transliterations
פָּסֵ֔חַ פָסֵ֖חַ פָסֵֽחַ׃ פסח פסח׃ faSeach pā·sê·aḥ p̄ā·sê·aḥ paSeach pāsêaḥ p̄āsêaḥ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 4:12
HEB: רָפָא֙ וְאֶת־ פָּסֵ֔חַ וְאֶת־ תְּחִנָּ֖ה
NAS: of Beth-rapha and Paseah, and Tehinnah
KJV: Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah
INT: became of Beth-rapha and Paseah and Tehinnah the father

Ezra 2:49
HEB: עֻזָּ֥א בְנֵי־ פָסֵ֖חַ בְּנֵ֥י בֵסָֽי׃
NAS: the sons of Paseah, the sons
KJV: the children of Paseah, the children
INT: of Uzza the sons of Paseah the sons of Besai

Nehemiah 3:6
HEB: יֽוֹיָדָע֙ בֶּן־ פָּסֵ֔חַ וּמְשֻׁלָּ֖ם בֶּן־
NAS: the son of Paseah and Meshullam
KJV: the son of Paseah, and Meshullam
INT: Jehoiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son

Nehemiah 7:51
HEB: עֻזָּ֖א בְּנֵ֥י פָסֵֽחַ׃
NAS: of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,
KJV: of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,
INT: of Uzza the sons of Paseah

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6454
4 Occurrences


p̄ā·sê·aḥ — 2 Occ.
pā·sê·aḥ — 2 Occ.

6453
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