6458. pasal

Lexicon

pasal: To carve, to hew, to cut

Original Word: פָסַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pacal
Pronunciation: pah-sahl
Phonetic Spelling: (paw-sal')
Definition: To carve, to hew, to cut
Meaning: to carve

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

grave, hew

A primitive root; to carve, whether wood or stone -- grave, hew.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to hew, hew into shape
NASB Translation
carved (1), cut (5).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מָּסַל verb hew, hew into shape (Late Hebrew Pi`el hew off boughs; Aramaic מְּסַל, = Biblical Hebrew; Nabataean פסלא stone-cutter); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular suffix מְּסָלוֺ Habakkuk 2:18; Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִּפְסֹל Exodus 34:4, etc.; Imperative masculine singular מֲּסָלֿ Exodus 34:1; Deuteronomy 10:1; — hew out stone tablets Exodus 34:1,4; Deuteronomy 10:1,3; building-stones 1 Kings 5:32; with cognate accusative (suffix referring to מֶּסֶל) Habakkuk 2:18.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct one-to-one correspondence between Hebrew and Greek terms for "to carve," the concept of idolatry and the creation of images is addressed in the Greek New Testament. The Greek term εἴδωλον (eidolon, Strong's Greek 1497) refers to an idol or image, often used in the context of idolatry. Another related term is γλυπτός (glyptos, Strong's Greek 1125), meaning "engraved" or "sculpted," which can be associated with the act of carving or shaping images.

Usage: The verb פָסַל is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the act of carving or shaping, often in reference to the creation of idols or graven images. It is associated with the physical act of cutting or chiseling materials such as wood or stone.

Context: The Hebrew verb פָסַל (pasal) is a primitive root that primarily means "to carve" or "to hew." It is used in the context of shaping materials, particularly in the creation of idols or graven images. This term appears in several key passages within the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing the prohibition against idolatry and the crafting of images for worship.

In Exodus 34:1, the term is used when God instructs Moses to "carve" two stone tablets like the first ones, upon which the Ten Commandments would be inscribed. This usage highlights the physical act of shaping stone, a task requiring skill and precision.

The act of carving idols is explicitly condemned in the Hebrew Scriptures. For instance, in Deuteronomy 27:15, a curse is pronounced on anyone who "carves" an image or idol, underscoring the seriousness of idolatry in the Israelite community. The use of פָסַל in this context serves as a reminder of the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, which prohibits the worship of other gods or the creation of physical representations for worship.

The term also appears in the context of the construction of the tabernacle and temple, where skilled artisans were employed to "carve" intricate designs and decorations, as seen in the work of Bezalel and Oholiab (Exodus 31:5). However, these carvings were not for idolatrous purposes but were part of the divinely ordained worship space.

Overall, פָסַל conveys the dual nature of carving as both a skilled craft and a potential source of spiritual transgression, depending on its application. The term serves as a linguistic marker for discussions on idolatry, craftsmanship, and the proper worship of God.

Forms and Transliterations

וַֽיִּפְסְל֞וּ וַיִּפְסֹ֡ל וָאֶפְסֹ֛ל ואפסל ויפסל ויפסלו פְּסָל־ פְסָלוֹ֙ פסל־ פסלו fesaLo p̄ə·sā·lōw pə·sāl- pəsāl- p̄əsālōw pesol vaefSol vaiyifseLu vaiyifSol wā’ep̄sōl wā·’ep̄·sōl way·yip̄·sə·lū way·yip̄·sōl wayyip̄səlū wayyip̄sōl

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 34:1
HEB: אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה פְּסָל־ לְךָ֛ שְׁנֵֽי־
NAS: to Moses, Cut out for yourself two
KJV: said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables
INT: to Moses Cut two tablets

Exodus 34:4
HEB: וַיִּפְסֹ֡ל שְׁנֵֽי־ לֻחֹ֨ת
NAS: So he cut out two stone
KJV: And he hewed two tables
INT: cut two tablets

Deuteronomy 10:1
HEB: יְהוָ֣ה אֵלַ֗י פְּסָל־ לְךָ֞ שְׁנֵֽי־
NAS: said to me, 'Cut out for yourself two
KJV: said unto me, Hew thee two
INT: the LORD to me Cut two tablets

Deuteronomy 10:3
HEB: עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֔ים וָאֶפְסֹ֛ל שְׁנֵי־ לֻחֹ֥ת
NAS: of acacia wood and cut out two tablets
KJV: wood, and hewed two
INT: wood of acacia and cut two tablets

1 Kings 5:18
HEB: וַֽיִּפְסְל֞וּ בֹּנֵ֧י שְׁלֹמֹ֛ה
NAS: and the Gebalites cut them, and prepared
KJV: builders did hew [them], and the stonesquarers:
INT: cut builders Solomon's

Habakkuk 2:18
HEB: פֶּ֗סֶל כִּ֤י פְסָלוֹ֙ יֹֽצְר֔וֹ מַסֵּכָ֖ה
NAS: its maker has carved it, [Or] an image,
KJV: that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image,
INT: is the idol when has carved his handiwork it an image

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6458
6 Occurrences

p̄ə·sā·lōw — 1 Occ.
pə·sāl- — 2 Occ.
wā·’ep̄·sōl — 1 Occ.
way·yip̄·sə·lū — 1 Occ.
way·yip̄·sōl — 1 Occ.