What does פָּסַח (pāsaḥ) mean in the Bible?
פָּסַח (pāsaḥ): Foundational Passover term: literal hopping/limping extends figuratively to sparing/passing over, central to covenant deliverance theology.
Hebrew · H6452
פָּסַח
To hop , i.e. (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication, to hesitate ; also (literally) to limp , to dance
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פָּסַחH6452
Pronunciationpāsaḥ
What does פָּסַח (pāsaḥ) mean in the Bible?
פָּסַח (pāsaḥ): Foundational Passover term: literal hopping/limping extends figuratively to sparing/passing over, central to covenant deliverance theology.
Full entry for פָּסַח (H6452) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6452?
The BSB source-word alignment has 7 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and became lame (1), and will pass (1), as they leaped (1), He will pass over it (1), I will pass (1).
Where does פָּסַח (pāsaḥ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 12:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (3), 1 Kings (2), 2 Samuel (1), Isaiah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand became lame1×2 Samuel 4:4
and will pass1×Exodus 12:23
as they leaped1×1 Kings 18:26
He will pass over it1×Isaiah 31:5
I will pass1×Exodus 12:13
passed1×Exodus 12:27
waver1×1 Kings 18:21
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 12:13וּפָסַחְתִּ֖יtoI will passConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularExodus 12:23וּפָסַ֤חtoand will passConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 12:27פָּ֠סַחtopassedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 4:4וַיִּפָּסֵ֖חַtoand became lameConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Kings 18:21פֹּסְחִים֮towaverVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural1 Kings 18:26וַֽיְפַסְּח֔וּtoas they leapedConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralIsaiah 31:5פָּסֹ֥חַtoHe will pass over itVerb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 12:13
Aligned rows7
Books represented4
Exodus32 Samuel11 Kings2Isaiah1
Source forms
וַיִּפָּסֵ֖חַ1xway·yip·pā·sê·aḥ2 Samuel 4:4
וַֽיְפַסְּח֔וּ1xway·p̄as·sə·ḥū1 Kings 18:26
וּפָסַ֤ח1xū·p̄ā·saḥExodus 12:23
וּפָסַחְתִּ֖י1xū·p̄ā·saḥ·tîExodus 12:13
פָּ֠סַח1xpā·saḥExodus 12:27
פָּסֹ֥חַ1xpā·sō·aḥIsaiah 31:5
פֹּסְחִים֮1xpō·sə·ḥîm1 Kings 18:21
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1x2 Samuel 4:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1x1 Kings 18:26
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xExodus 12:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xExodus 12:23
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute1xIsaiah 31:5
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural1x1 Kings 18:21
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular1xExodus 12:27
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Foundational Passover term: literal hopping/limping extends figuratively to sparing/passing over, central to covenant deliverance theology.
Source Gloss
to hop , i.e. (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication, to hesitate ; also (literally) to limp , to dance
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Foundational Passover term: literal hopping/limping extends figuratively to sparing/passing over, central to covenant deliverance theology.
to hop, i.e. (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication, to hesitate; also (literally) to limp, to dance BDB: pass Usage: halt, become lame, leap, pass over.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms3
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense3×
Participle active1Kgs 18:211×
PerfectExod 12:271×
Infinitive absoluteIsa 31:51×
Word Origins
פָּסַח is a primitive root - no further derivation.