What does פָּסַל (pāsal) mean in the Bible?
פָּסַל (pāsal): To carve or hew into shape; foundational to both idolatry and legitimate sacred artistry in worship
Hebrew · H6458
פָּסַל
To carve , whether wood or stone
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פָּסַל H6458
Pronunciation pāsal
What does פָּסַל (pāsal) mean in the Bible?
פָּסַל (pāsal): To carve or hew into shape; foundational to both idolatry and legitimate sacred artistry in worship
Full entry for פָּסַל (H6458) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6458?
The BSB source-word alignment has 6 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Chisel out (2), chiseled out (2), quarried the stone (1), should carve it (1).
Where does פָּסַל (pāsal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 34:1. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (2), Exodus (2), 1 Kings (1), Habakkuk (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 It Chisel out 2× Exodus 34:1, Deuteronomy 10:1
chiseled out 2× Exodus 34:4, Deuteronomy 10:3
quarried the stone 1× 1 Kings 5:18
should carve it 1× Habakkuk 2:18
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 34:1 פְּסָל־ to Chisel out Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Exodus 34:4 וַיִּפְסֹ֡ל to chiseled out Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 10:1 פְּסָל־ to Chisel out Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Deuteronomy 10:3 וָאֶפְסֹ֛ל to chiseled out Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular 1 Kings 5:18 וַֽיִּפְסְל֞וּ to quarried the stone Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Habakkuk 2:18 פְסָלוֹ֙ to should carve it Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 34:1
Aligned rows 6
Books represented 4
Exodus 2 Deuteronomy 2 1 Kings 1 Habakkuk 1
Source forms
פְּסָל־ 2x pə·sāl- Exodus 34:1, Deuteronomy 10:1
וָאֶפְסֹ֛ל 1x wā·’ep̄·sōl Deuteronomy 10:3
וַיִּפְסֹ֡ל 1x way·yip̄·sōl Exodus 34:4
וַֽיִּפְסְל֞וּ 1x way·yip̄·sə·lū 1 Kings 5:18
פְסָלוֹ֙ 1x p̄ə·sā·lōw Habakkuk 2:18
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular 2x Exodus 34:1, Deuteronomy 10:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular 1x Deuteronomy 10:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x 1 Kings 5:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Exodus 34:4
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular 1x Habakkuk 2:18
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To carve or hew into shape; foundational to both idolatry and legitimate sacred artistry in worship
Source Gloss
to carve , whether wood or stone
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To carve or hew into shape; foundational to both idolatry and legitimate sacred artistry in worship
to carve, whether wood or stone BDB: hew Usage: grave, hew.
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 groups 1 Aligned forms 2
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 2×
Sequential imperfect Deut 10:1 · Exod 34:1 2×
Word Origins
פָּסַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain