The Greek word páscha, represented by G3957, is a term of Chaldee origin that refers to the Passover. It appears 29 times across 27 unique verses. The word's definition encompasses the Passover meal, the day itself, the festival, or the special sacrifices connected with it, and is also translated as Easter in one instance Acts 12:4.
The term G3957 is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew pesach (פֶּסַח), which carries the core meaning of "passing over" or "sparing." This etymological root underscores the foundational narrative of the tenth plague in Egypt, where the angel of death "passed over" the houses marked with the blood of the lamb, sparing the firstborn within. Thus, the Greek G3957 inherently carries this powerful historical and salvific resonance, signifying not merely a feast day but an event of divine intervention and deliverance. The deep historical roots and the miraculous nature of the original event are embedded within the very sound of the word, which the New Testament writers leverage to highlight Christ's redemptive work.
In the biblical narrative, G3957 is central to the timing of Christ's final days. It is identified as a major feast G1859 of the Jews, drawing many people to Jerusalem (John 11:55, Luke 2:41). The Gospels record Jesus's disciples asking where they should prepare G2090 for him to eat G5315 the Passover Matthew 26:17. Jesus himself expressed that with desire G1937 he had desired to eat G5315 the Passover with them before he would suffer G3958 Luke 22:15. The observance is specifically linked to the day of unleavened bread G106, when the Passover lamb must be killed G2380 (Luke 22:7, Mark 14:12).
Beyond the immediate context of Jesus' final Passover, the Gospels frequently employ G3957 to anchor significant events in Jesus' ministry, especially in John's Gospel, where it appears more often than in the Synoptics. John's narrative repeatedly frames Jesus' journeys and teachings around the Passover feasts, such as when "the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem" John 2:13, or when "the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh" John 6:4. These repeated references emphasize the cyclical nature of the Jewish calendar and how Jesus' life and mission unfolded in deliberate fulfillment of these sacred times. Furthermore, the cultural customs associated with G3957 are also illuminated, such as the practice of purification before the feast John 11:55 and the tradition of releasing a prisoner during its observance John 18:39.
Several related words clarify the context and meaning of the Passover:
- G106 ázymos: This word for unleavened is closely tied to the festival, which is called "the feast of unleavened bread... which is called the Passover" Luke 22:1.
- G2380 thýō: Meaning to sacrifice or kill, this verb describes the essential action performed on the day "when they killed the passover" Mark 14:12.
- G2090 hetoimázō: Meaning to prepare, this word is used when the disciples prepare the Passover meal as Jesus appointed Matthew 26:19.
- G4378 próschysis: This term for sprinkling is used to describe the original Passover, where through faith, the sprinkling of blood was kept as part of the observance Hebrews 11:28.
- G3958 páschō (to suffer): This verb, meaning "to suffer" or "to experience," is profoundly linked to G3957 as it encapsulates the very event that Jesus anticipated and fulfilled during the Passover. His desire to eat the Passover with his disciples was explicitly "before I suffer" Luke 22:15, drawing a direct connection between the sacrificial lamb of the Passover and his own impending passion.
The theological weight of G3957 is profound, pointing directly to Christ's redemptive work.
- Christ as the Fulfillment: The most significant theological statement identifies Christ G5547 as the true Passover sacrifice. Paul states, "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" 1 Corinthians 5:7.
- A Call to Purity: The Passover serves as a metaphor for the Christian life. Believers are instructed to purge out G1571 the old leaven G2219, connecting the removal of leaven during the festival to spiritual purity 1 Corinthians 5:7.
- An Act of Faith: The observance of the Passover is presented as a foundational act of faith. Through faith, the first Passover and the sprinkling G4378 of blood were kept to protect from the destroyer Hebrews 11:28.
- The Appointed Time: The timing of Jesus's death is explicitly set during the Passover. His crucifixion occurs during the "preparation of the passover" John 19:14, fulfilling his own words that the Son of man would be betrayed to be crucified at the time of the feast Matthew 26:2.
- The New Covenant Meal: While G3957 commemorates Israel's deliverance from Egypt, Jesus' final Passover meal transforms its meaning, establishing a new covenant through his body and blood. This sacred meal, celebrated "before the feast of the passover" John 13:1, redefines the concept of remembrance, pointing not to a past national liberation but to an ongoing spiritual redemption enacted by Christ, making the Passover the direct antecedent to the Christian Eucharist.
The Greek term G3957 páscha, rooted in the Chaldee and Hebrew pesach meaning "to pass over" or "to spare," is a cornerstone concept in the New Testament, representing the Jewish Passover feast. This word encapsulates the annual celebration, the sacrificial lamb, and the associated traditions, including the eating of unleavened bread (G106) and the ritual act of killing (G2380) the lamb. Its presence throughout the Gospels, particularly in John's narrative, highlights its significance as the backdrop for key events in Jesus' ministry, emphasizing the cultural practices of purification and the custom of releasing a prisoner during this pivotal time. The lone translation of "Easter" in Acts 12:4 points to a later Christian reinterpretation of the feast's timing.
The theological resonance of G3957 is profound, extending far beyond a historical observance. It is inextricably linked to the suffering (G3958) of Christ, who himself expressed a deep desire to partake in this meal with his disciples before his passion Luke 22:15. Paul unequivocally declares Christ G5547 as "our passover" sacrificed for us 1 Corinthians 5:7, thus transforming the ancient feast into a powerful symbol of Christ's atoning work. This fulfillment of the Old Testament shadows in the person of Jesus calls believers to spiritual purity, purging out the old leaven of sin 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Ultimately, G3957 signifies a foundational act of faith and deliverance, from the original sprinkling (G4378) of blood that spared the firstborn in Egypt Hebrews 11:28 to Christ's ultimate sacrifice. His crucifixion during the Passover, specifically on "the preparation of the passover" John 19:14, marks the divinely appointed time for the Son of Man to be betrayed and crucified Matthew 26:2. This event establishes the Passover as the precursor to the new covenant meal, a new paradigm of remembrance that points to Christ's ongoing redemptive work and the salvation available through him.
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