פָּגַשׁ

pâgash /paw-gash'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto come in contact with, whether by accident or violence; figuratively, to concur
KJV usagemeet (with, together).
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word pâgash, represented by H6298, is a primitive root meaning to come in contact with, whether by accident or violence. Appearing 14 times in 14 unique verses, its definition also extends figuratively to the idea of concurrence, or to meet with or together. The nature of these encounters ranges from peaceful reunions to hostile and even deadly confrontations.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H6298 describes a wide variety of encounters. It can refer to a divinely orchestrated meeting, such as when Aaron went into the wilderness and met Moses at the mount of God Exodus 4:27. Conversely, it can depict a life-threatening confrontation, as when the LORD met Moses at an inn and sought to kill him Exodus 4:24. The term is also used in dire warnings, where God promises to meet a rebellious people like a bereaved bear Hosea 13:8. In a figurative sense, it describes the common ground shared by all humanity, as "The rich and poor meet together" under God, who is the maker of them all Proverbs 22:2.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and outcome of the encounters described by H6298:

  • H7125 qirʼâh (an encountering): This noun, often translated as "to meet," signifies the purpose of a journey. Aaron is told to go into the wilderness to meet Moses, and subsequently met H6298 him Exodus 4:27.
  • H4191 mûwth (to die/kill): This word defines the potential severity of a divine meeting. In a fearsome encounter, the LORD met H6298 Moses and sought to kill him, highlighting the violent capacity of the term Exodus 4:24.
  • H5401 nâshaq (to kiss): This term signifies a positive and peaceful outcome of a meeting. When Aaron met H6298 Moses, he kissed H5401 him Exodus 4:27. Figuratively, when mercy and truth met H6298, righteousness and peace kissed H5401 each other Psalms 85:10.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6298 is significant, often highlighting God's direct and sovereign intervention in the world.

  • Divine Initiative: God is frequently the initiator of these encounters, whether for judgment Hosea 13:8, testing Exodus 4:24, or commissioning, as when he arranged the meeting between Moses and Aaron Exodus 4:27.
  • Moral Order: The proverbs use the term to establish a divine truth about society. The rich and the poor meet together H6298, a fact grounded in the reality that the LORD is the maker H6213 of them all Proverbs 22:2.
  • Theological Concurrence: In a profound poetic sense, the word describes the perfect harmony of God's character. Divine attributes like mercy H2617 and truth H571 are said to have met together H6298, illustrating their unity in God's plan Psalms 85:10.

Summary

In summary, H6298 moves beyond a simple definition of "to meet." It captures the significance and consequence of encounters, which can be planned, accidental, violent, or peaceful. The word is used to describe critical moments in the biblical narrative, from personal reunions and hostile standoffs to the figurative intersection of divine attributes and social realities, consistently underscoring a world where encounters are fraught with meaning and divine oversight.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 14 occurrences, inflected in 11 grammatical forms.

  • Niphal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 3×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Piel Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Absolute 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Construct 1×
  • Qal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 14 verses across 10 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (3 verses).

2
Genesis
2
Exodus
1
1 Samuel
1
2 Samuel
1
Job
1
Psalms
3
Proverbs
1
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah
1
Hosea

Verse Explorer

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