Word Study for H6452 (פָּסַח)

pâçach /paw-sakh'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto hop, i.e. (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication, to hesitate; also (literally) to limp, to dance

KJV usagehalt, become lame, leap, pass over.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pâçach — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word pâçach, represented by H6452, is a primitive root with a dynamic range of meanings including to hop, limp, hesitate, and to pass over or spare. It appears 7 times in 7 unique verses, and its application shifts from describing physical disability and frantic ritual to a profound act of divine deliverance.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H6452 carries both literal and figurative weight. Its most significant application is in the book of Exodus, where God promises to pass over the homes of the Israelites marked with blood, sparing them from the plague that would smite the Egyptians (Exodus 12:13, Exodus 12:23). This act becomes the foundation of the Passover sacrifice Exodus 12:27. The word is used literally to describe how Mephibosheth became lame after a fall 2 Samuel 4:4 and how the prophets of Baal leaped upon the altar in their ritual 1 Kings 18:26. Figuratively, Elijah uses it to challenge the Israelites, asking how long they will halt between two opinions 1 Kings 18:21.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illuminate the context and meaning of H6452:

H5063 negeph (plague, stumbling): This is the specific consequence that God's act of "passing over" prevents. The plague would not come upon the Israelites because God passed over them Exodus 12:13.
H3212 yâlak (to walk, follow): This word stands in direct contrast to the hesitation implied by pâçach. Elijah challenges the people to stop halting H6452 and instead to follow the true God 1 Kings 18:21.
H5223 nâkeh (lame, contrite): This term is used to describe the state of Mephibosheth, who became lame H6452 after his nurse fled with him 2 Samuel 4:4, directly linking the action to the resulting condition.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H6452 is primarily centered on God's sovereignty and mercy.

Divine Deliverance: The concept of God "passing over" is a cornerstone of his saving power. In Exodus, it represents a selective, protective act that spares His people from judgment Exodus 12:27. This theme is echoed in Isaiah, where the Lord's passing over is equated with His commitment to defend and preserve Jerusalem Isaiah 31:5.
Spiritual Indecision: Elijah's use of the word to mean "halt" frames spiritual indecisiveness as a critical flaw. To waver between the LORD and Baal is a form of spiritual paralysis, a failure to commit to the covenant God 1 Kings 18:21.
Physical Weakness: The use of H6452 to describe Mephibosheth becoming lame illustrates a state of human frailty and brokenness resulting from a traumatic event 2 Samuel 4:4.

Summary

In summary, H6452 is a multifaceted word that encompasses physical motion, spiritual posture, and divine action. From the literal limping of a man and the leaping of false prophets to the figurative hesitation of a nation, its meaning is varied. However, its most enduring significance is theological, defining the foundational Passover event where God's act of "passing over" becomes the ultimate expression of His power to deliver and preserve His people from destruction.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb and an adjective across 8 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

יִּפָּסֵחַ
יְפַסְּחוּ
פִּסְחִים
פָסַחְתִּי
פָסַח
פָּסֹחַ
פֹּסְחִים
פָּסַח

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 7 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus (3 verses); never once in the other 35.

Exodus

2 Samuel

1 Kings

Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.