from פָּסַח; a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the festival or the victim); passover (offering).
Transliteration:peçach
Pronunciation:peh'-sakh
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word פֶּסַח (pesach - `{{H6453}}`) is derived from the verb פָּסַח (pasach - `{{H6452}}`), which carries the primary meaning of "to pass over," "to skip over," or "to exempt." This etymological root is crucial for understanding the noun's core significance.
The fundamental meaning of פֶּסַח is a "passing over" or "exemption," pointing directly to a specific act of divine preservation. Its semantic range extends to several interconnected concepts:
* **The Festival:** Most prominently, פֶּסַח refers to the annual Jewish festival commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This is its most common and technical usage in the biblical text.
* **The Sacrificial Animal:** It also designates the lamb or kid that was sacrificed as part of the Passover observance, often referred to as the "Passover lamb" (e.g., [[Exodus 12:21]]).
* **The Passover Meal:** By extension, the term can refer to the communal meal eaten on the night of the Passover, which included the roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word פֶּסַח (pesach - `{{H6453}}`) is central to the biblical narrative, particularly in the Pentateuch, and appears consistently throughout the Old Testament.
* **Exodus Narrative:** Its first appearance and most detailed description are found in the book of Exodus, establishing its foundational significance.
* In [[Exodus 12:11]], God explicitly names the event, "It is the LORD's Passover," referring to the divine act of "passing over" the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague.
* [[Exodus 12:21]] and [[Exodus 12:27]] refer to the "Passover lamb" and "Passover sacrifice," emphasizing the sacrificial aspect.
* [[Exodus 13:5]] mentions the festival itself as a perpetual ordinance.
* **Levitical and Deuteronomic Law:** The term appears in the legal sections, outlining the specific regulations for the observance of the festival.
* [[Leviticus 23:5]] sets the date for the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
* [[Numbers 9:2]] reiterates the command for its timely observance.
* [[Deuteronomy 16:1-6]] provides further instructions for its celebration at the central sanctuary.
* **Historical Observances:** The historical books record instances of the Passover being observed throughout Israel's history, demonstrating its enduring importance.
* [[Joshua 5:10]] describes the Israelites observing the Passover in Gilgal after entering the Promised Land.
* Notable revivals of the Passover are recorded during the reigns of righteous kings, such as Hezekiah ([[2 Chronicles 30:1]]) and Josiah ([[2 Kings 23:21-23]]), highlighting its significance for national spiritual renewal.
* The returned exiles also celebrated the Passover with joy ([[Ezra 6:19]]).
* **Prophetic Allusion:** While less frequent, the Passover's significance is acknowledged in prophetic visions, such as Ezekiel's blueprint for the future temple ([[Ezekiel 45:21]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding פֶּסַח (pesach - `{{H6453}}`) is enhanced by examining its relationship to other key biblical terms and concepts:
* **פָּסַח (pasach - `{{H6452}}`):** The root verb, meaning "to pass over," "to leap over," or "to limp." This verb is fundamental, as it describes the action of God "passing over" the Israelite homes marked with blood, thereby sparing their firstborn.
* **מַצָּה (matzah - `{{H4682}}`):** Unleavened bread. The "Feast of Unleavened Bread" immediately follows the Passover and is so intrinsically linked that the two terms are often used interchangeably or together (e.g., [[Exodus 12:15]], [[Leviticus 23:6]]). The unleavened bread symbolizes the haste of the departure from Egypt.
* **חַג (chag - `{{H2282}}`):** Feast or festival. פֶּסַח is one of the three annual pilgrimage festivals (along with Pentecost and Tabernacles) where all Israelite males were required to appear before the Lord at the central sanctuary.
* **The Blood:** The blood of the Passover lamb, applied to the doorposts ([[Exodus 12:7]]), served as a visible sign for the Angel of Death to "pass over" the house ([[Exodus 12:13]]). This concept introduces the profound theme of substitutionary atonement and protection through a sacrificial offering.
* **Redemption/Deliverance:** The Passover is the foundational act of Yahweh's redemption of Israel from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. It is the paradigmatic event that defines Israel's identity as a people delivered by God's mighty hand.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of פֶּסַח (pesach - `{{H6453}}`) is profound and multifaceted:
* **Divine Deliverance and Protection:** At its core, the Passover commemorates God's powerful and merciful act of delivering His people from both physical slavery and the judgment of death. The "passing over" of the marked houses vividly demonstrates God's specific and active protection for those under His covenant.
* **Covenant Relationship:** The Passover was not merely a historical event but a foundational act that established and continually reaffirmed the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel. It served as a perpetual reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises and Israel's identity as His redeemed people.
* **Substitutionary Atonement:** The sacrifice of the innocent lamb, whose blood provided a covering and exemption from judgment, powerfully prefigures the concept of substitutionary atonement. The life of the lamb was given in place of the lives of the firstborn in the Israelite homes.
* **Remembrance and Future Hope:** The command for annual observance ([[Exodus 12:14]]) ensured that the Passover's significance would be passed down through generations. This remembrance was not just historical but also forward-looking, instilling hope in God's continued faithfulness and ultimate redemptive plan.
* **Typology of Christ:** In Christian theology, פֶּסַח holds immense typological significance, finding its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. John the Baptist identifies Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([[John 1:29]]). Paul explicitly declares, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" ([[1 Corinthians 5:7]]). Jesus' crucifixion during the Passover festival, His shed blood as the new covenant sacrifice, and His resurrection from the dead are seen as the ultimate "passing over" from spiritual death to eternal life, providing redemption for all who believe.
### Summary
The Hebrew word פֶּסַח (pesach - `{{H6453}}`) fundamentally means "passing over" or "exemption," derived from the verb פָּסַח (pasach - `{{H6452}}`). It is the technical term for the Jewish Passover festival, commemorating God's miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery, the sacrificial lamb central to that event, and the associated meal. Biblically, it is first and foremost a divine act of protection and redemption, establishing Israel's identity and covenant relationship with Yahweh. Theologically, פֶּסַח underscores God's active involvement in saving His people, foreshadowing the profound concept of substitutionary atonement. For Christians, פֶּסַח finds its supreme fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is recognized as the ultimate Passover Lamb, whose sacrifice provides the definitive "passing over" from sin and death to eternal life for all humanity.
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