### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word piççêach (פִּסֵּחַ), Strong's `{{H6455}}`, is an adjective derived from the verbal root pāsaḥ (פָּסַח), Strong's `{{H6452}}`. The root pāsaḥ primarily means "to limp," "to halt," or "to pass over." From this root, piççêach specifically denotes the state of being "lame" or "crippled," referring to a physical inability to walk properly due to a defect in the legs or feet. Its semantic range is quite narrow, focusing almost exclusively on this physical disability. While the root can imply an irregular or impaired movement, piççêach as a noun or adjective consistently describes a person or animal suffering from permanent lameness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term piççêach appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often highlighting aspects of ritual purity, social vulnerability, and divine restoration:
* **Ritual Purity:** In [[Leviticus 21:18]], piççêach is listed as a blemish that disqualifies a descendant of Aaron from serving as a priest and offering sacrifices. Similarly, [[Deuteronomy 15:21]] and [[Malachi 1:8, 13]] prohibit the offering of piççêach animals as sacrifices to the Lord. These regulations underscore the requirement for physical perfection in both the priests and the offerings, symbolizing God's holiness and the unblemished nature of acceptable worship.
* **Social Vulnerability:** [[2 Samuel 4:4]] introduces Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who became piççêach in both feet after an accident in his youth. This detail emphasizes his vulnerability and dependence. [[Job 29:15]] records Job's righteous claim: "I was feet to the piççêach," illustrating his compassionate care for the disabled and his role as a just leader. The phrase "the blind and the piççêach" appears in [[2 Samuel 5:6, 8]] in the context of the Jebusites' taunt against David, possibly implying their contempt for the weak or a proverbial expression for the incapacitated.
* **Figurative Use:** [[Proverbs 26:7]] uses the image of a piççêach man's useless legs to describe the ineffectiveness of a proverb in the mouth of a fool: "Like the legs of a piççêach which hang useless, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools." This simile highlights the inability to apply wisdom properly.
* **Prophetic Restoration:** Significantly, piççêach appears in powerful prophecies of future restoration. [[Isaiah 33:23]] declares that "the piççêach shall take the spoil," indicating a miraculous empowerment of the weak. Most famously, [[Isaiah 35:6]] proclaims that in the messianic age, "then shall the piççêach man leap like a deer," signifying complete physical healing. [[Jeremiah 31:8]] also promises the gathering of the exiled, including "the blind and the piççêach," emphasizing God's comprehensive and inclusive restoration of His people.
Across these contexts, piççêach consistently refers to a physical limitation, but its theological implications range from ritual exclusion to profound divine healing and restoration.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **pāsaḥ (פָּסַח) `{{H6452}}`:** The verbal root, meaning "to limp" or "to halt," from which piççêach is derived. This connection reinforces the core meaning of impaired movement.
* **ʿiwwēr (עִוֵּר) `{{H5787}}`:** "Blind." This word is frequently paired with piççêach (e.g., [[2 Samuel 5:6, 8]], [[Job 29:15]], [[Isaiah 35:5-6]], [[Jeremiah 31:8]], [[Malachi 1:8]]). The pairing highlights a common category of physical disability and vulnerability.
* **muʾûm (מוּם) `{{H4081}}`:** "Blemish," "defect." This broader term encompasses the specific condition of lameness, particularly in the context of disqualifying priests or sacrificial animals ([[Leviticus 21:17-23]]).
* **Sacrificial Law:** The extensive regulations concerning unblemished sacrifices ([[Leviticus 22:20-25]]) are directly related, as piççêach animals were explicitly forbidden, emphasizing the purity and perfection required for offerings to a holy God.
* **Messianic Healing:** The prophetic visions of the piççêach leaping and being restored ([[Isaiah 35:6]]) strongly prefigure the healing miracles performed by Jesus in the New Testament (e.g., [[Matthew 15:30-31]], [[Acts 3:1-10]]), where the lame are made whole as a sign of the Kingdom of God.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of piççêach is multifaceted:
1. **Divine Holiness and Purity in Worship:** The exclusion of piççêach individuals from the priesthood and piççêach animals from sacrifice underscores the absolute perfection and wholeness required in approaching the holy God. This was a symbolic representation of the unblemished nature of God Himself and the ideal of pure, uncompromised worship. The physical integrity of the priest and the offering mirrored the spiritual integrity demanded in the presence of the Almighty.
2. **God's Concern for the Vulnerable:** The biblical narrative consistently portrays the piççêach, along with the blind and other disabled individuals, as among the most vulnerable in society. Job's exemplary care for the piççêach ([[Job 29:15]]) reflects a divine mandate for compassion and justice towards the marginalized. This highlights God's character as one who cares deeply for the weak and dependent.
3. **Eschatological Hope and Divine Reversal:** Perhaps the most profound theological implication lies in the prophetic declarations. The transformation of the piççêach from a state of limitation to one of miraculous healing and joyous movement ([[Isaiah 35:6]]) is a powerful symbol of God's redemptive power. It signifies a future age of complete restoration, where all brokenness—physical, spiritual, and societal—will be mended by divine intervention. This vision serves as a cornerstone of messianic hope, pointing to a time when God's kingdom will bring ultimate wholeness and liberation.
### Summary
The Hebrew word piççêach (`{{H6455}}`) precisely defines a state of being "lame" or "crippled." Its usage in the Old Testament reveals significant theological truths. Initially, piççêach individuals and animals were deemed unsuitable for priestly service or sacrifice ([[Leviticus 21:18]], [[Deuteronomy 15:21]], [[Malachi 1:8, 13]]), emphasizing the high standard of physical perfection required in approaching a holy God. Concurrently, the piççêach represented a vulnerable segment of society, and care for them was seen as an act of righteousness ([[Job 29:15]]). Most significantly, prophetic texts like [[Isaiah 35:6]] and [[Jeremiah 31:8]] transform the meaning of lameness into a powerful symbol of divine intervention and eschatological hope. These passages envision a future where the piççêach will be miraculously healed and fully restored, leaping with joy and participating in God's grand redemption. Thus, piççêach encapsulates both human brokenness and the boundless, restorative power of God.
TRV