### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **pâtsaʻ**, represented by `{{H6481}}`, is a primitive root used to mean **to split** or **wound**. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses** in the Bible. Its usage consistently points to the act of inflicting a physical injury or the state of being wounded.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical appearances, `{{H6481}}` describes different forms of physical harm. In [[1 Kings 20:37]], it is the result of a deliberate, requested blow, where one man smites another and **wounds** him as a sign. In [[Song of Solomon 5:7]], it describes a violent assault where the watchmen of the city smote and **wounded** the speaker. A third context appears in [[Deuteronomy 23:1]], where being **wounded** in the stones is a specific condition that excludes a man from the congregation of the LORD.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of being wounded:
* `{{H5221}}` **nâkâh** (to strike): This word, meaning **to strike**, is used alongside `{{H6481}}` to describe the action that leads to the wound in both [[Song of Solomon 5:7]] and [[1 Kings 20:37]].
* `{{H1795}}` **dakkâh** (mutilated): This term is paired directly with `{{H6481}}` in [[Deuteronomy 23:1]] to describe the specific nature of the injury as a form of **mutilation**.
* `{{H3772}}` **kârath** (to cut off): Appearing in the same list of disqualifications in [[Deuteronomy 23:1]], this word for **to cut off** describes a related type of physical impairment that also results in exclusion from the assembly.
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{H6481}}` carries specific weight in the contexts where it is found.
* **Legal & Ritual Status:** In [[Deuteronomy 23:1]], being **wounded** is not merely a physical state but a condition that affects a person's standing within the religious community, barring them from the congregation of the LORD.
* **Vulnerability and Betrayal:** The wounding in [[Song of Solomon 5:7]] is inflicted by the city's watchmen, who were meant to protect. This highlights themes of vulnerability and the failure of those in authority.
* **Prophetic Obedience:** In [[1 Kings 20:37]], the act of being **wounded** serves as part of a prophetic message, demonstrating that the physical injury itself can be an integral component of a divine communication or a test of obedience.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6481}}` is a specific and impactful term for being **wounded**. Though it appears only three times, it is used to illustrate a range of situations, from violent attack to a legal disqualification and a prophetic sign. It demonstrates how physical integrity was tied to community standing and could be employed to convey powerful symbolic messages within the biblical narrative.
TRV