Original Word: פָסַח
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pacach
Pronunciation: pah-sakh'
Phonetic Spelling: (paw-sakh')
KJV: halt, become lame, leap, pass over
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

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

halt, become lame, leap, pass over

A primitive root; to hop, i.e. (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication, to hesitate; also (literally) to limp, to dance -- halt, become lame, leap, pass over.

I. מָּסַח verb pass or spring over; —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳פ Exodus 12:27, ׳וּפ consecutive V:23 (J); 1 singular וּפָסַחְתִּ֫י Exodus 12:13 (P), all with עַל, of ׳י passing over (sparing) houses of Israel; Infinitive absolute מָּסוֺחַ Isaiah 31:5 a passing over (SC. עַליְֿרוּשָׁלַםִ).

II. [מָּסַח] verb limp (Thes below I. ׳פ but dubious; Arabic is dislocate; according to Gerber⁷³ II. ׳פ is denominative from מִּסֵּחַ [and this below I. ׳פ?]); —

Qal Participle plural מֹּסְחִים עַלשְֿׁתֵּי הַסְּעַמִּים 1 Kings 18:21 figurative (see [ סְעִמָּה]).

Niph`al Imperfect3masculine singular וַיִּמֹּל וַיִּמָּסֵחַ 2 Samuel 4:4 and he fell and was made limping (lame).

Pi`el Imperfect3masculine plural וַיְפַסְּחוּ עַלהַֿמִּזְבֵּחַ 1 Kings 18:26 they went limping (along by the altar), i.e. probably in their dance, see Kit Pietschm^{Phön. 220} (Gr ויפסעו [ = וַיִּפְשְׂעוּ] stepped).

Overview

The verb פָסַח appears eight times in the Old Testament and is closely tied to the themes of protection, judgment, covenant loyalty, and wholehearted devotion to the LORD. Its range of meaning is best grasped by examining the Passover narrative, royal history, prophetic confrontation, and divine promise of Isaiah.

Passover Institution (Exodus 12:13, 23, 27)

In Exodus 12 the verb describes the LORD’s saving action during the tenth plague. “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13). Here פָסַח marks a decisive distinction between Egypt and Israel. It is neither mere avoidance nor indifference; it is the active sparing of a redeemed people because of substitutionary blood. Verse 27 celebrates this as “the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes.” Every subsequent Passover memorializes this verb’s inaugural force: deliverance by grace through faith‐marked blood.

Divine Protection and Covenant Faithfulness

Exodus 12:23 expands the concept: “The LORD will pass over the doorway and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you down.” The verb thus conveys not only passing by but also shielding, a hovering guardianship rooted in covenant promises (compare Isaiah 31:5 below). The rite teaches that God’s people are protected when they remain under His provision.

Royal Narrative: Physical Lameness and National Weakness (2 Samuel 4:4; 5:6)

In 2 Samuel 4:4 the term is used of Mephibosheth, who “was five years old when the news of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; his nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became lame.” The verb depicts impaired walking—a tragic result of human frailty amid political upheaval. In 2 Samuel 5:6 it is part of the Jebusites’ taunt that even the “blind and the lame” could repel David. Together the texts underscore that those who are crippled need a gracious king (David anticipating Christ) who will include the weak in covenant kindness (2 Samuel 9).

Prophetic Confrontation: Spiritual Limping (1 Kings 18:21, 26)

Elijah confronts Israel’s vacillating allegiance on Mount Carmel: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is god, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). The verb rendered “waver” (or “limp”) pictures half‐hearted worship as a crippling gait. Verse 26 shows the prophets of Baal “hopping” around the altar—external frenzy masking spiritual impotence. The Spirit-inspired author exposes divided loyalty as self-inflicted lameness, contrasted with steadfast trust symbolized by Elijah’s solitary altar repaired with twelve stones.

Promise of Eschatological Overshadowing (Isaiah 31:5)

“Like birds hovering, so the LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; He will preserve and rescue it” (Isaiah 31:5). Here פָסַח describes the LORD’s hovering protection over Zion, reminiscent of the Passover night. The imagery of wings and hovering marks continuity between Exodus redemption and future deliverance, assuring God’s people that the covenant God remains their shield when they forsake human alliances.

Christological Fulfillment

The New Testament declares, “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). All that פָסַח conveys—substitutionary blood, deliverance from wrath, protective covering—finds its consummation at the cross. Believers now celebrate the Lord’s Supper as the better Passover, proclaiming the same gospel pattern: judgment passing over because of atoning blood.

Worship and Ministry Implications

1. Proclamation: Preach the Passover narrative as a paradigm of redemption by grace, pointing to Christ.
2. Communion: Emphasize divine protection and covenant fidelity when administering the elements.
3. Pastoral Care: Draw on Mephibosheth’s account to assure the spiritually wounded of the King’s table.
4. Discipleship: Warn against “limping between two opinions”; call for wholehearted allegiance.
5. Intercession: Isaiah 31:5 encourages prayer for divine shielding over the Church and over Israel.

Key Theological Themes

• Substitutionary sacrifice and divine mercy
• Covenant distinction between God’s people and the world
• Folly of divided devotion versus blessing of exclusive loyalty
• Providential care for the weak and threatened
• Continuity of redemptive history culminating in Christ

Suggested Cross-References

Exodus 13:14; Leviticus 23:5; Psalm 34:20; John 1:29; Hebrews 11:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19.

Summary

Across its eight occurrences, פָסַח moves from literal passing over and physical lameness to profound spiritual realities: shielding grace, wholehearted worship, and messianic fulfillment. The verb invites every generation to trust the God who still “passes over” in mercy because the Lamb’s blood has been shed.

וְהַפִּסְחִים֙ וַֽיְפַסְּח֔וּ וַיִּפָּסֵ֖חַ וּפָסַ֤ח וּפָסַחְתִּ֖י והפסחים ויפסח ויפסחו ופסח ופסחתי פָּ֠סַח פָּסֹ֥חַ פֹּסְחִים֮ פסח פסחים pā·saḥ pā·sō·aḥ Pasach pāsaḥ paSoach pāsōaḥ pō·sə·ḥîm poseChim pōsəḥîm ū·p̄ā·saḥ ū·p̄ā·saḥ·tî ufaSach ufasachTi ūp̄āsaḥ ūp̄āsaḥtî vaiyippaSeach vayfasseChu vehappisChim way·p̄as·sə·ḥū way·yip·pā·sê·aḥ wayp̄assəḥū wayyippāsêaḥ wə·hap·pis·ḥîm wəhappisḥîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts