Original Word: פָשַׂע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pasa`
Pronunciation: pah-sah'
Phonetic Spelling: (paw-sah')
KJV: go
NASB: step
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to stride (from spreading the legs), i.e. rush upon

go

A primitive root; to stride (from spreading the legs), i.e. Rush upon -- go.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to step, march
NASB Translation
step (1).

[מָּשַׂע] verb step, march (Late Hebrew מָּסַע Aramaic מְּסַע, ); —

Qal Imperfect1singular אֶפְשֳׂעָה (Ges^{§ 10h}) Isaiah 27:4, with ב against..

Root Meaning and Imagery

The verb פָשַׂע conveys the idea of striding decisively through an obstacle, advancing with the intent to clear the way. In its sole biblical appearance it pictures swift, unhindered movement—God marching straight through whatever opposes Him. The imagery is physical but functions metaphorically for irresistible divine action.

Occurrence and Context

Isaiah 27:4 is its only attestation: “If only there were briers and thorns confronting Me, I would march against them in battle; I would burn them up together” (Berean Standard Bible). The declaration closes a unit (Isaiah 27:2-6) often called “The Song of the Vineyard,” where the LORD promises future fruitfulness for His people after purging judgment.

Prophetic Setting

1. Audience: Judah during the Assyrian crisis, yet the oracle looks beyond to the eschatological restoration of Israel.
2. Motif: The vineyard once judged (Isaiah 5) will be spared wrath (“I am not angry”), yet divine holiness still consumes hostile, thorn-like opposition.
3. Literary balance: פָשַׂע sits between the gentleness of vineyard care and the severity of consuming fire, underscoring both mercy and justice in one breath.

Briers and Thorns in Scripture

• Genesis 3:18 introduces thorns as symbols of curse.
• Judges 8:16; 2 Samuel 23:6-7; Proverbs 15:19 depict them as images of worthless, stubborn people.
• Hebrews 6:7-8 applies the same figure to apostasy.

Thus Isaiah’s “briers and thorns” stand for all who resist God’s redemptive purposes; פָשַׂע shows what happens when grace is spurned—He strides through and incinerates the opposition.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty: Nothing impedes the LORD; He does not sidestep obstacles—He oversteps them.
2. Holiness and Judgment: Fire-language (“I would burn them”) aligns with Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29, linking Old and New Testament visions of God’s consuming holiness.
3. Covenant Faithfulness: The same God who guards His vineyard (Isaiah 27:3) also removes threats to its fruitfulness, fulfilling promises of blessing to Abraham’s seed.

Ministry Applications

• Confidence in Spiritual Warfare: Believers may trust that God still strides through hostile forces—visible or unseen—to protect His church.
• Warning against Hard-heartedness: Those who choose to be spiritual “thorns” face inevitable, purifying fire (Matthew 13:40-42).
• Call to Cooperation with Grace: Instead of resisting, Christians are urged to “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16), aligning their steps with the divine stride pictured by פָשַׂע.

Christological Reflection

Jesus Christ embodies the LORD’s decisive advance. At Calvary He marched through sin, death, and satanic opposition, “disarming the powers and authorities” (Colossians 2:15). His second coming will consummate Isaiah’s picture when He “strikes down the nations” (Revelation 19:15). Until then, the church proclaims both the offer of peace (“I am not angry”) and the certainty of judgment for every unrepentant briar.

Summary

פָשַׂע, though appearing only once, paints a vivid portrait of God’s unstoppable advance. In Isaiah it reassures the faithful, warns the rebellious, and prefigures the redemptive stride of Christ—a timely word for any generation tempted to underestimate the resolve of the Holy One of Israel.

אֶפְשְׂעָ֥ה אפשעה ’ep̄·śə·‘āh ’ep̄śə‘āh efseAhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts