פָּסֵחַ
Paseach, the name of two Israelites
Definition
Paseach (פָּסֵחַ) is a proper noun referring to two distinct individuals in the Old Testament. The first is a descendant of Judah mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:12. The second is the head of a family of temple servants (Nethinim) who returned from the Babylonian exile, as listed in Ezra 2:49 and Nehemiah 7:51. This same Paseach (or his descendants) is noted in Nehemiah 3:6 for helping to repair the Old Gate of Jerusalem during the wall's reconstruction. The name carries the inherent meaning of 'limping' or 'passing over'.
Biblical Usage
The name Paseach is used exclusively as a personal name for male Israelites. It appears in genealogical and administrative lists. In 1 Chronicles 4:12, it functions within the tribal genealogy of Judah. In the post-exilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah, it identifies a family head among the temple servants who returned to Judah, highlighting their role in the restoration community (Ezra 2:49, Nehemiah 7:51). Its appearance in Nehemiah 3:6 specifically connects an individual or family to the practical, communal work of rebuilding Jerusalem's defenses.
Etymology
Paseach is a proper name derived from the Hebrew verb פָּסַח (pāsach, H6452), which means 'to limp' or 'to pass over, spare'. The name is essentially a participle meaning 'limping' or 'one who limps/halts'. This root is most famously used for the Passover (Pesach), the event where God 'passed over' the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. As a personal name, it likely described a characteristic or commemorated an event, a common practice in Hebrew nomenclature.
Semantic Range
While primarily a personal name, its etymological connection to the root פָּסַח (pāsach) provides a subtle theological link. This root is central to the Passover narrative (Exodus 12), symbolizing God's deliverance and redemption. For a family bearing this name to be listed among those returning from exile (Ezra 2:49) and participating in Jerusalem's restoration (Nehemiah 3:6) creates a thematic echo: they are part of a new act of God's 'passing over' in judgment and deliverance, bringing his people back to the land. It reminds the reader that God's redemptive patterns repeat throughout history.
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often descriptive or expressed a hope or circumstance. A name meaning 'limping' might have originally referred to a physical characteristic of an ancestor or symbolized surviving a difficulty (like 'limping' through a crisis). Its connection to the verb for 'pass over' could also indicate a family tradition or gratitude related to God's sparing action. As a name borne by temple servants (Nethinim), it signifies that individuals from all backgrounds and with all names were dedicated to God's service in the restored worship community.
There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. It is related etymologically to: פֶּסַח (Pesach, H6453) — the noun 'Passover', the festival commemorating God's sparing act.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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