פֶּצַע
a wound
Definition
The Hebrew noun פֶּצַע (petsaʻ) refers to a physical wound or injury, typically resulting from violence or conflict. It describes a specific, inflicted wound, such as those mentioned in the law of retaliation (Exodus 21:25) or the boast of Lamech (Genesis 4:23). In a metaphorical sense, it can describe the wounds of divine discipline or the painful but faithful rebuke of a friend (Proverbs 20:30, 27:6). The word consistently carries a sense of damage or harm that breaks the skin or body.
Biblical Usage
The word is used in legal, poetic, and wisdom contexts. It appears in the legal stipulations of Exodus 21:25 ('wound for wound'), in the violent poetry of Lamech in Genesis 4:23, and in the wisdom literature of Proverbs and Job. In Proverbs, it is used figuratively for the wounds of discipline (Proverbs 20:30) and the wounds of a friend's honest criticism (Proverbs 27:6). The pattern shows it moves from literal physical injury to a metaphor for painful but necessary correction.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb פָּצַע (pātsaʻ, H6481), meaning 'to wound, to bruise, to crush.' This root conveys the action of inflicting a breaking or crushing injury. The noun form specifically denotes the resulting wound or bruise. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the sense of a crushing or pressing wound.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it appears in the foundational 'lex talionis' (law of retaliation) in Exodus 21:25, establishing a principle of proportionate justice. Its metaphorical use in Proverbs connects human discipline and rebuke to the concept of divine correction, suggesting that painful truth, like a wound, can be an instrument of healing and life (Proverbs 27:6). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of passages about God's disciplinary actions (e.g., Job 9:17) and the value of difficult, truthful relationships.
In its original setting, a פֶּצַע was a serious matter, as any wound breaking the skin carried a high risk of infection in the ancient world. Its use in the law code (Exodus 21:25) reflects a cultural move toward limiting vengeance and establishing objective, proportional justice for bodily injuries, moving beyond clan-based blood feuds.
מַכָּה (makkâ, H4347) — a more general term for a blow, plague, or wound, often with a wider semantic range. צָרַעַת (tsaraʻath, H6883) — specifically a skin disease or leprosy, not an inflicted wound. פֶּשַׁע (peshaʻ, H6588) — a transgression or rebellion; a moral 'wound,' but distinct from physical injury.
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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