Bible Word Study
פַּס דַּמִּים
Paç Dammîym · Pas-Dammim, a place in Palestine
פַּס דַּמִּים
Pas-Dammim, a place in Palestine
Definition
Pas-Dammim is a proper noun referring to a specific location in ancient Palestine, mentioned only once in the Old Testament. The name itself means 'palm (or dell) of bloodshed,' derived from its Hebrew components. It is identified as the site of a significant battle where one of David's mighty men, Eleazar, stood his ground against the Philistines (1 Chronicles 11:13). This location is also referenced in the parallel account of 1 Samuel 17:1, where it is called Ephes-dammim, indicating these are two names for the same place near the Valley of Elah.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 11:13, within a historical narrative recounting the exploits of King David's warriors. Its usage is strictly geographical, identifying the battlefield location of a heroic stand. The context is military history, linking the place name directly to a story of valor and divine deliverance in combat against the Philistines.
Etymology
The name Pas-Dammim is a compound Hebrew word. It originates from 'pas' (H6446), meaning 'palm' (of the hand) or by extension a 'flat place' or 'dell,' and 'dammim' (plural of H1818, 'dam'), meaning 'blood.' Thus, it literally translates to 'palm of bloodshed' or 'dell of blood.' This vividly descriptive name likely commemorated a historically bloody conflict at that site.
Semantic Range
While primarily a geographical marker, the name Pas-Dammim and its associated narrative contribute to the theology of God's faithfulness in battle and the valor of those who trust in Him. The story in 1 Chronicles 11:13 highlights divine intervention granting victory against overwhelming odds, a recurring theme in Israel's history. Understanding the name's meaning—'dell of bloodshed'—underscores the high cost and fierce reality of the conflicts through which God established and preserved His people, pointing to His sovereignty over human warfare. In ancient Near Eastern culture, place names often commemorated significant events, especially battles. Naming a location 'Palm of Bloodshed' served as a permanent, geographical memorial to a major conflict. This practice helped preserve collective memory and history. For the original readers of Chronicles, this name would immediately evoke the story of Eleazar's heroism and the broader context of the Philistine wars. Ephes-dammim (’Epes Dammîym, H658) — An alternate name for the same location, used in 1 Samuel 17:1. 'Ephes' can mean 'end' or 'boundary,' so the name may emphasize it as a 'boundary of bloodshed.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]