Bible Word Study
פָּסַךְ
Pâçak · Pasak, an Israelite
פָּסַךְ
Pasak, an Israelite
Definition
Pasak (also spelled Pasach) is a proper noun referring to an individual named in the genealogy of the tribe of Asher. He is identified as one of the sons of Japhlet, a descendant of Asher, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 7:33. The name appears only in this genealogical list, and no further narrative or historical details about his life or actions are provided in the biblical text. As a personal name, it functions solely to identify a specific individual within the lineage of the Israelite tribes.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 7:33, within a genealogical record. It is part of a list detailing the descendants of Asher, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The context is purely genealogical, serving to trace family lineage rather than to narrate events or describe character. There are no patterns of usage beyond this single occurrence.
Etymology
The name Pasak (פָּסַךְ) is derived from an unused Hebrew root, likely meaning 'to divide' or 'to cut.' As a proper name, it may carry the sense of 'divider' or 'one who divides.' This etymology is typical of many Hebrew personal names, which often derive from verbs or nouns describing attributes, actions, or circumstances.
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, personal names were often significant, conveying meaning related to character, destiny, or circumstances of birth. The name Pasak ('divider') may have reflected a hope, trait, or event associated with his birth. Genealogies like the one in 1 Chronicles were crucial for establishing tribal identity, inheritance rights, and priestly lineage, emphasizing the importance of family and covenant continuity within the community.
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]