פַּחַד
𐤐𐤇𐤃
pachad
H6344 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Testicle; the male genital organ, with connotations of personal or bodily vulnerability. The term references the anatomical part itself, especially as it features in ritual or legal contexts where injury or mutilation is discussed. While rarely used, it directly names the testicle and can carry associations of shame or embarrassment arising from injury or loss, given the organ’s significance for masculinity and procreation in ancient Israelite culture.
Semantic Range
testicle, male genital organ; both literal reference to anatomy and, by extension, an object associated with shame or injury
Root / Etymology
From the root פּחד (p-ḥ-d), meaning 'to fear, to be in dread.' The term פַּחַד in this specific sense shifts from the basic root meaning of 'fear' to denote the testicle, likely due to the organ’s association with feelings of vulnerability or shame if harmed, and thus metaphorically connected to the state of fear or alarm.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פַּחַד occurs in Deuteronomy 23:2 [Eng 23:1] in the phrase 'crushed testicle.' In this context, the word specifically designates the anatomical testicle and serves a legal-ritual function, excluding those so injured from entering the assembly. While the basic root פּחד almost exclusively means 'to fear' or 'fear' (as a noun), this specific noun instance is distinct and context-bound. Ancient interpreters, as well as some Jewish and Christian translations, sometimes veiled the anatomical reference due to modesty, rendering it generally as 'stone' or as an idiom for genitalia. The meaning does not carry forward into later rabbinic Hebrew, where other terms are standard. The translation 'testicle' reflects the concrete anatomical sense required by the context, contrasting with the figurative senses and uses of the root elsewhere.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as פַּחַד; a testicle (as a cause of shame akin to fear); stone.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פחד (p-ḥ-d) — fear, dread, awe
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6344-01 |
פַחֲדָ֣י/ו | fachadayv | HNcmdc/Sp3ms |
of his thighs | his testicles | 1 |
H6344-02 |
פחד/ו | fchdv | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his thighs | his testicle | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences