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פָּצַע

𐤐𐤑𐤏

pâtsaʻ

H6481 verb

SILEX Entry

Root פצע to split, break open, pierce, wound

Definition

To pierce, wound, or injure by breaking the surface, especially by cutting or splitting flesh. The term refers to the infliction of a physical wound as a result of violent action, such as striking or piercing with a weapon. In biblical usage, it most commonly occurs in contexts of battle or interpersonal violence, denoting the act of causing bodily harm via penetration or rupture of the body.

Semantic Range

to wound by piercing or splitting, to inflict a physical injury involving rupture or breach of flesh, to injure in battle, to cause an open wound

Root / Etymology

Root: פצע. The root has the core meaning of splitting or opening, especially in the sense of creating a breach or break in a surface. The verb פָּצַע derives directly from this root and is used in the sense of wounding or injuring by splitting or piercing. It is not etymologically related to terms for general striking or killing but is more narrowly focused on the act of puncturing or splitting that results in a wound.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, פָּצַע is used primarily in narrative contexts relating to battle injuries, violence, or judicial proceedings involving bodily harm. Its usage is relatively limited compared with broader verbs for striking (e.g., נכה). The focus of פָּצַע is on the act of creating a physical wound rather than mere injury or the act of killing. In legal texts, it can denote wounds that have legal consequences requiring compensation. The term does not carry any inherent ritual or symbolic meaning but is strictly descriptive of the physical act. English translations often render it as 'wound' or 'injure,' which is generally accurate, though the nuance of splitting/penetrating may be underemphasized. Related terms include חָבַל (to injure, damage) and עָצַב (to hurt, cause pain), but פָּצַע is distinctive in focusing on a rupture or opening in the body.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to split, i.e. wound; wound.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פצע (p-ts-ʿ) — split, break open, pierce, wound

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6482 פֶּצַע my wounds

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6481-02 פְצֽוּעַ fetsua HVqsmsc crushed pierced one 1
H6481-01 פְצָע֑וּ/נִי fetsauni HVqp3cp/Sp1cs they wounded me they pierced me 1
H6481-03 וּ/פָצֹֽעַ ufatsoa HC/Vqa and wounded and piercing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6481-02 Deuteronomy 23:2 פְצֽוּעַ fetsua HVqsmsc crushed pierced one
H6481-03 1 Kings 20:37 וּ/פָצֹֽעַ ufatsoa HC/Vqa and wounded and piercing
H6481-01 Song of Songs 5:7 פְצָע֑וּ/נִי fetsauni HVqp3cp/Sp1cs they wounded me they pierced me
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