פַּס דַּמִּים (pas dam.mim)
pas dam.mim
Pas-dammim
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The name Pas-dammim, meaning "boundary of blood," identifies a specific location in western Judah. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, serving as an alternative designation for Ephes-dammim in 1 Chronicles 11:13. This single occurrence links the site to the broader narrative of David’s early military campaigns.
Geographically, the place is situated approximately sixteen miles southwest of Jerusalem. The striking name likely reflects the violent history associated with the area, specifically the battle between David and Goliath recorded in 1 Samuel 17:1. While most translations use the more common form Ephes-dammim, the Chronicler’s choice of Pas-dammim highlights the same historical ground where a significant conflict took place.
This variant spelling offers a glimpse into how biblical writers could refer to the same location with slight linguistic differences. The name itself serves as a permanent marker of that historic encounter, preserving the memory of the site long after the events described in Samuel had concluded.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Pas-dammim, meaning "boundary of blood," appears only once in Scripture within 1 Chronicles 11:13. It serves as an alternative title for Ephes-dammim, the very field where David faced Goliath. This single mention anchors us to a specific place where fear once ruled but faith stood firm.
When you encounter your own moments of overwhelming opposition, this location reminds you that God is present in the fray. The barley field was not just soil; it was ground where courage met divine promise. You are never alone when facing giants that seem too large to overcome.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- at <the>/ Pas1×
- Dammim1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דַּמִּ֗ים1×
- בַּ/פַּ֣ס1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 11:13
He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
This verse uniquely identifies Pas-dammim as the site where David stood firm against the Philistines, linking the name directly to his early military victories.