פָּסֵחַ (pa.se.ach)
pa.se.ach
Paseah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Paseah, meaning "limper," appears only four times in Scripture, linking a Judahite ancestor to the post-exilic restoration of Jerusalem. In 1 Chronicles 4:12, he is listed as the son of Eshton and brother of Beth-rapha, establishing his place within the tribe’s genealogy during the divided monarchy.
The name surfaces again in Ezra 2:49, where it identifies the head of a family of temple servants who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel. This suggests that the disability implied by the name did not disqualify them from sacred service, but rather marked their lineage within the restored community.
Finally, Nehemiah 3:6 mentions Paseah as the father of Joiada, a builder who helped repair Jerusalem’s walls. The recurrence of this uncommon name across generations highlights how physical limitations were integrated into the identity and heritage of those rebuilding the city’s spiritual and physical foundations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Paseah means "limper," a detail that might seem like a hindrance at first glance. Yet Scripture records this ancestor in the lineage of Judah and later among those who rebuilt Jerusalem. This tells us that physical limitations do not disqualify anyone from being part of God’s family or His work. The Bible does not hide these details; it honors them as part of a faithful heritage.
When we look at the descendants of Paseah, we see them serving in the temple and helping to repair the city walls. Their presence reminds us that every member of the community has a role to play. God values our contribution regardless of our physical state or past struggles. We are all woven into the story of restoration.
This word invites us to look at our own lives with grace. Perhaps you feel limited by something in your body or your history. The example of Paseah shows that these traits do not separate you from God’s purpose. Instead, they become part of a larger tapestry of faithfulness that strengthens the whole community.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Paseah4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פָּסֵ֔חַ2×
- פָסֵֽחַ\׃1×
- פָסֵ֖חַ1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 2:49
the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
This verse identifies Paseah's descendants as temple servants, showing that their lineage was recognized for sacred service despite the name's meaning.
-
Nehemiah 3:6
Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate. They laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
Here Paseah is named as the father of Joiada, a builder who actively participated in restoring Jerusalem's walls, linking the family to physical reconstruction.
-
I Chronicles 4:12
Eshton became the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash. These are the men of Recah.
This genealogy places Paseah within the tribe of Judah during the divided monarchy, establishing his early historical significance before the exile.