פָּצָה (pa.tsah)
pa.tsah
to open
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb pa.tsah carries a sharp, physical sense of opening or parting something that is closed. It appears thirteen times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic books like Psalms and Lamentations, as well as in Judges. The core idea is not a gentle opening but a decisive act of separation or release.
In its most common usage, it describes the action of opening the mouth to speak or utter sound. This gives the word a dynamic quality, linking physical movement with vocal expression. For instance, in Psalm 51:17, the psalmist speaks of God opening the lips, suggesting that true worship requires divine enablement to break silence.
Less frequently, the term is used metaphorically for setting someone free or snatching them away from confinement. In Judges 6:11, an angel sits under a terebinth tree, but the context of deliverance aligns with this sense of liberation. The word emphasizes the transition from being shut in to being open and active, whether in speech or in freedom.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word describes a decisive act of opening, whether it is the earth parting to reveal judgment or lips parting to release speech. It suggests that silence is not always neutral; sometimes it is a waiting room for what God intends to say through us. In Psalm 51:17, the psalmist does not claim his own eloquence but asks God to open his lips. This acknowledges that true worship begins with divine enablement rather than human effort.
When we face situations where our voices feel bound or our circumstances seem sealed shut, this verb reminds us that God holds the power to create new openings. He can part the waters of distress just as He parted the earth in judgment against rebellion. We do not need to force doors open ourselves. Instead, we can trust that He who speaks is faithful to break our silence and bring His purposes to light.
Whether you are waiting for a word of comfort or seeking freedom from a confined situation, remember that God specializes in opening what appears closed. His interventions are often sudden and decisive, turning despair into deliverance. Rest in the assurance that He hears your cries and will respond with action that aligns with His perfect will.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they have opened2×
- set free/ me2×
- you have opened1×
- who/ sets free1×
- they opened1×
- it opened1×
- he opens1×
- and/ opening1×
- and/ it will open1×
- I have opened1×
- <it> has opened1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פָּצ֥וּ2×
- פָּצִ֤יתָה1×
- פָּצִ֤יתִי\־1×
- פָּצְתָ֤ה1×
- פָּצְתָ֣ה1×
- פָּצ֨וּ1×
- פְּצֵ֥/נִי1×
- פְּצֵ֣/נִי1×
- יִפְצֶה\־1×
- וּ/פֹצֶ֥ה1×
- וּ/פָצְתָ֨ה1×
- הַ֭/פּוֹצֶה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 4:11
Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Here the earth opening its mouth serves as a dramatic judicial act, emphasizing that sin leaves a tangible record that God will not ignore.
-
Lamentations 2:16
All your enemies have opened their mouth wide against you. They hiss and gnash their teeth. They say, “We have swallowed her up. Certainly this is the day that we looked for. We have found it. We have seen it.”
The enemies opening their mouths wide illustrates the intensity of opposition and the public nature of Jerusalem's suffering during its destruction.
-
Judges 11:35
When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back.”
Jephthah’s regret shows the heavy consequence of speaking rashly, linking the physical act of opening one's mouth to irreversible commitments.