פָּצַל (pa.tsal)
pa.tsal
to peel
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb patzal, found in the Piel stem, means to peel or strip off an outer layer. It appears only twice in the entire Old Testament, both times in the book of Genesis (2:9 and 3:7). In these narratives, it describes the physical act of removing skin, such as peeling fig leaves to make coverings for Adam and Eve after they realized their nakedness.
This word is concrete and tactile. It does not refer to gentle grooming but to the removal of a protective covering. The lexicons note its rarity, which highlights how specific actions are recorded in Scripture. When used in Genesis 3:7, it underscores the immediate, practical response to shame—creating something new from what was at hand.
Its limited usage suggests it was not a common agricultural term in the biblical text but rather a precise descriptor for this specific moment of human vulnerability. The act of peeling fig leaves serves as a vivid image of early humanity’s attempt to manage their own exposure before God provided more durable garments.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The verb patzal describes the simple, tactile act of peeling away an outer layer. In Genesis, this word captures the moment Adam and Eve realized their nakedness and tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. It is a concrete image of human effort to manage shame using whatever was immediately at hand.
This rarity reminds us that Scripture pays attention to specific details of our vulnerability. When we feel exposed or inadequate, our first instinct is often to create our own solutions. Yet the biblical narrative shows that while these attempts are real and understandable, they are temporary measures. The story moves toward a deeper provision that goes beyond what we can peel together from nature.
There is comfort in knowing that God notices these small moments of human struggle. You do not need to hide your feelings or pretend everything is fine. Bringing your honest situation to Him allows for grace that surpasses our own limited resources.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he had stripped1×
- and/ he stripped1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פִּצֵּ֔ל1×
- וַ/יְפַצֵּ֤ל1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 30:37
Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, and plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
This verse uses the word to describe Jacob peeling white streaks into rods, showing how the term applies to removing bark to reveal the underlying wood.
-
Genesis 30:38
He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. They conceived when they came to drink.
Here the peeled rods are placed near the flocks, linking the physical act of stripping the tree to a moment of divine blessing and conception.