פָּצַע (pa.tsa)
pa.tsa
to wound
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb patza means to wound or bruise, specifically through the action of crushing. It describes physical injury caused by pressure or impact rather than a sharp cut. This precise imagery appears in only two verses in the Old Testament, giving its usage a focused and vivid quality.
In Song of Solomon 5:7, the word describes the wounds inflicted on the woman by the city guards. The context suggests a rough handling that left bruises, highlighting the physical pain and vulnerability she experienced. This concrete detail grounds the poetic narrative in tangible human suffering.
The root emphasizes the mechanism of injury—crushing force. Translators often render it as "beat" or "wound," but the underlying sense remains one of damage from pressure. This distinction helps readers visualize the specific nature of the harm described in these brief biblical accounts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word patza describes a wound caused by crushing pressure rather than a sharp cut. This specific imagery appears in only two verses, grounding its meaning in tangible physical pain. In Song of Solomon, it captures the vulnerability of being beaten and bruised by city guards. The focus is on the damage inflicted through forceful impact.
When we encounter this term, we see a God who understands the reality of suffering. He does not ignore the weight of oppression or the marks left by rough handling. This word reminds us that our Creator sees the hidden bruises of life. It validates the pain of those who feel crushed by circumstances beyond their control.
There is comfort in knowing that no wound goes unnoticed. The precision of this language shows that God cares about the details of our hurt. We can bring our deepest pains to Him, trusting that He sees every mark and understands every cause.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they bruised/ me1×
- and/ wounded1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פְצָע֑וּ/נִי1×
- וּ/פָצֹֽעַ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 5:7
The watchmen who go about the city found me. They beat me. They bruised me. The keepers of the walls took my cloak away from me.
This verse uses patza to describe the specific bruising wounds inflicted by city guards, highlighting the physical vulnerability and pain of the woman.
-
I Kings 20:37
Then he found another man, and said, “Please strike me.” The man struck him and wounded him.
Here the word describes a man being struck and wounded as part of a prophetic act, illustrating the sudden impact of crushing force.