פִּסֵּחַ
pis.se.ach (H6455)
lame
AI Word Study
# H6455 (pissēaḥ): Lame The Hebrew word pissēaḥ carries the straightforward physical meaning of "lame"—describing a condition of impaired mobility or inability to walk properly. With fourteen occurrences across the biblical text, the word appears consistently enough to indicate it was an established term for recognizing and discussing physical disability in ancient Hebrew society. The prevalence of this word in biblical discourse suggests that lameness was a notable enough condition to warrant a specific, dedicated term. The relatively high frequency of occurrence (fourteen instances) indicates the word was not merely technical jargon but part of regular vocabulary for describing human physical states. This frequency suggests lameness was encountered commonly enough in biblical-era life—whether through injury, disease, or congenital condition—that it warranted clear linguistic designation. The significance of pissēaḥ extends beyond simple medical description; its repeated appearance in scripture indicates that physical disability held cultural and religious significance in ancient Israelite society. The word's existence and usage pattern reveal that biblical authors and audiences recognized and regularly referenced lameness as a distinct human condition worthy of explicit mention, whether in narrative, legal, or prophetic contexts.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
For whatever man he is that has a defect, he shall not draw near: a blind man, or a lame, or he who has a flat nose, or any deformity,
If it has any defect—is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God.
The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “The blind and the lame will keep you out of here;” thinking, “David can’t come in here.”
David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up to the watercourse and strike those lame and blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame can’t come into the house.”
So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.
He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Your rigging is untied. They couldn’t strengthen the foot of their mast. They couldn’t spread the sail. Then the prey of a great plunder was divided. The lame took the prey.
Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, along with the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who travails with child together. They will return as a great company.
When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn’t that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn’t that evil? Present it now to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?” says Yahweh of Armies.
You say also, ‘Behold, what a weariness it is!’ and you have sniffed at it”, says Yahweh of Armies; “and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?” says Yahweh.