Lexical Summary
pesha: transgressions, transgression, rebellion
Original Word:פֶשַׁע
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:pesha`
Pronunciation:PEH-shah
Phonetic Spelling:(peh'-shah)
KJV: rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass
NASB:transgressions, transgression, rebellion, rebellious act, rebellious acts, breach of trust, rebellious
Word Origin:[fromH6586 (פָּשַׁע - transgressed)]
1. a revolt (national, moral or religious)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass
Frompasha'; a revolt (national, moral or religious) -- rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.
see HEBREWpasha'
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
pashaDefinitiontransgression
NASB Translationbreach of trust (1), rebellion (6), rebellious (1), rebellious act (2), rebellious acts (2), transgression (37), transgressions (45).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Psalm 19:14 ; — absolute
Exodus 22:8 +,
Proverbs 10:9 +; construct
Genesis 50:17 +; suffix
Genesis 31:16 14t. suffixes; plural
Proverbs 10:12; construct
Amos 1:3 +, etc.; —
transgression against individualsGenesis 31:36;Genesis 50:17 (twice in verse);Exodus 22:8 (E),1 Samuel 24:12;1 Samuel 25:28;Proverbs 10:19;Proverbs 17:19;Proverbs 29:6,16,22.Proverbs 12:13;Proverbs 10:12, compareProverbs 17:9;Proverbs 19:11;Proverbs 28:13.
Amos 1:3,6,9,11,13;Amos 2:1; of landProverbs 28:2. Elsewhere
in General, ""Isaiah 58:1;Isaiah 59:12;Micah 1:5 (twice in verse);Micah 1:13;Micah 3:8;Amos 5:12; ""Ezekiel 21:29;Psalm 107:17;Ezekiel 18:22,28;Ezekiel 33:12;Isaiah 59:12;Job 35:6;Jeremiah 5:6(?);Job 34:37he addeth transgression unto his sin;Isaiah 57:4; personified as evil spirit,Psalm 36:2.
; he knows itPsalm 51:5, makes known concerning it toPsalm 32:5, does not cover it ()Job 31:33; turns from itIsaiah 59:20;Ezekiel 18:30; casts it away from himEzekiel 18:31.
by visiting it ()Amos 3:14;Psalm 89:33, dealing with one according to it,Ezekiel 39:24, making it known to sinnerJob 13:23;Job 36:9; punishing in various ways:because of itIsaiah 53:5,8; with ,acc. to itAmos 2:4,6;Lamentations 1:5,22;for it, withIsaiah 50:1;Lamentations 1:14yoke of transgression; personified,Job 8:4; be does not grant forgiveness to it,Exodus 23:21;Joshua 24:19(E).
() itExodus 34:7;Numbers 14:18 (J),Job 7:21, comparePsalm 32:1; pardons ()1 Kings 8:50; passes over (, compareProverbs 19:11)Micah 7:18; removes ()Psalm 103:12; covers over ()Psalm 65:4 ;-compare (of priest)Leviticus 16:16, and confession of over () goatLeviticus 16:21; — God blots out ()Isaiah 43:25;Isaiah 44:22;Psalm 51:3;Psalm 25:7; delivers from,Psalm 39:9. —Job 35:15 read for q. v.
guilt of transgression (compare
),without (guilt of) transgressionJob 33:9;Job 34:6;Psalm 59:4;Ezekiel 33:10;Isaiah 24:20;Psalm 5:11;Psalm 19:14; :defile themselves with all (the guilt of) transgressionsEzekiel 14:11;Ezekiel 37:23;Job 14:17.
punishment for transgression,Daniel 8:12,13;Daniel 9:24, compare try
offering for transgression,Micah 6:7shall I give my first-born as an offering for my trunsgression (compare ).
Topical Lexicon
Conceptual Overviewפֶשַׁע denotes a wilful break with God’s revealed will. Unlike inadvertent sin, it is conscious revolt that fractures covenant relationship, producing guilt that only divine forgiveness can remove.
Occurrences and Distribution
Approximately ninety-three occurrences span the Old Testament. The term appears in the Pentateuch (e.g.,Exodus 34:7), Historical Books (2 Samuel 14:14), Wisdom Literature (Psalm 32:1), and is heavily concentrated in the Prophets—especially Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, and Amos. The breadth of usage demonstrates that rebellion is a perennial human problem affecting individuals, families, nations, and even kings.
Theological Significance
1. Offence against the Holy God. Each פֶשַׁע is first vertical. “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:2).
2. Liability to judgment. Persistent transgression invites covenant sanctions: “I will punish them for their transgression” (Hosea 8:13).
3. Need for atonement.Leviticus 16:16 ties the Day of Atonement directly to “the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites.”
4. Ground of blessing when forgiven. “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven” (Psalm 32:1).
Relationship to Covenant
Israel’s national life is measured by obedience. Pesha breaks the covenant (Isaiah 24:5) and nullifies the nation’s witness. Yet God’s covenant love seeks restoration: “Though your sins are scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).
Sacrificial and Atonement Considerations
Blood sacrifices foreshadowed ultimate resolution.Isaiah 53 links the Suffering Servant directly with pesha:
• “He was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5).
• “He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).
Daniel 9:24 foretells a day “to finish the transgression,” pointing beyond temple ritual to Messiah’s once-for-all sacrifice.
Prophetic Warnings
Prophets confront social injustice as pesha. Amos condemns city elites for “three sins…even four” (Amos 2:6); Ezekiel rebukes leaders who “conspire against Me” (Ezekiel 22:27). Transgression is never merely private; it corrupts courts, commerce, and worship.
Wisdom Literature Insights
Proverbs exposes practical consequences:
• “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them” (Proverbs 11:3).
• “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all transgressions” (Proverbs 10:12).
Thus pesha fractures community; forgiving love restores it.
Interpersonal and Social Dimensions
• Marriage: adultery is framed as transgression (Jeremiah 3:8).
• Politics: rebellion against David (1 Kings 12:19) reveals pesha in national schism.
• Legal sphere:Psalm 59 labels violent injustice as pesha, reminding rulers that God “rules over the nations” (Psalm 59:5).
Messianic Fulfillment
New Testament writers echo pesha theology. Paul explains that “the law was added for transgressions until the Seed” (Galatians 3:19). Christ’s atoning death fulfillsIsaiah 53, providing the only satisfactory answer to human rebellion.
Practical Ministry Implications
1. Preaching: Declare the gravity of transgression and the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement.
2. Pastoral care: Offer assurance from passages such asMicah 7:18-19—“You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
3. Discipleship: Encourage believers to forsake wilful rebellion, embracing Spirit-enabled obedience (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
4. Social ethics: Address systemic wrongs as pesha, calling communities to repentance and restorative justice.
Summary
פֶשַׁע exposes the human heart in active revolt yet magnifies divine mercy that “blots out transgressions for My own sake” (Isaiah 43:25). The storyline of Scripture moves from pervasive rebellion to completed redemption, urging every generation to flee from pesha and rest in the Redeemer who “delivers us from all transgressions” (Psalm 25:11).
Forms and Transliterations
בְּפֶ֣שַֽׁע בְּפֶ֣שַׁע בְּפֶ֤שַֽׁע בְּפֶ֤שַׁע בְּפָ֑שַׁע בפשע הַפֶּ֜שַׁע הפשע וְהַפֶּ֣שַׁע וָפֶ֖שַׁע וָפֶ֙שַׁע֙ וָפָ֑שַׁע וּ֝פִשְׁעֵיהֶ֗ם וּבְפִשְׁעֵיכֶ֖ם וּכְפִשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם וּפְשָׁעַ֗י ובפשעיכם והפשע וכפשעיהם ומפשעיהם ופשע ופשעי ופשעיהם לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֔ם לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֖ם לְפֶ֣שַׁע לְפֶ֥שַׁע לפשע לפשעכם מִפְּשָׁעֵ֔נוּ מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע מִפֶּ֥שַׁע מפשע מפשענו פְ֝שָׁעֶ֗יךָ פְ֭שָׁעַי פְ֭שָׁעָיו פְּ֝שָׁעִ֗ים פְּ֝שָׁעֵ֗ינוּ פְּשָׁעֵֽינוּ׃ פְּשָׁעֶ֑יהָ פְּשָׁעֶ֔יךָ פְּשָׁעַ֜י פְּשָׁעַ֥י פְּשָׁעָ֑י פְּשָׁעָ֖יו פְּשָׁעָיו֙ פְשָׁעֵ֙ינוּ֙ פְשָׁעֵ֣ינוּ פְשָׁעֵ֥ינוּ פְשָׁעֶ֖יךָ פְשָׁעָֽי׃ פִּ֭שְׁעֵיהֶם פִּֽשְׁעִ֥י פִּשְׁע֔וֹ פִּשְׁעִ֑י פִּשְׁעִ֔י פִּשְׁעִי֙ פִּשְׁעֵ֣י פִּשְׁעֵ֥י פִּשְׁעֵי־ פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֑ם פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֔ם פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔ם פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֗ם פִּשְׁעֵיכֶם֙ פִּשְׁעָ֑ם פִּשְׁעָ֔הּ פִּשְׁעָ֔ם פִּשְׁעָֽם׃ פִשְׁעִ֖י פִשְׁעִי֮ פִשְׁעֵֽי־ פֶ֖שַׁע פֶ֣שַׁע פֶ֭שַׁע פֶּ֔שַׁע פֶּ֗שַׁע פֶּ֡שַׁע פֶּ֣שַׁע פֶּ֭שַׁע פָ֥שַׁע פָּ֑שַׁע פָּֽשַׁע׃ פָֽשַׁע׃ פשע פשע׃ פשעה פשעו פשעי פשעי־ פשעי׃ פשעיה פשעיהם פשעיו פשעיך פשעיכם פשעים פשעינו פשעינו׃ פשעם פשעם׃ bə·p̄ā·ša‘ bə·p̄e·ša‘ beFasha beFesha bəp̄āša‘ bəp̄eša‘ Fasha Fesha Feshaai Feshaav feshaEicha feshaEinu fishei fishI hap·pe·ša‘ happeša‘ hapPesha lə·p̄e·ša‘ lə·p̄iš·‘ă·ḵem leFesha lefishaChem ləp̄eša‘ ləp̄iš‘ăḵem mip·pe·ša‘ mip·pə·šā·‘ê·nū mippeša‘ mippəšā‘ênū mipPesha mippeshaEnu pā·ša‘ p̄ā·ša‘ pāša‘ p̄āša‘ Pasha pe·ša‘ p̄e·ša‘ pə·šā·‘āw p̄ə·šā·‘āw pə·šā·‘ay pə·šā·‘āy p̄ə·šā·‘ay p̄ə·šā·‘āy pə·šā·‘e·hā pə·šā·‘e·ḵā p̄ə·šā·‘e·ḵā pə·šā·‘ê·nū p̄ə·šā·‘ê·nū pə·šā·‘îm peša‘ p̄eša‘ pəšā‘āw p̄əšā‘āw pəšā‘ay pəšā‘āy p̄əšā‘ay p̄əšā‘āy pəšā‘ehā pəšā‘eḵā p̄əšā‘eḵā pəšā‘ênū p̄əšā‘ênū pəšā‘îm Pesha peshaAi peshaAv peshaEicha peshaEiha peshaEinu peshaIm piš‘āh piš‘ām piš‘ê piš‘ê- p̄iš‘ê- piš‘êhem piš‘êḵem piš‘î p̄iš‘î piš‘ōw piš·‘āh piš·‘ām piš·‘ê piš·‘ê- p̄iš·‘ê- piš·‘ê·hem piš·‘ê·ḵem piš·‘î p̄iš·‘î piš·‘ōw pishAh pishAm pishEi pisheiChem pisheiHem pishI pishO ū·ḇə·p̄iš·‘ê·ḵem ū·ḵə·p̄iš·‘ê·hem ū·mip·piš·‘ê·hem ū·p̄ə·šā·‘ay ū·p̄iš·‘ê·hem ūḇəp̄iš‘êḵem uchefisheiHem ufeshaAi ufisheiHem ūḵəp̄iš‘êhem ūmippiš‘êhem umippisheiHem ūp̄əšā‘ay ūp̄iš‘êhem uvefisheiChem vaFasha vaFesha vehapPesha wā·p̄ā·ša‘ wā·p̄e·ša‘ wāp̄āša‘ wāp̄eša‘ wə·hap·pe·ša‘ wəhappeša‘
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