Brief Overview of πάσχα (Strong’s G3957: pascha)

Strong’s G3957: Of Aramaic origin (פֶּסַח pesach); the Passover (the meal, the day, the festival or the special sacrifices connected with it): – Easter, Passover. A feast commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, later fulfilled in Christ’s sacrificial death as the ultimate Passover lamb.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πάσχα represents a profound theological intersection between the Old and New Covenants. Its primary meaning refers to the Jewish Passover, commemorating God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. In the New Testament, it takes on deeper significance as Jesus becomes the ultimate Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). The early church recognized this connection, seeing in Christ’s death the perfect fulfillment of the Passover typology. Today, this understanding continues to enrich Christian theology, highlighting God’s consistent plan of redemption through sacrificial atonement.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πάσχα, pascha, [PAS-khah]
• Detailed pronunciation: PAH-skha (with a guttural ‘kh’ sound)
• Part of Speech: Indeclinable Noun

Etymology:

• From Aramaic פֶּסַח (pesach)
• Originally from Hebrew פֶּסַח (pesach)
• Root meaning: “to pass over” or “to spare”

D – Defining Meanings

• The Passover feast
• The Passover lamb
• The Passover festival period

For compound words: Not applicable as this is a loan word from Aramaic/Hebrew

Translation Options:

• Passover – Most accurate reflecting both feast and sacrifice
• Easter – Historical usage in some translations
• Paschal Feast – Technical term preserving Greek form

E – Exploring Similar Words

• θυσία [thusia, THOO-see-ah] – general sacrifice
• ἀμνός [amnos, am-NOS] – lamb
• ἑορτή [heorte, heh-or-TAY] – feast, festival

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Indeclinable noun
• Does not change form regardless of case or number
• Always appears as πάσχα
• Used in both singular and plural contexts
• Cross-references: πασχάζω (to observe Passover)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its dual meaning as both feast and sacrifice. Thayer’s highlights its Hebrew origins. LSJ notes its usage in Hellenistic Jewish contexts. Vine’s emphasizes its prophetic fulfillment in Christ. All lexicons agree on its fundamental connection to redemptive history.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“You know that after two days is the Passover [πάσχα], and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” (Matthew 26:2)

Additional References:
Mark 14:1, Luke 2:41, John 2:13, 1 Corinthians 5:7

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πάσχα embodies God’s redemptive plan, from Israel’s deliverance to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. It demonstrates how God’s salvation story culminates in Jesus, the perfect Passover lamb who takes away the sins of the world, offering freedom from spiritual bondage through His blood.

D – Did You Know?

1. The term πάσχα influenced the name for Easter in many languages (e.g., Spanish: Pascua)
2. Early Christians celebrated Passover with a Christian interpretation before Easter became distinct
3. The dating of πάσχα celebrations led to major controversies in early church history

Strong’s G3957: Of Aramaic origin (פֶּסַח pesach); the Passover (the meal, the day, the festival or the special sacrifices connected with it): – Easter, Passover. A feast commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, later fulfilled in Christ’s sacrificial death as the ultimate Passover lamb.

Part of speech: Indeclinable Noun

Tags: #Feast #Sacrifice #Redemption #Passover #Easter #JewishFestivals #ChristianHolidays #BiblicalFeasts #Soteriology #JesusChrist #Atonement​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​