פָּגַע
𐤐𐤂𐤏
pâgaʻ
H6293 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To encounter, meet, or come upon—either accidentally or purposefully—with an extension to making a request, entreating, or interceding on someone’s behalf. The term covers both physical contact, such as colliding with or attacking someone, and more abstract senses such as approaching with a petition or plea. In several contexts, it specifically denotes mediation or earnest pleading with an authority person or with deity.
Semantic Range
to encounter (physically or incidentally), to meet (by chance or arrangement), to reach or come upon, to attack or fall upon (with violence), to make a request or petition, to plead, to intercede (mediate on behalf of another), to pray earnestly
Root / Etymology
Root: פגע (p-g-ʻ). The root conveys the idea of a direct or forceful encounter. פָּגַע (pagaʻ) carries this sense into both literal (meeting, colliding, attacking) and figurative (interceding, pleading) dimensions. The action-oriented semantics of the root are preserved in most derived senses, but specific abstracted uses developed in later periods.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּגַע appears in several distinctive contexts in the Hebrew Bible: (1) as a physical meeting or confrontation, sometimes with negative connotation (hostile engagement—Gen 32:2; Josh 2:16); (2) as making contact with or overtaking in the sense of reaching a location or person (1 Sam 10:5); and (3) in its prominent figurative usage, as pleading, entreaty, or intercession (Gen 23:8; Jer 7:16; Isa 53:12). Intercession/entreaty senses become common especially in prophetic and post-exilic texts, typically referring to earnest prayer or mediation before deity. Standard English translations sometimes conflate the physical and figurative senses, and older versions (KJV) frequently use highly interpretive glosses (e.g., "intercede," "pray," "entreat"). However, the Hebrew term encompasses a broader field than just 'praying' or 'interceding' as later liturgical or theological terminology would suggest. Distinction should be maintained between the concrete and the developed metaphorical senses. The word's development tracks from concrete, often forceful encounter to the specialized meaning of mediation or advocacy, especially in priestly and prophetic literature.
Translation Consistency
Meet covers the primary semantic range—physically encountering or coming upon someone, and also approaching or meeting with someone to petition or intercede. It is the most natural, versatile English verb that fits both incidental and purposeful senses of pâgaʻ and allows consistent, idiomatic inflection across contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity; come (betwixt), cause to entreat, fall (upon), make intercession, intercessor, intreat, lay, light (upon), meet (together), pray, reach, run.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פגע (p-g-ʿ) — encounter, meet, reach, strike/contact
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4645 | מִפְגָּע | to a point of encounter |
| H6294 | פֶּגַע | encounter! |
| H6295 | פַּגְעִיאֵל | El-has-met |
Word Forms
26 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6293-15 |
וּ/פָגַע֙ | ufaga | HC/Vqq3ms |
and reached | and he encountered | and it reached | 7 |
H6293-20 |
וַ/יִּפְגַּ֨ע | vayifega | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he struck | and he encountered | and he struck | 5 |
H6293-25 |
יִפְגְּע֥וּ | yifegeu | HVqi3mp |
they meet | they encounter | they will meet | 4 |
H6293-17 |
וּ/פְגַע | ufega | HC/Vqv2ms |
and fall upon | and encounter | and meet | 3 |
H6293-09 |
פָּגַ֣ע | paga | HVqp3ms |
fell upon | he encountered | he met | 2 |
H6293-12 |
תִפְגַּ֞ע | tifega | HVqi2ms |
intercede | you will encounter | intercede | 2 |
H6293-21 |
וַ/יִּפְגְּעוּ | vayifegeu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and met | and they encountered | and they encountered | 2 |
H6293-01 |
בְּ/פִגְע/וֹ | befigeo | HR/Vqc/Sp3ms |
at-meeting-his | in his encountering | in his meeting | 2 |
H6293-11 |
פְּגַע | pega | HVqv2ms |
fall upon | Encounter! | Meet! | 2 |
H6293-26 |
יִפְגְּע֣וּ/ן | yifegeun | HVqi3mp/Sn |
they reached | they encounter | they encounter | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
46 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6293-19 |
Genesis 23:8 | וּ/פִגְעוּ | ufigeu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and intercede | and encounter! | and intercede |
H6293-20 |
Genesis 28:11 | וַ/יִּפְגַּ֨ע | vayifega | HC/Vqw3ms |
he came to | and he encountered | and he met |
H6293-21 |
Genesis 32:2 | וַ/יִּפְגְּעוּ | vayifegeu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and met | and they encountered | and they encountered |
H6293-24 |
Exodus 5:3 | יִפְגָּעֵ֔/נוּ | yifegaenu | HVqi3ms/Sp1cp |
He strike us | he will encounter us | he strike us |
H6293-21 |
Exodus 5:20 | וַֽ/יִּפְגְּעוּ֙ | vayifegeu | HC/Vqw3mp |
And they met | and they encountered | and they encountered |
H6293-12 |
Exodus 23:4 | תִפְגַּ֞ע | tifega | HVqi2ms |
you meet | you will encounter | you will meet |
H6293-01 |
Numbers 35:19 | בְּ/פִגְע/וֹ | befigeo | HR/Vqc/Sp3ms |
at-meeting-his | in his encountering | in his meeting |
H6293-01 |
Numbers 35:21 | בְּ/פִגְע/וֹ | befigeo | HR/Vqc/Sp3ms |
when he meets him | in his encountering | in his meeting |
H6293-25 |
Joshua 2:16 | יִפְגְּע֥וּ | yifegeu | HVqi3mp |
they meet | they encounter | they will meet |
H6293-15 |
Joshua 16:7 | וּ/פָגַע֙ | ufaga | HC/Vqq3ms |
and reached | and he encountered | and it reached |