פַּחַז
𐤐𐤇𐤆
pachaz
H6349 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or quality of instability, recklessness, or rashness, both in action and in character. In biblical usage, it primarily describes hasty, impetuous, or unstable behavior, especially moral or ethical instability. The term may be applied disparagingly to individuals whose actions or words lack deliberation or steadfastness.
Semantic Range
recklessness, instability (especially moral or ethical), rashness, impetuousness, lack of self-control
Root / Etymology
From the root פחז (p-ḥ-z), meaning to be wanton, reckless, unstable. The noun פַּחַז derives from this root and concretizes the notion of instability or recklessness as a personal or behavioral quality.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פַּחַז occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible and is closely tied to character evaluation, particularly in poetic or moral contexts (e.g., Genesis 49:4, describing Reuben's impetuousness). The term's focus on rashness or lack of self-control is not fully captured by English translations such as 'unstable' or 'reckless,' which often lack the nuance of moral or ethical instability implied in the Hebrew. In earlier Israelite contexts, the word serves as a critique of leaders or individuals whose lack of steadiness poses a threat to group stability. It should be distinguished from related terms such as נָבָל (nabal, 'fool'), which emphasizes moral folly or senselessness, whereas פַּחַז centers on reckless instability. Later Jewish/Hebrew tradition sometimes reinterpreted the term to include broader forms of impetuosity, but in biblical Hebrew, the term is primarily negative and applied to people (not situations or objects). English translations sometimes use 'unstable' or 'rash,' but these may understate the term's figurative and ethical weight.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from פָּחַז; ebullition, i.e. froth (figuratively, lust); unstable.
Bantu Hebrew
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פחז (p-ḥ-z) — to be reckless, to be wanton, to be unstable
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6349-01 |
פַּ֤חַז | pachaz | HNcmsa |
unstable | reckless instability | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6349-01 |
Genesis 49:4 | פַּ֤חַז | pachaz | HNcmsa |
unstable | reckless instability |