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פַּחַת מוֹאָב

𐤐𐤇𐤕 𐤌𐤅𐤀𐤁

Moav

H6355 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פחה, מואב to govern, to serve as provincial official; Moab (region or people)

Definition

A proper name denoting an Israelite family group or clan, most likely designating 'governor (or official) of Moab' or 'district of Moab'. In biblical genealogical lists, Pachath Moab refers to a leader or family originating from or associated with the region of Moab, rather than meaning 'pit of Moab.' The term points to a socio-political title or an identification of geographic origin within the returned exiles, rather than describing an individual's personal name.

Semantic Range

provincial governor of Moab, official over Moabite district, administrative district connected to Moab, clan or family line designated by historical/geographic origin, socio-administrative designation

Root / Etymology

פַּחַת (pachat) comes from a root meaning 'governor' or 'provincial official,' and מוֹאָב (Moab) refers to the region or people of Moab east of the Dead Sea. The compound thus derives from the administrative term plus the ethnicity/geography, resulting in a title like 'governor of Moab' or 'district of Moab.' There is no indication that פַּחַת here means 'pit.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Ezra and Nehemiah, Pachath Moab appears among the lists of Israelites (particularly families or clans) returning from exile in Babylonia to the province of Yehud (Judah). This family or clan likely traces its origin to Israelite administrators established in, or responsible for, the Moabite region either during the monarchic period or as a remnant Israelite enclave. The term 'Pachath Moab' should not be understood as a personal name, but rather as a socio-administrative title or a clan arising from a particular governmental or migration context. English translations often render this as 'Pahath-moab,' obscuring the administrative/geographical meaning of the term. In post-exilic lists, such demonyms or titles regularly appear as identifying markers tying groups to the regions or offices held prior to the exile.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from פַּחַת and מוֹאָב; pit of Moab; Pachath-Moab, an Israelite; Pahathmoab.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פחה, מואב (p-ḥ-h; m-w-ʾ-b) — to govern, to serve as provincial official; Moab (region/people)

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6355-02 מוֹאָ֛ב moav HNp Moab Moab 6
H6355-03 פַּחַ֣ת pachat HNp Pahath provincial governor of 4
H6355-01 פַחַ֥ת fachat HNp Pahath governor of Moab 2

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6355-01 Ezra 2:6 פַחַ֥ת fachat HNp Pahath governor of Moab
H6355-02 Ezra 2:6 מוֹאָ֛ב moav HNp Moab Moab
H6355-03 Ezra 8:4 פַּחַ֣ת pachat HNp Pahath provincial governor of
H6355-02 Ezra 8:4 מוֹאָ֔ב moav HNp Moab Moab
H6355-03 Ezra 10:30 פַּחַ֥ת pachat HNp Pahath provincial governor of
H6355-02 Ezra 10:30 מוֹאָ֖ב moav HNp Moab Moab
H6355-03 Nehemiah 3:11 פַּחַ֣ת pachat HNp Pahath provincial governor of
H6355-02 Nehemiah 3:11 מוֹאָ֑ב moav HNp Moab Moab
H6355-01 Nehemiah 7:11 פַחַ֥ת fachat HNp Pahath governor of Moab
H6355-02 Nehemiah 7:11 מוֹאָ֛ב moav HNp Moab Moab
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