פָּסַל
𐤐𐤎𐤋
pâçal
H6458 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To hew, carve, or shape an object through cutting; to fashion, especially by chiseling or engraving, commonly used for the production of images or statues, particularly those intended as cultic objects (such as idols). The verb generally denotes the act of forming or sculpting solid material, often in reference to wood or stone.
Semantic Range
to cut into shape, to carve (wood or stone), to sculpture or fashion (an object), to hew out, to engrave, to produce a statue or idol
Root / Etymology
Root: פסל. The root פסל primarily carries the sense of shaping or carving by removing material, especially using tools. The verb פָּסַל derives directly from this root and refers specifically to the act of carving, chiseling, or engraving. The noun formed from this root (פֶּסֶל, pesel) denotes a carved image or idol. The term is believed to be native to Northwest Semitic languages and has cognates in related dialects denoting (carved) image.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּסַל appears mainly in contexts related to the creation of cult statues or images, frequently in injunctions against carving graven images for worship. In the Hebrew Bible, the term typically designates artisan activity involving the deliberate artistic shaping of solid materials (primarily wood or stone). Most uses are negative, prohibiting the making of such images for religious reasons (e.g., Exod 20:4; Deut 27:15), although technically the Hebrew verb itself merely indicates the action of cutting or sculpting. The derived noun פֶּסֶל refers to the resulting artifact, especially an image with religious or cultic function. There is some overlap in meaning with חָרַשׁ (charash), which can also mean 'engrave' or 'carve,' but פָּסַל is more closely associated with the fashioning of solid, three-dimensional objects rather than incising on a surface. Later English translations frequently use 'graven' in religious contexts due to the influence of the King James Version, but the term's actual semantic range is broader and not limited to negative or cultic contexts. In post-biblical Hebrew, the root retains its general artistic sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to carve, whether wood or stone; grave, hew.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פסל (p-s-l) — to hew, to carve, to chisel, to shape
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6458-02 |
פְּסָל | pesal | HVqv2ms |
Cut | Carve! | 2 |
H6458-04 |
וַֽ/יִּפְסְל֞וּ | vayifeselu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and they carved | and they carved | 1 |
H6458-05 |
וַ/יִּפְסֹ֡ל | vayifesol | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he chiseled | and he carved | 1 |
H6458-01 |
פְסָל/וֹ֙ | fesalo | HVqp3ms/Sp3ms |
its maker | he carved him | 1 |
H6458-03 |
וָ/אֶפְסֹ֛ל | vaefesol | HC/Vqw1cs |
and I cut | and I carved | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6458-02 |
Exodus 34:1 | פְּסָל | pesal | HVqv2ms |
Cut | Carve! |
H6458-05 |
Exodus 34:4 | וַ/יִּפְסֹ֡ל | vayifesol | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he chiseled | and he carved |
H6458-02 |
Deuteronomy 10:1 | פְּסָל | pesal | HVqv2ms |
cut out | Carve! |
H6458-03 |
Deuteronomy 10:3 | וָ/אֶפְסֹ֛ל | vaefesol | HC/Vqw1cs |
and I cut | and I carved |
H6458-04 |
1 Kings 5:32 | וַֽ/יִּפְסְל֞וּ | vayifeselu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and they carved | and they carved |
H6458-01 |
Habakkuk 2:18 | פְסָל/וֹ֙ | fesalo | HVqp3ms/Sp3ms |
its maker | he carved him |