פָּשַׂק
𐤐𐤔𐤒
pâsaq
H6589 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To open wide, especially of the mouth or lips; to spread apart, gape, or part. In some contexts, it can denote the act of opening one's mouth widely in speech, especially in a negative or excessive sense, such as boasting or talking arrogantly. Rare usage involves a sense of licentiousness or improper boldness, metaphorically connected to an excessive opening of the mouth.
Semantic Range
to open wide (mouth, lips), to part or gape, to speak arrogantly, to boast, to utter with boldness, (rare) to act licentiously or with improper boldness
Root / Etymology
From the root פּשׂק (p-s-q), which fundamentally means 'to open wide' or 'to spread apart.' The derivation relates to spreading, parting, or gaping, especially of the mouth or lips. The nuance of licentiousness in some later uses arises metaphorically from the image of opening the mouth excessively, but this is a secondary sense dependent on context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פָּשַׂק is a rare verb, attested primarily in poetic or wisdom literature (e.g., Psalm 35:21; Proverbs 6:12). In earlier texts, it carries a literal sense—'to open wide' (mouth or lips), usually with the implication of speech, often negative (e.g., to speak arrogantly or maliciously). In some traditions, an extension of meaning toward 'licentiousness' appears, but this is not the primary sense and is contextually dependent, often as part of metaphoric language. The word is distinct from related roots such as פָּעָה (pā‘āh, to scream or cry out) and פָּתַח (pātaḥ, to open in a broader physical sense). Standard English translations sometimes narrow the meaning (e.g., 'spoke arrogantly' or 'gaped'), which may miss the physical and figurative breadth the verb can have in biblical usage. The root is not productive in later Hebrew. The rendering 'become licentious' found in some sources is interpretive, not literal, generally relying on metaphorical understanding from context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to dispart (the feet or lips), i.e. become licentious; open (wide).
Bantu Hebrew
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פשק (p-s-q) — to open wide, to spread apart, to part
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6589-01 |
פֹּשֵׂ֥ק | poseq | HVqrmsa |
opens wide | one who opens wide | 1 |
H6589-02 |
וַ/תְּפַשְּׂקִ֥י | vatefaseqi | HC/Vpw2fs |
and you spread | you spread wide | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6589-02 |
Ezekiel 16:25 | וַ/תְּפַשְּׂקִ֥י | vatefaseqi | HC/Vpw2fs |
and you spread | you spread wide |
H6589-01 |
Proverbs 13:3 | פֹּשֵׂ֥ק | poseq | HVqrmsa |
opens wide | one who opens wide |