"the passover, the paschal lamb, Mt. 26:17; Mk. 14:12; met. used of Christ, the true paschal lamb, 1 Cor. 5:7; the feast of the passover, the day on which the paschal lamb was slain and eaten, the 14th of Nisan, Mt. 26:18; Mk. 14:1; Heb. 11:28; more genr. the whole paschal festiva..."
Definition and meaning
the passover, the paschal lamb, Mt. 26:17; Mk. 14:12; met. used of Christ, the true paschal lamb, 1 Cor. 5:7; the feast of the passover, the day on which the paschal lamb was slain and eaten, the 14th of Nisan, Mt. 26:18; Mk. 14:1; Heb. 11:28; more genr. the whole paschal festival, including the seven days of the feast of unleavened bread, Mt. 26:2; Lk. 2:41; Jn. 2:13
In the original Greek the word is written: πάσχα
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of pascha (G3957) across the King James Bible.
Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
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Common questions
Strong's G3957 (pascha) is a Greek word that means: the passover, the paschal lamb, Mt. 26:17; Mk. 14:12; met. used of Christ, the true paschal lamb, 1 Cor. 5:7; the feast of the passover, the day on which the paschal lamb was slain and eaten, the 14th... It appears 27 times in the King James Bible.
The word pascha (G3957) appears 27 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3957 is pascha, a Greek word defined as: the passover, the paschal lamb, Mt. 26:17; Mk. 14:12; met. used of Christ, the true paschal lamb, 1 Cor. 5:7; the feast of the passover, the day on wh. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
pascha is a Greek word found in the New Testament.