Word studies · Hebrew · Strong's H6588
פֶּשַׁע · peshaʻ · appears 93 times in the Old Testament
In one line: Rebellion — sin as breaking allegiance, not just missing the mark.
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
Pesha is transgression — rebellion against rightful authority, the political word for sin as breaking away.
Pesha describes nations revolting against a king and, by the same word, people revolting against God. It is the strongest of the Hebrew sin words, and the one the prophets reach for when the issue is not weakness but defiance.
Pesha comes from pasha, “to rebel,” used in Kings for Edom's and Moab's revolt against Israel. Its native setting is politics rather than religion, which is what gives it its edge when applied to the covenant: sin as breach of allegiance.
Hebrew has three main sin words, and English blurs them: chattath is missing the mark, avon is crookedness or guilt, and pesha is rebellion. Psalm 51 and the Day of Atonement liturgy use all three deliberately, covering failure, distortion and defiance in one breath.
Pesha (H6588) appears 81 times in the Hebrew Bible, and 2 Kings 8:20 uses its verb for Edom's political revolt against the rule of Judah.
Naming sin as rebellion keeps it relational and personal: it is not merely falling short of a standard but withdrawing loyalty from a King. That is why Isaiah's servant is said to be “pierced for our transgressions” — the word chosen for the deepest offense.
Ask whether any of your habitual sin is actually defiance rather than weakness — a place you have quietly decided God does not get a say. Name it as rebellion and bring it back under His rule.
a revolt (national, moral or religious)
Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?
Genesis 31:36In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims, ‘This is mine,’ both parties shall bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges find guilty must pay back double to his neighbor.
Exodus 22:9So he shall make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting which abides among them in the midst of their impurities.
Leviticus 16:16‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’
Numbers 14:18But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins.
Joshua 24:19See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
1 Samuel 24:11Press and hold transgression in any chapter and this study opens on the verse you are reading, with the lexicons, every occurrence and the commentaries beside it. The Bible is free to read.
Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Strong's definitions are public domain. Counts come from The Pillar's own tagged text.