Biblical Word Etymology
The Etymology of “Passover”
The biblical word “Passover” traces back to Hebrew / Greek (pesach (Hebrew), pascha (Greek)), where it meant “The annual Jewish festival commemorating God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, when the angel of death 'passed over' marked homes”. Across 3eras it evolved into the modern sense: “The Jewish festival celebrating the exodus from Egypt; the Passover meal and observance; sometimes used for Easter in religious contexts”.
How the Meaning Evolved
Ancient Hebrew/Greek
Hebrew / Greekpesach (Hebrew), pascha (Greek)The annual Jewish festival commemorating God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, when the angel of death 'passed over' marked homes
Hebrew pesach (H6453) from pasach (to skip, to pass over). Exodus 12 prescribes the meal and observance. Greek pascha (πάσχα) in NT; 1 Corinthians 5:7 calls Christ the paschal lamb.
Medieval Latin / Church
Latinpascha / paschaleThe Christian Paschal mystery; Easter as the commemoration of Christ's resurrection
Latin paschale evolved from Greek pascha. Church Fathers connected Christ to the Passover lamb (1 Peter 1:19); Easter dates tied to Passover calendar.
Modern English
EnglishPassoverThe Jewish festival celebrating the exodus from Egypt; the Passover meal and observance; sometimes used for Easter in religious contexts
From Hebrew pesach via Greek pascha and Latin. English term 'Passover' dates to 14th century; combines pass + over to convey the angel's passage over marked homes.