Paschal Lamb
/ˈpæs.kəl læm/noun
A lamb associated with Passover and, in Christian tradition, with Jesus Christ as a sacrificial symbol.
Did you know?In Christian tradition, the Paschal Lamb fuses the Jewish Passover sacrifice with the image of Christ, turning an ancient ritual animal into one of the most powerful symbols of redemption in Western religion.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Hebrew
Hebrew
pesaḥ
“Passover; the festival commemorating Israel’s escape from Egypt”
Ancient Greek
Greek
páscha
“Passover, borrowed from Hebrew”
Late Latin
Latin
paschalis
“Relating to Passover or Easter”
Old French
French
paschal
“Of or relating to Easter or Passover”
Modern English
English
paschal
“Relating to Passover or Easter”
Modern English
English
lamb
“A young sheep; in religious usage, a symbol of sacrifice and innocence”