H6472 H6472
bell; small golden bell on the high priest's robe, alternating with pomegranates along the hem
A masculine noun פַּעֲמֹן denoting a small bell, derived from the root פעם meaning 'to strike' or 'beat' — capturing the clapper's action. Used exclusively for the golden bells sewn onto the hem of the high priest's robe (me'il), where they alternated with pomegranate-shaped ornaments (Exod 28:33-34; 39:25-26). Their sound announced the priest's entry into and exit from the Holy Place, ensuring he would 'not die' (Exod 28:35). Spanish campanilla, French clochette, and German Gloeckchen all render it with diminutive forms, reflecting the small, tinkling nature of these ornamental bells.
Senses
1. bell (ornamental, on priestly garment) — A small ornamental bell, specifically the golden bells (pa'amonim) attached to the hem of the high priest's robe between pomegranate decorations. The noun derives from pa'am ('to strike, beat'), pointing to the percussive action of the clapper. Exodus prescribes 'a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate' in alternation around the skirt (Exod 28:33-34), and the craftsman Bezalel executed this design (Exod 39:25-26). Their liturgical purpose was auditory: the sound accompanied the priest's movements in the sanctuary. All seven occurrences cluster in just two chapters of Exodus. Remarkably, every target language uses a diminutive form — Spanish campanilla, French clochette, German Gloeckchen — confirming the small, delicate nature of these bells. 7×
AR["أَجْرَاسَ", "الْأَجْرَاسَ", "جَرَسٌ", "وَ-أَجراسُ"]·ben["এবং-ঘণ্টা", "ঘণ্টা", "ঘন্টা", "ঘন্টাগুলো"]·DE["Gloeckchen", "Gloeckchen-von", "der-Gloeckchen", "und-Gloeckchen-von"]·EN["and-bells-of", "bell", "bell-of", "bells-of", "the-bells"]·FR["clochette", "clochette-de", "clochettes-de", "et-clochettes-de", "le-clochettes"]·heb["ה-פעמונים", "ו-פעמוני", "פעמון", "פעמוני"]·HI["और-घण्टियाँ", "घंटियाँ", "घंटी", "घण्टी"]·ID["Lonceng", "dan-giring-giring", "giring-giring", "lonceng", "lonceng-lonceng"]·IT["campanelli-di", "campanello", "campanello-di", "e-campanelli-di", "il-campanelli"]·jav["Klinting", "Lonceng", "klinting", "klinting-punika", "lan-lonceng-lonceng", "lonceng"]·KO["그-방울들을", "그리고-방울들을", "방울", "방울들을"]·PT["Sininho", "as-sinetas", "e-sininhos-de", "sineta", "sinetas", "sininho"]·RU["Колокольчик", "и-колокольчики", "колокольчик", "колокольчики"]·ES["Campanilla-de", "campanilla", "campanilla-de", "campanillas-de", "las-campanillas", "y-campanillas-de"]·SW["kengele", "kengele-za", "na-kengele"]·TR["-çıngırakları", "ve-çıngırakları", "çıngırak", "çıngıraklar"]·urd["اور-گھنٹیاں", "گھنٹی", "گھنٹیاں", "گھنٹیوں"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† פַּעֲמֹן n.[m.] bell, on high-p.’s robe (from its stroke, beat);—פ׳ abs. Ex 39:26(×2) cstr. פ׳ זָהָב 28:34(×2); pl. הַפַּעֲמֹנִים 39:25, cstr. פַּעֲמֹנֵי זָהָב 28:33; 39:25.