PASS, PASSAGE (עָבַר֒, H6296, מַעֲבָר, H5044, and מַעְבָּרָה, H5045, as a verb, to go over; as a noun, mountain pass or ford). There is a vast variety of words in both Heb. and Gr. that are tr. with some variation of to pass. The Heb. עָבַר֒, H6296, meaning to cross over, is as common as any. Eliphaz describes a mystical experience by noting that a spirit “passed” before his face (Job 4:15, Heb. חָלַפ֒, H2736). In the account of the Exodus the Lord promised “to pass over” (Heb. פָּסַח֒, H7173) the homes of the Hebrews and not visit them with death (Exod 12:13, 23, 27). The Heb. expression “it came to pass” accounts for many of the OT occurrences of this word.

The Gr. employs γίνομαι, G1181, “to be,” “become,” “be brought to pass,” as in 1 Corinthians 15:54. In describing the deliverance through the Red Sea, Hebrews 11:29 uses διαβαίνω, G1329, “to go through.” The blind man heard the crowd “pass by” (διαπορεύομαι, G1388) in Luke 18:36. The Heb. nouns מַעֲבָר, H5044, and מַעְבָּרָה, H5045, refer to a shallow part of the river (“ford”) or to a mountain pass (1 Sam 13:23).