PAVEMENT. Three words, two Heb. and one Gr., are so tr. in the Eng. VSS. The common Heb. term is רִ֫צְפָה, H8367, a fem. noun related to the Heb. רָצַף, H8362, and meaning a “pavement of stone,” a portico with mosaic (Esth 1:6), which includes a list of colors and materials, “porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.” Many thousands of such mosaics have been found all over the ancient world. A maqtal participle derived from the same Heb. root appears only in 2 Kings 16:17, מַרְצֶ֫פֶת, H5346, where it refers to the pavement that King Ahaz built to hold the great altar. This term was interpreted by the rabbinical writers to represent a cheapening of the original condition. In the NT, the term appears only once, but it is of some importance as it is used to tr. the Gr. λιθόστρωτος, G3346, “stoneporch” (possibly “mosaic”) in John 19:13, in the scene in Pilate’s judgment hall. “The Pavement” (KJV, RSV) is glossed by the transliteration into Gr. of what is apparently an Aram. name of the place, namely, Γαββαθᾶ, G1119, (Gabbatha). However, the literal meaning or tr. of this term is unknown. Both Gr. and Lat. etymologies have been proposed. It is undoubtedly of Sem. origin and represents some common usage known in the apostolic age. Needless to say, its identification is now impossible.