paschal lamb

paschal lamb
1. Jewish Hist. a lamb slaughtered and eaten on the eve of the first day of Passover. Ex. 12:3-11.
2. (caps.) Christ.
3. (caps.) any of several symbolic representations of Christ, as the Agnus Dei.
4. (caps.) Also called Holy Lamb. Heraldry. a representation of a lamb passant having around its head a nimbus and supporting on the dexter shoulder a crosslike staff bearing a flag argent charged with a cross gules.
[1400-50; late ME]

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      in Judaism, the lamb sacrificed at the first Passover, on the eve of the Exodus from Egypt, the most momentous event in Jewish (Jew) history. According to the story of the Passover (Exodus, chapter 12), the Jews marked their doorposts with the blood of the lamb, and this sign spared them from destruction.

      In early Jewish history an unblemished year-old lamb sacrificed in the Temple of Jerusalem on the 14th of Nisan to commemorate the eve of the Exodus was later eaten by the family. For those who had been impeded from visiting the Temple at the prescribed time, a second Passover festival was permitted a month later. In modern times Jews use a roasted shank bone at the seder (q.v.) meal as symbolic of the Paschal lamb. St. Paul, drawing a parallel with the sacrifice made by Jesus (Jesus Christ), referred to Christ as the Paschal lamb (I Corinthians 5:7); hence, the Christian view of Christ as the spotless Lamb of God who by his death freed mankind from the bonds of sin.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Paschal Lamb — • A lamb which the Israelites were commanded to eat with peculiar rites as a part of the Passover celebration Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Paschal Lamb     Paschal Lamb   …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • paschal lamb — paschal lamb1 n. 1. among the ancient Hebrews, the lamb slain and eaten at the Passover 2. [often P L ] AGNUS DEI (sense 1) paschal lamb2 [P L ] Christianity name for Jesus Christ …   English World dictionary

  • Paschal Lamb — can refer to:*Korban Pesach, in Judaism *Lamb of God, in Christianity …   Wikipedia

  • Paschal Lamb — noun /ˈpæs.kəl ˈlæm,ˈpɑːs.kəl ˈlæm,ˈpæs.kəl ˈlæm/ a) The lamb eaten at Passover. The Paschal Lamb was instituted and eaten the night before the children of Israel were indeed delivered from Egypt. b) Jesus Christ, symbolized as a sacrifice. but… …   Wiktionary

  • paschal lamb — pas′chal lamb′ n. 1) jud a lamb slaughtered and eaten by the ancient Hebrews at Passover 2) rel (caps.) Christ 3) fia (caps.) any of several symbolic representations of Christ, as the Agnus Dei • Etymology: 1400–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • paschal lamb — /pæskəl ˈlæm/ (say paskuhl lam) noun 1. (in Judaism) a. the lamb sacrificed by each Israelite household in Egypt, the blood of which was used to mark the doorposts of the houses of the Israelites to distinguish them from the Egyptians, whose… …  

  • Paschal lamb —    This term (from the Greek pascha, meaning Passover ) designates the major Jewish religious celebration at which a lamb was sacrificed and eaten in commemoration of God s deliverance of the Chosen People from bondage in Egypt. The Gospel of… …   Glossary of theological terms

  • Paschal Lamb — noun Date: 15th century 1. a lamb slain and eaten during the Passover celebration in ancient Judaism 2. Agnus Dei 2 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Paschal Lamb — noun figure of a lamb; emblematic of Christ • Syn: ↑Agnus Dei • Hypernyms: ↑emblem, ↑allegory …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lamb of God — (Latin: Agnus Dei ) is one of the titles given to Jesus in the New Testament and consequently in the Christian tradition. It refers to Jesus role as a sacrificial lamb atoning for the sins of man in Christian theology, harkening back to ancient… …   Wikipedia

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