Pate - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

PATE

pat (qodhqodh):

The word usually translated "crown," "crown of the head" (Genesis 49:26; Deuteronomy 28:35; 33:16,20; 2 Samuel 14:25; Job 2:7; Isaiah 3:17; Jeremiah 2:16; 48:45) and "scalp" (Psalms 68:21) is rendered "pate" in Psalms 7:16 in agreement with earlier English translators since Coverdale: "His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violence shall come down upon his own pate." The reason for the choice of the word lies evidently in the desire to make the Hebrew parallelism with "head" (ro'sh) apparent. The same object has, however, been achieved differently in another poetical passage (Genesis 49:26 parallel Deuteronomy 33:16), namely, by the juxtaposition of "head" and "crown of the head."

H. L. E. Luering

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'PATE'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.