פָּשַׁע (b. h.) [to pass beyond,] 1) to be wilful, rebellious. Yoma IV, 2 פָּשַׁעְתִּי; ib. VI, 2 פָּשְׁעוּ, v. עָוָה; a. fr.—פּוֹשֵׁעַ a wilful transgressor, rebel, apostate. Gitt. 57ᵃ פ׳ ישראל a Jewish apostate (the censor’s disguise for Jesus). Ib. תא חזי מה בין פּוֹשְׁעֵי ישראל וכ׳ come and see the difference between Jewish apostates and gentile prophets. R. Hash. 17ᵃ פ׳ ישראל בגופן Jewish sinners with their bodies (disregarding the ceremonial laws intended to guard the purity of life); פ׳ אומות העולם בגופן gentile sinners with their bodies (lustful and violent). Midr. Till. to Ps. LI כשאתה אומר לפּוֹשְׁעִים … אם תקבלני כל הפושעים משלימים לך when thou sayest to the sinners, why have you not repented? (they may plead ignorance of thy goodness, but) if thou receivest me, all sinners will make peace with thee; a. fr. —2) to be faithless. Gen. R. s. 52 (ref. to Prov. XVIII, 19) פָּשַׁעְתָּ באברהם thou (Lot) wast faithless to Abraham; Num. R. s. 18 זה קרח שפ׳ בתורה וכ׳ this refers to Korah who was faithless to the Law, which is called ‘strength’; a. fr.—Esp. (with ref. to Ex. XXII, 8) to be negligent in guarding a trust. B. Mets. 36ᵇ פ׳ בה וכ׳ if he was careless in guarding the animal, and it went out &c. Ib. 34ᵃ כיון שאמר פשעתי וכ׳ as soon as he says, ‘I have been at fault’, he surrenders the eventual fine (of the thief) to the owner. Ib. 58ᵃ כי היכי דלא לקרו להו פושעים in order that they may not be called faithless guardians; a. fr.—Ber. 28ᵃ ונקרא פושע and he is called negligent (because he delayed his prayers).
Hif. - הִפְשִׁיעַ to cause to transgress. Num. R. s. 9 (ref. to Ex. XXII, 8) מדבר באהרן שה׳ ישראל בדיבור לא יהיה it alludes to Aaron who caused Israel to transgress the commandment, ‘thou shalt have no other gods &c.’ (Ex. XX, 3).