In　this　study,　a　novel　analytical　approach　is　proposed　to　calculate　the　passive　earth　pressure　against　a　rigid　retaining　wall　subjected　to　the　translation　mode.　Effects　of　arching　in　cohesive　backfill　soils　as　well　as　friction　mobilized　along　the　wall-soil　interface　are　considered.　Analytical　expressions　of　the　earth　pressure,　passive　resistance,　and　its　height　of　application　on　the　backface　of　the　retaining　wall　were　derived　based　on　static　equilibrium　of　forces　under　passive　conditions　acting　on　the　failure　wedge.　A　parametric　study　was　undertaken　to　assess　effects　of　internal　friction　angle　of　backfill,　wall-soil　interface　friction　angle,　surcharge　pressure,　cohesion,　unit　weight,　and　inclination　angle　of　the　slip　surface　on　the　active　earth　pressure　as　well　as　on　the　slip-surface　angle.　The　results　of　the　proposed　method　were　then　verified　against　the　existing　test　data　as　well　as　the　predictions　by　Coulomb　theory　and　Rankine　theory.　The　results　show　that　the　proposed　method　yields　satisfactory　results.　©　2016　American　Society　of　Civil　Engineers.