בָּצַע (ba.tsa)
ba.tsa
to cut off
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb baṣa̱ literally means to cut off or sever, but in Scripture it frequently describes gaining something through violent or unjust means. It appears fourteen times, mostly in wisdom literature and prophetic books like Proverbs and Jeremiah. The word carries a strong sense of wrongful acquisition, often linked to greed or the seizure of property by force.
Its root imagery involves cutting away what belongs to another, whether land, wealth, or rights. In Proverbs 15:27, for example, it describes someone who is greedy and ruins their own household by taking more than they should. This usage highlights how unjust gain ultimately leads to self-destruction rather than lasting benefit.
Translators often render baṣa̱ as "gain," "seize," or "take by violence," depending on context. The term’s force lies in its moral weight: it is not merely obtaining something, but doing so in a way that violates justice and community trust. This makes it a powerful word for warning against the corrosive effects of greed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word בָּצַע (ba.tsa) carries a heavy moral weight in Scripture. It describes gaining something by cutting off what belongs to another, often through violence or unjust seizure. This is not simple acquisition; it is theft wrapped in the language of gain. The imagery suggests severing ties that should hold community together, prioritizing personal wealth over justice and trust.
Scripture warns that this kind of greedy pursuit is self-destructive. Proverbs 15:27 shows how one who is greedy for gain troubles his own house. The very act of cutting off others to build your own security ends up isolating you and bringing ruin upon your home. True stability does not come from seizing more, but from walking in integrity.
When we face pressure to take what is not ours, this word reminds us of the cost. It invites us to examine our motives and choose a path that honors God rather than one that exploits others. May we find peace in contentment and trust in God’s provision, knowing that He sees the heart behind every transaction.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [one who] gains unjustly2×
- [is] gaining2×
- they will finish [it]1×
- they stop1×
- he will finish1×
- he will cut off1×
- he has fulfilled1×
- he cuts off/ me1×
- and/ may he cut off/ me1×
- and/ break off/ them1×
- and/ [one] greedy for unjust gain1×
- [one who] gains1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בּוֹצֵ֣עַ2×
- תְּבַצַּ֑עְנָה1×
- יִבְצָֽעוּ\׃1×
- יִבְצָ֑ע1×
- יְבַצַּ֤ע1×
- יְבַצְּעֵ֔/נִי1×
- וּ/בֹצֵ֥עַ1×
- וּ/בְצַ֙עַ/ם֙1×
- וִֽ/יבַצְּעֵֽ/נִי\׃1×
- בֹּצֵ֣עַ1×
- בֹּצֵ֛עַ1×
- בֹּ֣צֵֽעַ1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 15:27
He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
This verse directly links being greedy for gain with troubling one's own household, showing the destructive domestic consequence of unjust acquisition.
-
Proverbs 1:19
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
Here the word illustrates how the pursuit of illicit gain ultimately takes away the life of those who chase it, highlighting its fatal nature.
-
Job 6:9
even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
In this context, the meaning shifts to physical severance or death, showing Job’s desire for God to simply end his suffering completely.
-
Habakkuk 2:9
Woe to him who gets an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!
The prophet condemns building a house through evil gain, linking unjust wealth with a futile attempt to secure safety from danger.