קוּט (qut)
qut
to loath
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qut describes a profound sense of revulsion or grief, translating most clearly as "to loathe." It appears only three times in the Old Testament, with two occurrences found in the Psalms. In these contexts, it conveys more than simple dislike; it signals a deep emotional rejection or disgust at something seen as abhorrent.
The word’s usage highlights intense personal distress. For instance, Psalm 106:40 notes that God’s soul loathed His people due to their idolatry, while Psalm 106:43 describes how He had pity on them despite their provocation. The different verb stems show this feeling can be directed outward or inward, such as when one feels loathing against oneself, emphasizing the weight of moral failure.
This term carries significant theological weight by illustrating the breakdown of relationship caused by sin. It is not a mild annoyance but a visceral reaction that underscores the seriousness of covenant unfaithfulness. Translators often render it as "loathed" or "detested," preserving the raw emotional intensity present in the original Hebrew text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qut conveys a deep, visceral revulsion that goes far beyond simple dislike. It describes a profound emotional rejection, often arising from moral failure or covenant unfaithfulness. When Scripture uses this term, it highlights the seriousness of actions that break trust and damage relationships.
In Psalm 119:158, the psalmist expresses looking at the faithless with loathing because they do not observe God’s word. This reaction is not born of personal anger but of a sincere grief over what dishonors divine truth. Such honesty invites us to examine our own hearts and consider how we respond to sin in ourselves and others.
Understanding this intensity helps us appreciate the weight of faithfulness. It reminds us that God values integrity and that our actions have real consequences for our relationship with Him. May we find comfort in knowing that even when we feel distant, there is always a path back to grace through repentance and trust.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do I loathe?1×
- and/ I felt disgust/ !1×
- I loathed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וָֽ/אֶתְקוֹטָ֑טָ/ה1×
- אָ֘ק֤וּט1×
- אֶתְקוֹטָֽט\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 119:158
I look at the faithless with loathing, because they don’t observe your word.
This verse shows the psalmist’s personal response of loathing toward those who ignore God’s word, highlighting a heart aligned with divine truth.
-
Psalms 139:21
Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
Here the psalmist questions whether he should not hate those who oppose Yahweh, reflecting a deep emotional stance against opposition to God.
-
Psalms 95:10
Forty long years I was grieved with that generation, and said, “They are a people who err in their heart. They have not known my ways.”
Although translated as 'grieved' here, this occurrence connects to the same root concept of divine distress over a generation’s persistent heart error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word qut mean?
How is qut different from other words for hate?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Psalms 3 verses
Forty long years I was grieved with that generation, and said, “They are a people who err in their heart. They have not…
Psalms 119:158I look at the faithless with loathing, because they don’t observe your word.
Psalms 139:21Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?