קוֹץ (qots)
qots
Koz
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The Hebrew word qots primarily means "thorn" or "brier," describing the sharp, prickly plants that grow in wild or uncultivated land. In Scripture, it serves as a concrete image for obstruction, pain, or difficulty, often standing in contrast to the smooth, fruitful ground of blessing.
While the term appears in genealogical lists such as 1 Chronicles 4:8 and Ezra 2:61, its semantic weight lies in its literal meaning rather than its use as a proper name. The sources note that qots can refer to a person named Koz, but the underlying concept remains tied to the plant life of the region.
This word carries significant theological imagery when read alongside other biblical texts. For instance, Genesis 3:18 uses related terms to describe the curse on the ground after the fall, where thorns and thistles become part of human labor. Similarly, Hebrews 6:8 describes land that produces thorns as worthless and near to being cursed. The imagery connects physical hardship with spiritual consequences.
Translators typically render qots as "thorn," "brier," or "thistle" depending on the context. The choice of word often reflects the specific type of plant or the intensity of the obstacle it represents. In narrative passages, thorns symbolize the brokenness of creation and the struggle inherent in a fallen world.
The recurrence of this image across different books highlights a consistent biblical theme: the presence of thorns marks areas where God’s original order has been disrupted. Yet, even in these contexts, the focus remains on the reality of human experience and the need for divine intervention to restore peace and fruitfulness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qots refers to thorns or briers—sharp plants that grow wild in uncultivated land. In the Bible, these prickly bushes often symbolize the difficulties and pain we face in a world that has been disrupted by sin. They stand in contrast to the smooth, fruitful ground of God’s original blessing, reminding us that life here involves struggle and obstruction.
While qots appears in Scripture as a family name for groups like the Hakkoz priests, its deeper meaning points to the reality of hardship. It is not just a plant; it is an image of the brokenness we experience daily. Yet, this imagery also highlights our need for God’s intervention to restore peace and fruitfulness, turning even the sharpest obstacles into reminders of His sustaining grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hakkoz4×
- to <the>/ Hakkoz1×
- and/ Koz1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַקּ֑וֹץ2×
- לְ/הַקּוֹץ֙1×
- וְ/ק֣וֹץ1×
- הַקּ֖וֹץ1×
- הַקּ֔וֹץ\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 4:8
Hakkoz became the father of Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
This verse uses qots as part of a genealogical name, showing how the term was adopted into family identity even when not referring to the plant itself.
-
Nehemiah 3:4
Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs.
Here, Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, repairs a section of Jerusalem’s wall, linking the name to active restoration work in a broken city.
-
Ezra 2:61
Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, and the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
This passage lists descendants of Hakkoz among priests who could not prove their lineage, highlighting how family names carried significant weight in post-exilic religious identity.