קֶ֫טֶב (qe.tev)
qe.tev
destruction
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun qetev denotes sudden and violent destruction, often carrying a connotation of a plague or a deadly pestilence that strikes without warning. It appears in only three verses across the Hebrew Bible, primarily within poetic texts like Psalms and Isaiah where it describes God’s judgment. The word captures a sense of catastrophic ruin rather than gradual decay, emphasizing the abruptness of divine intervention.
Its usage highlights the power of God to execute justice through natural or supernatural means. In Psalm 91:5-6, for instance, it is paired with terror by night and arrow by day, illustrating specific forms of peril that believers are protected from. This pairing underscores the comprehensive nature of the threat, covering both visible and invisible dangers.
Translators often render qetev as "destruction" or "plague," depending on the context. The rarity of the term suggests it was reserved for particularly severe instances of calamity. Its presence in these limited passages reinforces the theme of divine sovereignty over life and death, reminding readers that such forces are under God’s control.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qetev describes a sudden and violent destruction, often likened to a plague or deadly pestilence that strikes without warning. It is not about gradual decay but catastrophic ruin, emphasizing the abruptness of divine intervention. This term appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in poetic texts like Psalms and Isaiah where it describes God’s judgment.
In Psalm 91:6, qetev is paired with terror by night and arrow by day, illustrating specific forms of peril that believers are protected from. This pairing underscores the comprehensive nature of the threat, covering both visible and invisible dangers. The rarity of the term suggests it was reserved for particularly severe instances of calamity.
Its presence in these limited passages reinforces the theme of divine sovereignty over life and death, reminding readers that such forces are under God’s control. This understanding can bring comfort, knowing that even in the face of sudden disaster, God remains sovereign and protective of those who trust in Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ destruction1×
- destruction1×
- and/ destruction1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קָ֑טֶב1×
- מִ֝/קֶּ֗טֶב1×
- וְ/קֶ֣טֶב1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 91:6
nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.
This verse highlights qetev as a specific peril from which believers are protected, emphasizing God's comprehensive care against sudden, violent destruction.
-
Deuteronomy 32:24
They shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat and bitter destruction. I will send the teeth of animals on them, with the venom of vipers that glide in the dust.
Here, qetev is part of a list of judgments, illustrating the severe consequences of rebellion and the reality of divine justice.
-
Isaiah 28:2
Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast them down to the earth with his hand.
Though the word qetev is not explicitly in this verse, the context of a 'destroying storm' aligns with the concept of sudden, violent destruction associated with qetev.