קֹטֶב (qo.tev)
qo.tev
destruction
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qotev, appearing only once in the Bible at Hosea 13:14, denotes destruction or ruin. It is a variant spelling of the more common ketev (H6986), carrying the same sense of sudden calamity or devastation.
In its sole occurrence, the word forms part of a rhetorical question where God declares that He will ransom His people from the power of Sheol and redeem them from death. The pairing with "destruction" underscores the totality of the threat from which divine deliverance is promised. This rare term highlights the severity of the judgment Hosea warns against, while simultaneously framing the hope of rescue.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qotev appears only once in Scripture, nestled in a profound declaration of hope within Hosea 13:14. It translates to destruction or ruin, standing as the final enemy God promises to defeat. In this context, it is paired with death and Sheol, representing the ultimate threats to human life. Yet the verse does not end in despair; instead, it announces that God will ransom His people from these powers.
For your faith, this rarity carries weight. It reminds us that no calamity, however total it may seem, lies beyond God's reach. The promise of redemption is not vague but specific: He delivers us from the very brink of ruin. This assurance anchors our hearts when facing uncertainty, pointing to a hope that outlasts every earthly threat.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [is] destruction/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קָֽטָבְ/ךָ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Hosea 13:14
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? “Compassion will be hidden from my eyes.
This is the sole occurrence of qotev, where it stands alongside death and Sheol as a power from which God promises to redeem His people.