קַ֫יִץ (qa.yits)
qa.yits
summer
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qayits refers to both the season of summer and the ripe fruit harvested during it. Its core meaning connects the dry, hot time of year with the tangible results of that heat: the gathering of crops. This dual sense is clear in passages like Jeremiah 8:20, where "summer fruits" signal a specific time for judgment, or in Amos 8:1-2, where the vision of a basket of summer fruit illustrates the end of Israel’s spiritual harvest.
The word derives from a root meaning to cut off, highlighting the decisive act of harvesting. In Proverbs 25:13, a faithful messenger is compared to "cold water to a weary soul," an image that relies on the refreshing contrast to the intense heat of qayits. Translators often render it simply as "summer," but the context frequently demands awareness of the agricultural reality behind the season.
This term appears most often in Wisdom literature and the Prophets, where it serves as a metaphor for timing and consequence. Unlike general words for fruit, qayits specifically points to produce that has reached full ripeness and is ready to be taken. It captures the intersection of divine order and human labor, marking the moment when preparation meets opportunity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qayits points to more than just a warm season; it marks the moment when preparation meets opportunity. In ancient Israel, this was the time for gathering ripe figs and grapes, a tangible result of earlier labor. This connection between the heat of summer and the harvest reminds us that our faithful actions today often yield visible fruit later on.
When we feel weary, as in Psalms 32:4, the intensity of qayits can feel overwhelming. Yet Scripture also shows God’s care for those who work hard during this time. The wise ant gathers food in summer (Proverbs 6:8), teaching us that diligence brings security. We are invited to trust that our efforts, even when difficult, contribute to a greater harvest.
This word grounds our faith in reality. It acknowledges the cycles of life and the importance of timing. Whether we are in a season of growth or waiting, qayits encourages us to stay attentive to the opportunities before us, knowing that God orders the seasons and honors faithful stewardship.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in the/ summer5×
- summer fruit4×
- summer4×
- summer fruit/ your2×
- and/ summer fruit2×
- the/ summer1×
- and/ the/ summer fruit1×
- and/ summer1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קָ֑יִץ2×
- קַ֔יִץ2×
- קָֽיִץ\׃1×
- קַ֥יִץ1×
- קַ֣יִץ1×
- קַ֖יִץ1×
- קֵיצֵ֥/ךְ1×
- קֵיצֵ֛/ךְ1×
- וָ/קַ֖יִץ1×
- וְ/קַ֧יִץ1×
- וְ/קַ֜יִץ1×
- וְ/הַ/קַּ֙יִץ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 8:2
He said, “Amos, what do you see?” I said, “A basket of summer fruit.” Then Yahweh said to me, “The end has come on my people Israel. I will not again pass by them any more.
The vision of a basket of summer fruit serves as a metaphor for the end of Israel's spiritual harvest, signaling that judgment is imminent.
-
Jeremiah 8:20
“The harvest is past. The summer has ended, and we are not saved.”
The phrase 'summer has ended' highlights a missed opportunity for salvation, emphasizing the urgency of responding to God before the season passes.
-
Proverbs 10:5
He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
Gathering in summer is linked to wisdom and honor, showing that timely action during the right season brings positive results.
-
Genesis 8:22
While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
Summer is listed among the enduring cycles of nature that God promises will not cease, offering stability after the flood.