קָפַץ (qa.phats)
qa.phats
to gather
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qaphats carries the core sense of drawing things together or closing them. In its most common Qal form, it describes the physical act of shutting something up, such as a door or a container. This concrete imagery appears in passages like Psalm 107:30, where God stills the storm and calms the waves, effectively "shutting up" the chaotic sea.
The word’s range extends into more vivid, bodily metaphors depending on the grammatical stem. In the Niphal form, it describes the body contracting or drawing itself inward, a phrase used poetically to depict the physical rigidity of death in Job 4:15 and Song of Solomon 5:6. Here, the action is not just closing an object, but the inward collapse of life.
A striking shift occurs in the Piel stem, where qaphats takes on a dynamic meaning of springing or skipping. This usage captures the energetic rebound of movement, as seen in Psalm 114:4 when the mountains leap like rams. The connection between these meanings lies in the concept of tension: whether muscles contracting in death or limbs pushing off in a leap, the root always points to a gathering of force or form.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qaphats captures a fascinating range of human and divine experiences, all rooted in the idea of drawing together or closing off. In its most common sense, it describes the physical act of shutting something, like a door or a hand. This imagery appears in Deuteronomy 15:7, where we are urged not to shut our hands against those in need. Here, the word serves as a gentle reminder that faith requires open-handed generosity, resisting the natural tendency to close off when faced with another’s poverty.
Yet the word also describes powerful movements, such as leaping or skipping, seen in Song of Solomon 2:8 where the beloved comes bounding over mountains. This dynamic usage reminds us that God’s presence can be energetic and joyful, not just solemn. Whether it is the stillness of a closed hand or the energy of a leap, qaphats invites us to recognize how our bodies and actions reflect our inner spiritual state.
Understanding this word helps us see that faith is not static. It involves both the quiet discipline of closing off selfishness and the vibrant joy of moving toward God. As you read Scripture, notice how these physical images point to deeper truths about your relationship with the Lord and your neighbors.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it shuts2×
- you will shut1×
- they will shut1×
- they are contracted/ !1×
- [is] bounding1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קָ֣פְצָה2×
- תִקְפֹּץ֙1×
- מְקַפֵּ֖ץ1×
- יִקָּפְצ֑וּ/ן1×
- יִקְפְּצ֥וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 15:7
If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;
This verse uses qaphats in its concrete sense of shutting a hand, warning against closing off generosity to the poor.
-
Song of Solomon 2:8
The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.
Here the word shifts to describe energetic leaping, portraying the beloved’s joyful and dynamic approach.
-
Psalms 107:42
The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.
The wicked are described as shutting their mouths, indicating a forced silence in the face of divine justice.