קֵץ (qets)
qets
end
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 53 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun qets refers to an extremity or boundary, applying to both physical space and the passage of time. Rooted in a verb meaning to cut off, it denotes the point where something ceases or reaches its limit. While it can describe geographical borders, as seen when Isaiah describes waters reaching the utmost border (Isaiah 37:24), its most frequent usage marks the conclusion of a specific period.
Translators often render qets as "end" or "after," depending on context. In Genesis, phrases like "at the end of forty days" (Genesis 8:6) use it to signal a precise deadline. The word carries significant weight in prophetic literature, particularly in Daniel, where "the time of the end" (Daniel 8:17) points to future calamities preceding restoration. It also appears in Job to describe the limits of human suffering, reminding readers that even pain has a defined boundary.
This term underscores a biblical view of history as structured and finite. Unlike vague notions of eternity, qets emphasizes that periods of trial or action have a set conclusion. Whether marking the end of the floodwaters or the end of days, it assures that events unfold within divine boundaries rather than chaos.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qets reminds us that our lives and history are not endless cycles of chaos, but structured journeys with defined boundaries. It describes a limit or an extremity, whether marking the edge of a physical territory or the conclusion of a specific period of time. This concept offers profound comfort: trials, seasons of waiting, and periods of suffering are finite. They have a set endpoint determined by divine sovereignty rather than random chance.
When Scripture speaks of the end of days or the end of a famine, it points to God’s control over history. We see this in Genesis when Noah waits for the floodwaters to recede, knowing there is a limit to the judgment. It assures us that even in our darkest moments, there is a horizon beyond which hope arrives. This perspective helps us endure present difficulties with patience, trusting that God’s purposes will reach their intended conclusion.
Ultimately, qets invites us to live with an eternal perspective. By recognizing that every season has its limit, we can focus on faithfulness in the present rather than anxiety about the unknown. The assurance that history moves toward a divine conclusion allows us to rest in the stability of God’s promises, knowing that He brings order out of confusion and life out of death.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 53 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ [the] end of20×
- [the] end8×
- and/ to/ [the] end of3×
- an end3×
- to/ [the] end of2×
- to the/ end2×
- the/ end2×
- from/ [the] end2×
- end/ our2×
- end/ its2×
- [is] an end2×
- ¿/ [does] an end1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/קֵּ֖ץ6×
- מִ/קֵּץ֙5×
- מִ/קֵּ֣ץ\׀4×
- קֵ֑ץ3×
- קִצּ֔/וֹ3×
- קֵֽץ\׃2×
- קֵ֥ץ2×
- קֵ֣ץ2×
- מִ/קֵּ֥ץ2×
- מִ/קֵּ֣ץ2×
- קִּ֝צִּ֗/י1×
- קֵץ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 8:6
At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ship which he had made,
This verse uses qets to mark a precise deadline for Noah, showing that the chaotic period of the flood had a divinely appointed conclusion.
-
Job 6:11
What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?
Here Job asks about his 'end' or strength, highlighting how the concept applies to the limits of human endurance and patience in suffering.
-
Deuteronomy 15:1
At the end of every seven years, you shall cancel debts.
This verse establishes qets as a recurring boundary for social justice, showing that periods of debt and hardship are temporary and regulated by God's law.
-
Genesis 41:1
At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river.
The phrase 'at the end of two full years' demonstrates how qets structures long periods of waiting, marking the transition from obscurity to divine intervention for Joseph.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word qets mean?
How is qets different from other words for 'end'?
Where does qets appear in the Bible?
Does qets imply that history has a final end?
Every Occurrence (53 verses across 20 books)
Genesis 5 verses
As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.
Genesis 6:13God said to Noah, “I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will…
Genesis 8:6At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ship which he had made,
Genesis 16:3Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and…
Genesis 41:1At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river.