קָצַב (qa.tsav)
qa.tsav
to shear
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qatsav means to cut off or shear, specifically referring to the removal of hair or wool from an animal. It appears in only two verses in the Old Testament: Song of Solomon 5:2 and II Kings 9:3. In these contexts, the action is physical and precise, involving the shearing process rather than general cutting.
While the word literally denotes shearing, its usage in Song of Solomon 5:2 adds a layer of domestic intimacy. The speaker describes being asked to open the door for a beloved who has just returned from his field, likely with wool or hair freshly cut. This rare occurrence highlights a moment of everyday life intertwined with romantic longing, where the physical act of shearing sets the scene for personal interaction.
Translators typically render qatsav as "shear" to preserve this concrete image. Unlike broader terms for cutting, this word specifies the removal of fiber or hair, grounding the text in tangible agricultural reality. Its limited appearance underscores how specific actions in Scripture often carry significant narrative weight, even when they seem minor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The verb qatsav describes the precise act of shearing wool or hair, an essential part of ancient agricultural life. In II Kings 6:6, this physical cutting is central to a miracle where iron floats in water, showing that God can use ordinary materials and actions to accomplish extraordinary things. The specificity of the word grounds the biblical narrative in tangible reality.
In Song of Solomon 4:2, the imagery of a newly shorn flock highlights purity and beauty. This comparison suggests that love involves appreciating the fresh, clean details of another person. Such moments remind us that God cares about the everyday aspects of life, from work to relationships, weaving them into His larger story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he cut off1×
- <the>/ shorn [ewes]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יִּקְצָב\־1×
- הַ/קְּצוּב֔וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 6:6
The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” He showed him the place. He cut down a stick, threw it in there, and made the iron float.
The action of cutting the wood is the specific means by which God restores the lost axe head, demonstrating His power over physical objects.
-
Song of Solomon 4:2
Your teeth are like a newly shorn flock, which have come up from the washing, where every one of them has twins. None is bereaved among them.
The simile of a newly shorn flock emphasizes the beloved's teeth as pure and uniform, using agricultural imagery to describe beauty.