קְצַף (qe.tsaph)
qe.tsaph
be angry
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Aramaic verb qetsaph means to become angry or furious. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Daniel 2:12. In this context, King Nebuchadnezzar is enraged because his wise men cannot reveal and interpret his dream. The word captures a sudden, intense outburst of wrath rather than a slow-burning resentment.
It is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew qatsaf (H7107). While the Hebrew form appears frequently in the Old Testament to describe both human anger and God’s indignation against sin, this specific Aramaic instance highlights royal fury. The king’s reaction drives the plot forward, leading to the decree that all wise men be destroyed until Daniel provides the interpretation.
Translators typically render qetsaph as "was angry" or "became furious." This usage underscores the volatile nature of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule and the high stakes involved in interpreting divine mysteries. The word serves as a narrative pivot, moving the story from royal frustration to divine revelation through Daniel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qetsaph describes a sudden, intense burst of anger, such as King Nebuchadnezzar’s rage in Daniel 2:12. When faced with an impossible demand, his fury threatened the lives of all Babylon’s wise men. This vivid picture shows how unchecked emotion can lead to destructive decisions and fear.
Yet the story does not end in violence. God reveals the dream to Daniel, turning a moment of terror into one of divine clarity. This reminds us that even when leaders or circumstances seem overwhelming, God remains sovereign. We can trust Him to bring order out of chaos and light out of confusion.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he was furious1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/קְצַ֣ף1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:12
Because of this, the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
This verse captures the king’s sudden fury, which directly triggers the decree to execute all wise men, setting the stage for Daniel’s faith-filled intervention.