קָצַץ (qa.tsats)
qa.tsats
to cut
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qa.tsats carries the basic meaning of cutting, but its usage in Scripture often implies a decisive severing or removal. Occurring twelve times across books like Judges, II Kings, and Jeremiah, it describes physical actions such as hewing wood or cutting objects in two, yet it frequently points to something more final: being cut off from a community, land, or life itself.
A key distinction lies in its grammatical forms. In the Qal stem, it simply means to cut off, while the Piel intensifies this to mean cutting in pieces or hewing. This intensity appears when describing judgment, such as when God promises to cut off a rebellious nation (Jeremiah 25:34). The word does not just describe an action; it conveys the result of that action—a permanent separation.
Translators often render qa.tsats as "cut off" or "destroy," depending on context. In II Kings 19:30, for instance, it is used metaphorically to speak of remnant survival, contrasting with total destruction. The word’s power comes from its concreteness: it is not an abstract idea of loss, but a physical act that signifies a definitive end or boundary.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qatsats describes a decisive act of cutting, often resulting in separation or removal. In the Old Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from the skilled work of artisans crafting gold wire to severe judgments against enemies. This physical action serves as a powerful metaphor for how God establishes boundaries and brings about final outcomes, whether in preserving a remnant or executing justice.
For your faith life, this word reminds us that God’s actions are purposeful and definitive. When Scripture speaks of being cut off or cords being severed, it points to the reality that some things must end for restoration to begin. We can trust that even in moments of loss or judgment, God remains sovereign, using these decisive acts to fulfill His promises and protect what is precious to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ they cut off2×
- and/ he cut up2×
- [those who] are cut off of2×
- he has cut off1×
- he cut off1×
- cut off1×
- and/ you will cut off1×
- and/ he cut off1×
- and/ he cut [them] up1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- קִצַּ֨ץ1×
- קִ֝צֵּ֗ץ1×
- קְצוּצֵ֥י1×
- קְצוּצֵ֣י1×
- מְקֻצָּצִ֗ים1×
- וַֽ/יְקַצְּצ֤וּ1×
- וַֽ/יְקַצְּצ֔וּ1×
- וַ/יְקַצֵּץ֩1×
- וַ/יְקַצֵּץ֙1×
- וַ/יְקַצֵּ֞ץ1×
- וְ/קַצֹּתָ֖ה1×
- וְ/קִצֵּ֣ץ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 129:4
Yahweh is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.
This verse highlights God’s righteousness in severing the oppressive plans of the wicked, offering comfort that evil forces are ultimately restrained by His power.
-
II Kings 18:16
At that time, Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of Yahweh’s temple, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
Here, King Hezekiah’s act of cutting gold from the temple doors demonstrates a tangible sacrifice made to preserve the nation during a crisis.
-
Judges 1:7
Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their big toes cut off, scavenged under my table. As I have done, so God has done to me.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
Adoni-Bezek’s reflection on his own mutilation illustrates the principle of retributive justice, showing how God uses historical events to enforce moral order.