קְצָת (qe.tsat)
qe.tsat
end
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun qetsat refers to an end, a boundary, or a specific part of something larger. In the Hebrew Bible, it often denotes the extremities of a physical space, such as the corners of a structure or the far reaches of the earth. This usage grounds the concept of "ending" in tangible geography rather than abstract time.
Its appearance in texts like Exodus and Daniel highlights this spatial sense. For instance, it describes the ends of the earth in prophetic visions (Daniel 8:23) or the structural limits of sacred objects (Exodus 27:19). The word can also indicate a point in time, meaning "at the end of" a period, though its primary force remains directional.
Translators typically render qetsat as "end," "corner," or "part." This reflects its flexibility: it marks where one thing stops and another begins. Whether referring to the four corners of a grating or the distant ends of the world, the word consistently points to limits and boundaries.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qetsat describes a boundary or an extremity. It marks where one thing stops and another begins, often referring to physical corners or the far reaches of the earth. This tangible sense reminds us that God’s reach extends to every limit of our world.
When we face uncertainty about what comes next, this word offers a quiet comfort. It suggests that even when we cannot see the full picture, there are defined limits and purposes at work. The boundaries we encounter are not barriers to God’s care but markers of His order.
In times of transition, we can trust that every season has its appointed end. Just as the grating had corners to hold its structure, our lives are held within a framework that is both secure and purposeful. We do not need to fear the unknown, for God is present at every edge.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ ends1×
- and/ some of/ [the] end of1×
- and/ from/ [the] end/ their1×
- and/ from/ [the] end of1×
- and/ <to>/ from/ [the] end of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מִ/קְצָת֙2×
- וּ/מִ֨/קְצָתָ֔/ם1×
- וּ/לְ/מִ/קְצָת֙1×
- הַ/קְּצָוֹ֖ת1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 38:5
He cast four rings for the four corners of bronze grating, to be places for the poles.
This verse uses qetsat to describe the physical corners of the bronze grating, grounding the concept of 'end' in a concrete, structural boundary.
-
Daniel 1:5
The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years, that at its end they should stand before the king.
Here the word marks the conclusion of a specific training period, indicating when the youths would stand before the king.
-
Daniel 1:15
At the end of ten days, their faces appeared fairer and they were fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate of the king’s delicacies.
The term signals the completion of a ten-day test, showing how God honors faithfulness within set limits.