a primitive root; to cut down or off; (figuratively) to destroy, divide, exclude, or decide; cut down (off), decree, divide, snatch.
Transliteration:gâzar
Pronunciation:gaw-zar'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb gâzar (`{{H1504}}`) is a primitive root carrying the fundamental meaning "to cut down or off." This literal sense forms the bedrock for its broader semantic range, which extends into several significant figurative applications. At its core, gâzar implies a definitive separation or division, often with a sense of finality or irreversibility.
From the physical act of cutting, the word develops nuanced meanings:
1. **To Cut/Sever:** The most direct application, referring to the physical act of dividing or severing something. This can be destructive (cutting down a tree) or preparatory (cutting an animal for sacrifice).
2. **To Destroy/Exterminate:** An extension of "cutting off," implying eradication or removal from existence, particularly in the context of divine judgment or human action leading to complete removal.
3. **To Divide/Separate:** To make a clear distinction or boundary, to split into parts.
4. **To Decide/Decree/Determine:** This is a crucial figurative development. Just as a physical cut creates a definitive separation, a decree or decision "cuts off" all other possibilities, establishing a final and binding resolution. It signifies an authoritative pronouncement or a fixed determination.
5. **To Snatch:** While less common, this usage can imply a swift, decisive removal, akin to cutting something away quickly.
The common thread across these meanings is the idea of a decisive, often irreversible, action that establishes a clear end, separation, or determination.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of gâzar in the Hebrew Bible illustrate its diverse semantic range:
In its literal sense of **cutting or severing**, we find it in contexts like:
* [[Leviticus 1:17]]: Describing the preparation of a bird for sacrifice, it states that the priest "shall not sever it completely." This highlights the *absence* of the complete cutting action implied by gâzar, emphasizing the specific ritual requirement.
* [[Deuteronomy 29:28]]: Here, it describes the Lord "rooting them out of their land," a metaphorical cutting off or severing from their place, signifying exile and destruction.
* [[Psalm 88:5]]: The psalmist laments, "cut off from your hand," expressing a feeling of being definitively separated from God's care or from the living.
* [[Lamentations 3:54]]: "Waters flowed over my head; I said, 'I am cut off!'" This vividly portrays a feeling of being utterly isolated and irrevocably separated, as if severed from life.
The figurative sense of **deciding or decreeing** is particularly prominent, often carrying a sense of authority and finality:
* [[Job 22:28]]: Eliphaz tells Job, "You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you." This verse beautifully captures the power of a determined decision, suggesting that a righteous person's decree, aligned with God's will, will come to pass. Here, gâzar implies a definitive and effective pronouncement.
* [[Esther 2:1]]: After Queen Vashti's dismissal, "When the anger of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her." This refers to the binding royal edict, a decision that "cut off" Vashti's queenship.
* [[Daniel 2:15]]: Daniel asks Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, "Why is the decree so urgent from the king?" referring to Nebuchadnezzar's command to execute all the wise men. This usage highlights a harsh, decisive, and immediate royal decree.
* [[Daniel 9:24]]: This crucial prophetic passage speaks of "Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city." Here, gâzar signifies a divinely determined period, a fixed and unchangeable plan established by God, emphasizing His sovereign control over history.
Across these contexts, gâzar consistently conveys an action that is definitive, often irreversible, and carries significant consequences, whether physical separation or authoritative determination.
### Related Words & Concepts
Gâzar (`{{H1504}}`) interacts with several other Hebrew words and concepts, enriching its meaning and highlighting its unique nuances:
* **`{{H3772}}` *karat* (כָּרַת):** Also means "to cut off," but often in the context of making a covenant (cutting a covenant) or utterly destroying. While gâzar emphasizes the act of cutting or the finality of a decree, *karat* often carries the implication of a more severe, often total, cutting off or extermination, particularly in judicial or covenantal contexts. For example, "cutting off" from the people as a punishment.
* **`{{H6504}}` *parad* (פָּרַד):** Means "to divide, separate, disperse." While gâzar can mean "to divide," *parad* more broadly refers to the act of separation or scattering, without necessarily implying the "cutting" action or the authoritative decree that gâzar can convey.
* **`{{H2710}}` *chaqaq* (חָקַק):** Means "to engrave, inscribe, decree, legislate." This word shares the "decree" aspect with gâzar, but *chaqaq* often implies the act of formally establishing a law or statute, as if engraving it into stone or law. Gâzar emphasizes the decisive *act* of determination, whereas *chaqaq* focuses on the *establishment* of a rule.
* **`{{H5648}}` *sarar* (שָׂרַר):** Means "to rule, to be a prince, to contend." While not directly related to "cutting," it relates to authority and the power to make decisions, which aligns with the "decree" aspect of gâzar.
Conceptually, gâzar relates to:
* **Judgment and Consequence:** The act of being "cut off" often signifies divine judgment or the natural consequence of actions, leading to separation from blessing, life, or community.
* **Sovereignty and Authority:** The "decree" aspect underscores the power of a king or, more profoundly, the absolute sovereignty of God, whose decisions are final and unchangeable.
* **Divine Plan:** In prophetic contexts (e.g., Daniel), gâzar highlights the pre-determined nature of God's plan, which is "cut out" or fixed from eternity.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of gâzar is profound, touching upon divine sovereignty, justice, and the nature of God's interaction with humanity.
1. **Divine Sovereignty and Unchangeable Decree:** Perhaps the most potent theological implication of gâzar lies in its use to describe God's decrees (e.g., [[Daniel 9:24]]). When God "decrees" a thing, it is fixed, unchangeable, and will certainly come to pass. This underscores His absolute authority, omniscience, and control over history and destiny. The divine decree "cuts off" all other possibilities, demonstrating God's ultimate power and the certainty of His will.
2. **Justice and Judgment:** The concept of being "cut off" from the land, from life, or from God's presence (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 29:28]], [[Psalm 88:5]]) is a powerful image of divine judgment for sin and disobedience. It signifies a decisive separation from blessing and covenant relationship, illustrating the severe consequences of rebellion against God. This "cutting off" is not arbitrary but a just response to unfaithfulness, establishing a clear boundary between the righteous and the unrighteous, or between obedience and its consequences.
3. **Human Responsibility and Consequences:** While God's decrees are absolute, the human ability to "decree a thing" (as in [[Job 22:28]]) suggests a measure of human agency, particularly when aligned with God's will. However, this must be understood within the larger framework of divine sovereignty. It encourages righteous living, knowing that God can establish the purposes of His faithful servants.
4. **The Finality of Divine Action:** Whether in judgment or in the unfolding of His plan, gâzar emphasizes the definitive and irreversible nature of God's actions. There is no appeal or reversal of what God has "cut out" or decreed. This provides both a source of terror for the wicked and immense comfort and assurance for the righteous who trust in His unfailing purposes.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb gâzar (`{{H1504}}`) fundamentally means "to cut down or off," but its richness lies in its extensive figurative applications. It describes a decisive, often irreversible, action that results in separation, destruction, or, most significantly, an authoritative determination or decree. Whether depicting the physical severing of an object or the pronouncement of a king's edict or God's sovereign plan, gâzar consistently conveys a sense of finality and definitive action. Theologically, it profoundly speaks to God's absolute sovereignty and the unchangeable nature of His decrees, His just judgment in "cutting off" the disobedient, and the certainty of His pre-determined purposes for history and humanity. It is a word that underscores the power of a definitive word, whether human or divine, to shape reality and establish an outcome.
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