feminine passive participle of קָבַץ; a hoard; [idiom] gather.
Transliteration:qᵉbutsâh
Pronunciation:keb-oo-tsaw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word קְבֻצָה (qᵉbutsâh, `{{H6910}}`) is a feminine passive participle derived from the verbal root קָבַץ (qâbats, `{{H6908}}`), which means "to gather, collect, assemble." As a passive participle, קְבֻצָה denotes "that which has been gathered" or "a collected mass." Its semantic range includes concepts such as "a hoard," "a collection," or "an assembly" of items or individuals. The emphasis is on the state of being gathered or the resultant collection, rather than the act of gathering itself. This particular form suggests a concentrated mass, often with a specific purpose or destiny.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term קְבֻצָה (qᵉbutsâh, `{{H6910}}`) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, in the book of Ezekiel:
* [[Ezekiel 22:20]]: "As silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace; to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you."
In this powerful prophetic oracle against Jerusalem, קְבֻצָה is used metaphorically to describe the collection of various metals (silver, brass, iron, lead, and tin) that are brought together "into the midst of the furnace." The phrase "into the midst of the קְבֻצָה" (אל־תוך קְבֻצָה) refers to the assembled heap or collection of these metals, which are destined for the refining fire. The context is one of divine judgment and purification. The prophet Ezekiel uses this vivid imagery to liken the diverse inhabitants and their sins within Jerusalem to these metals, all of whom are to be gathered by God's wrath into a crucible of intense suffering and destruction. The word highlights the state of being amassed, ready for the process of melting and judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is the verbal root קָבַץ (qâbats, `{{H6908}}`), from which קְבֻצָה (qᵉbutsâh, `{{H6910}}`) is derived. קָבַץ is a frequently occurring verb in the Hebrew Bible, used to describe the act of gathering people (e.g., for war, assembly, or return from exile), animals, or objects. Its range includes assembling, collecting, bringing together, and mustering.
Other related concepts include:
* **Refining and Purification:** The context of קְבֻצָה in [[Ezekiel 22:20]] is intrinsically linked to the imagery of a furnace and melting, which are common biblical metaphors for divine judgment, testing, and purification (e.g., [[Proverbs 17:3]], [[Isaiah 48:10]], [[Malachi 3:3]]).
* **Divine Judgment:** The gathering of the "hoard" into the furnace signifies God's sovereign act of bringing judgment upon a sinful people.
* **Collective Identity:** The use of קְבֻצָה emphasizes the collective nature of the people of Jerusalem and their shared fate under divine wrath, rather than focusing on individual accountability in isolation.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of קְבֻצָה (qᵉbutsâh, `{{H6910}}`) in [[Ezekiel 22:20]] carries profound theological weight. It serves as a powerful metaphor for God's sovereign control over the destiny of His people, even in judgment.
1. **Divine Sovereignty in Judgment:** God is portrayed as the active agent who "gathers" (using the verbal root קָבַץ immediately after קְבֻצָה) His people into the crucible of His wrath. This demonstrates His absolute authority and purpose in allowing or orchestrating suffering as a consequence of sin.
2. **The Nature of Sin as a "Hoard":** The imagery of a "hoard" of diverse metals suggests the accumulated and varied nature of sin within Jerusalem. It is not merely individual transgressions but a collective mass of corruption that has become ripe for divine intervention.
3. **Purification and Destruction:** The "melting" of this קְבֻצָה in the furnace signifies both a destructive judgment for the unrepentant and a refining process for any who might be purified. It underscores the severity of God's anger against sin and His commitment to holiness.
4. **Consequences of Apostasy:** The passage vividly illustrates the dire consequences of Israel's persistent rebellion and idolatry, culminating in a divine act of "gathering" them into the consuming fire of judgment.
### Summary
The Hebrew word קְBֻצָה (qᵉbutsâh, `{{H6910}}`), a feminine passive participle of קָבַץ (qâbats, `{{H6908}}`), denotes "that which has been gathered" or "a collected mass," often rendered as "a hoard." Its singular appearance in [[Ezekiel 22:20]] is highly significant, where it describes a collection of various metals (silver, brass, iron, lead, tin) gathered into a furnace for melting. This powerful metaphor is applied to the people of Jerusalem, portraying them as a diverse "hoard" of impurities and sins, which God, in His righteous anger, will gather into the crucible of His judgment. The term thus underscores God's sovereign control over judgment, the collective nature of sin, and the intense process of divine purification or destruction.
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