a primitive root; to clip off, i.e. (figuratively) destroy; be cut off.
Transliteration:qâṭaṭ
Pronunciation:kaw-tat'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H6990 (קָטַט - qâṭaṭ) is a primitive verb whose core meaning revolves around the action of "clipping off" or "cutting off." This foundational physical sense implies a decisive, often violent, severance or termination. From this literal action, the semantic range extends figuratively to encompass "destroying" or "being cut off." The nuance suggests a complete removal or annihilation, rather than a mere reduction or damage. It implies an end to existence or a state of being, effectively severing something from its previous context or life.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Occurrences of H6990 (קָטַט) are rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing primarily in the book of Isaiah, yet each instance carries significant weight.
1. **[[Isaiah 10:7]]**: "Yet he means not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few."
Here, qâṭaṭ is used in the Hiphil stem, indicating a causative action – "to cause to cut off" or "to destroy." The subject is the Assyrian king, whom God is using as an instrument of judgment against Israel. The king's intent is to utterly "destroy" (יַקְטִיט) and "cut off" (יַכְרִית - `{{H3772}}`) many nations. This context highlights the destructive power of a conquering empire, but more profoundly, it underscores the severity of divine judgment executed through human agents. The Assyrian king's ambition to "clip off" or "destroy" nations aligns with God's sovereign plan to prune and refine His people and judge the wicked.
2. **[[Isaiah 28:24]]**: "Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?"
In this passage, qâṭaṭ is used in a literal, agricultural context, translated as "break" or "cut up" the clods of the ground. The prophet Isaiah uses the analogy of a farmer's methodical and purposeful work to illustrate God's wise and measured actions in judgment and restoration. Just as a farmer must "break up" (יְקַטֵּט) the hard soil to prepare it for planting and yield fruit, so too does God's seemingly harsh discipline serve a greater, redemptive purpose. This usage reveals the root's ability to describe a precise, preparatory "cutting" or "breaking" that leads to new growth, contrasting with the destructive sense in [[Isaiah 10:7]].
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of H6990 (קָטַט) intersects with several other Hebrew words related to cutting, severing, and destroying:
* `{{H3772}}` (כָּרַת - kārath): "to cut off," "to make a covenant," "to exterminate." This word frequently appears alongside or in similar contexts to qâṭaṭ, particularly when referring to the cutting off of individuals or nations from their land or people.
* `{{H7722}}` (שָׁמַד - shāmad): "to destroy," "to annihilate." Often used for the complete destruction of peoples, cities, or idols, emphasizing utter devastation.
* `{{H6789}}` (צָמַת - tsâmôth): "to cut off," "to destroy," "to exterminate." This verb also conveys a sense of finality and complete removal.
* `{{H6202}}` (עָרַץ - ‘ārats): "to break in pieces," "to crush," "to terrify." While not directly about cutting, it shares the concept of violent dissolution or destruction.
These related terms help to delineate the specific nuance of qâṭaṭ, which, while rare, carries a strong sense of definitive severance or breaking, whether for destructive judgment or preparatory work.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H6990 (קָטַט) is profound, despite its limited occurrences, as it illuminates two distinct facets of God's interaction with His creation:
1. **Divine Judgment and Sovereignty**: In [[Isaiah 10:7]], qâṭaṭ describes the Assyrian king's intent to "destroy" nations. This human ambition, however, is paradoxically a tool in God's hand. It underscores the severity and totality of divine judgment against sin and rebellion. The "cutting off" or "destroying" of nations is an act of sovereign power, demonstrating that God is the ultimate arbiter of history, using even the destructive desires of human empires to accomplish His purposes. It speaks to the finality of His judgment, where nations can be utterly severed from their existence or power.
2. **Divine Wisdom and Preparatory Work**: The use of qâṭaṭ in [[Isaiah 28:24]] in an agricultural context reveals God's meticulous wisdom. Just as a farmer "breaks up" the soil not to destroy it, but to prepare it for sowing and fruitfulness, so too does God's discipline, which may feel like a "cutting off" or "breaking," serve a higher, redemptive purpose. This metaphor illustrates that God's actions, even those that seem harsh, are always purposeful and ultimately aimed at producing spiritual fruit or establishing His righteous kingdom. It demonstrates God's patient and wise stewardship over His creation, preparing the ground for new life and blessing.
Thus, qâṭaṭ serves as a powerful descriptor of God's two-edged work: both the definitive judgment that severs and destroys, and the preparatory work that breaks ground for renewal and growth, all under His wise and sovereign hand.
### Summary
The Hebrew root H6990 (קָטַט - qâṭaṭ) signifies "to clip off," "to cut off," and by extension, "to destroy" or "to be cut off." Though infrequent in the biblical text, its appearances in Isaiah are highly significant. In [[Isaiah 10:7]], it describes the destructive ambition of the Assyrian king, serving as an instrument of God's severe judgment to "destroy" nations. Conversely, in [[Isaiah 28:24]], it portrays the farmer's action of "breaking up" clods of earth, illustrating God's wise and purposeful preparation that precedes fruitfulness. Therefore, qâṭaṭ encapsulates both the decisive, often destructive, aspect of divine judgment and the methodical, preparatory work of God that leads to ultimate good, revealing His sovereignty and profound wisdom in all His dealings.
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