English · KJV
H6998

קָטַף

qâṭaph /kaw-taf'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto strip off
KJV usagecrop off, cut down (up), pluck.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qâṭaph — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word qâṭaph, represented by H6998, is a primitive root meaning to strip off, crop off, cut down, or pluck. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. Its usage primarily relates to the act of removing a part from a larger plant, whether it be an ear of grain, a wild herb, or a twig from a tree.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H6998 appears in both literal and allegorical contexts. It is used in the Law to describe a permitted action: an individual may pluck ears of corn by hand when passing through a neighbor's field Deuteronomy 23:25. It also depicts a state of desperate survival, as seen in Job, where afflicted men cut up mallows for food Job 30:4. In a prophetic allegory in Ezekiel, an eagle cropped off the top of a cedar's young twigs and carried it to a city of merchants, symbolizing an act of judgment Ezekiel 17:4. This same act is later reclaimed by God, who promises He will personally crop off a tender twig to plant on a high mountain Ezekiel 17:22.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context and consequence of the action of plucking or cropping:

  • H3947 lâqach (to take): This word appears with qâṭaph to describe a sequence of divine action. In God's promise of restoration, He first declares "I will also take" from the cedar before stating "I will crop off" a tender twig Ezekiel 17:22.
  • H5130 nûwph (to move, shake, wave): This term is used to provide a legal contrast to qâṭaph. While one may pluck grain by hand, they are forbidden to move a sickle in their neighbor's corn, distinguishing a small, personal taking from a full harvest Deuteronomy 23:25.
  • H8362 shâthal (to plant): The purpose for the action of qâṭaph is often revealed through this word. God crops off a twig with the express intention to plant it, turning an act of removal into one of future growth and establishment Ezekiel 17:22.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H6998 is seen in its progression from a simple agricultural act to a symbol of divine sovereignty.

  • Provision within Boundaries: The word is used to establish a principle of sustenance governed by law. The permission to pluck grain demonstrates God's provision for immediate needs while respecting the boundaries of property Deuteronomy 23:25.
  • Judgment and Hardship: qâṭaph illustrates judgment when the top of a great cedar is cropped off and carried away Ezekiel 17:4. It also depicts the depths of human suffering, where men resort to cutting up mallows to survive Job 30:4.
  • Divine Restoration: The most powerful use of the word comes when God takes the same action of "cropping off" and applies it for a redemptive purpose. He Himself will crop off a tender twig to plant it, signifying His sovereign power to reverse judgment and establish His own chosen one in a place of prominence Ezekiel 17:22.

Summary

In summary, H6998 is a focused term for plucking or cropping off. While its literal use defines agricultural actions and legal boundaries, its metaphorical application is profound. The word demonstrates how the same physical act can represent human hardship or judgment when performed by man Ezekiel 17:4, but becomes an act of sovereign restoration and exaltation when performed by God Ezekiel 17:22, highlighting a key biblical theme of divine redemption.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יִקָּטֵף
  • קָטַפְתָּ
  • אֶקְטֹף
  • קֹּטְפִים
  • קָטָף

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3947 לָקַח a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, in H5130 נוּף a primitive root; to quiver (i.e. vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in a great variety of applications (inc H8362 שָׁתַל a primitive root; to transplant; plant.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job and Ezekiel (2 verses each); never once in the other 36.

1
Deuteronomy
2
Job
2
Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.