from קוּץ; harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain or fruit) or the (dry) season; summer (fruit, house).
Transliteration:qayits
Pronunciation:kah'-yits
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term qayits (`{{H7019}}`) derives from the root קוּץ (qûts), which carries various connotations, including "to cut off" or "to be disgusted." In the context of qayits, the connection likely points to the act of "cutting off" or harvesting produce. Primarily, qayits refers to the season of "summer," characterized by its heat and dryness in the ancient Near East. This seasonal meaning is often contrasted with "winter" (`{{H2779}}`, choreph).
Secondarily, qayits denotes the "summer fruit" or "harvest" gathered during this season. This includes various fruits like figs, grapes, and pomegranates, which ripen in the dry summer months. Thus, the word encompasses both the period of the year and the agricultural yield associated with it. The base definition also alludes to "summer house," indicating its use to describe things pertaining to the summer season.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term qayits appears approximately 15 times in the Hebrew Bible, consistently reflecting its dual meaning of season and produce.
In [[Proverbs 26:1]], qayits refers to the summer season: "As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool." Here, the unsuitability of snow in summer highlights an incongruity, emphasizing the foolishness of misplaced honor. Similarly, [[Psalm 32:4]] uses qayits to describe the oppressive dryness of summer: "For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer." This imagery conveys intense suffering and divine pressure.
The seasonal aspect is also evident in [[Zechariah 14:8]], which speaks of living waters flowing from Jerusalem "in summer and in winter," symbolizing an eternal, unceasing divine provision. [[Genesis 8:22]] reinforces the divine establishment of these seasons, including "summer and winter," as part of God's enduring covenant with creation.
The meaning of "summer fruit" is prominent in several passages. In [[Amos 8:1-2]], a "basket of summer fruit" (קֵיץ, qayits) serves as a powerful prophetic symbol. The Lord reveals this vision to Amos, declaring, "The end is come upon my people Israel; I will not again pass by them any more." The ripeness of the summer fruit signifies that Israel's iniquity has reached its full measure, ripe for judgment.
[[Isaiah 16:9]] laments the cessation of "shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest," depicting the desolation of a land where the joyful gathering of produce has ceased due to impending judgment. Likewise, [[Jeremiah 8:20]] uses qayits in a poignant lament: "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." This verse powerfully conveys the tragedy of a missed opportunity for salvation, where the opportune time (harvest/summer) has irrevocably passed.
In [[2 Samuel 16:1]], "summer fruits" are listed among provisions David receives, indicating their value as sustenance. [[Proverbs 10:5]] offers a wisdom teaching: "He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame." This verse underscores the importance of diligence and seizing the opportune time for labor and provision.
### Related Words & Concepts
Qayits (`{{H7019}}`) is intimately connected to the agricultural and seasonal cycles of ancient Israel.
* **Root קוּץ (qûts) `{{H6973}}`**: While this root can mean "to awake" or "to loathe," its connection to qayits is likely through the sense of "cutting off" or "ending," referring to the cutting of the harvest or the end of a growth cycle.
* **חֹרֶף (choreph) `{{H2779}}`**: "Winter." This word frequently appears in parallel with qayits to denote the two primary seasons, emphasizing the cyclical nature of time and divine order.
* **קָצִיר (qatsir) `{{H7105}}`**: "Harvest" (often grain harvest). Qayits and qatsir are often used interchangeably or in parallel, both referring to the time of gathering produce and the produce itself. While qatsir often implies the grain harvest, qayits more specifically points to the fruit harvest of the dry season.
* **תְּבוּאָה (tĕbû'â) `{{H8393}}`**: "Produce" or "yield." This is a general term for agricultural output, of which qayits (summer fruit) is a specific type.
* **פְּרִי (pĕrî) `{{H6529}}`**: "Fruit." This is a broader term for fruit, whereas qayits specifies the fruits of the summer season.
The concept of qayits is inherently linked to themes of divine providence, human diligence, and the timing of judgment or salvation.
### Theological Significance
The word qayits carries profound theological weight, reflecting God's sovereignty, human responsibility, and the nature of divine judgment.
1. **Divine Order and Faithfulness:** The regular recurrence of qayits as a season, alongside choreph (winter), is a testament to God's enduring covenant with creation ([[Genesis 8:22]]). It signifies His faithfulness in maintaining the natural order, providing the necessary conditions for life and sustenance. This predictable cycle underscores God's steadfastness and reliability.
2. **Wisdom, Diligence, and Opportunity:** The proverb "He that gathereth in summer is a wise son" ([[Proverbs 10:5]]) elevates qayits to a metaphor for seizing opportune moments. It teaches that wisdom involves foresight, diligence, and timely action. Spiritually, this translates to the imperative to cultivate righteousness, seek wisdom, and respond to God's call during the "time of favor" before it passes.
3. **Symbol of Judgment and Missed Opportunity:** Perhaps the most striking theological use of qayits is as a symbol of ripeness for divine judgment. The "basket of summer fruit" in Amos ([[Amos 8:1-2]]) powerfully illustrates that just as fruit reaches its peak and must be gathered or it will spoil, so too can a nation's or individual's sin reach a point of no return, making them "ripe" for God's intervention and judgment. The lament in [[Jeremiah 8:20]], "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved," is a tragic cry over missed spiritual opportunity. It serves as a stark warning that there is a divinely appointed time for repentance and salvation, and to neglect it is to face irreversible consequences.
4. **Divine Provision and Refreshment:** While often associated with dryness, qayits also brings forth the bounty of the land, providing essential sustenance. The promise of living waters flowing "in summer and in winter" ([[Zechariah 14:8]]) transcends the natural limitations of the dry season, pointing to an eternal, unceasing source of divine life and refreshment available through God's presence.
### Summary
The Hebrew word qayits (`{{H7019}}`) denotes both the dry, hot season of summer and the fruits harvested during that period. Its biblical usage reveals a rich theological tapestry. It underscores God's faithful maintenance of the natural order and the importance of human diligence in seizing opportune moments for labor and spiritual growth. Most profoundly, qayits serves as a potent symbol for divine timing, particularly concerning the ripeness for judgment and the tragic consequences of missed opportunities for repentance and salvation. Through its various contexts, qayits consistently points to God's sustained providence and the critical need for humanity to respond to His calls within the appointed time.
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