a primitive root; to draw together, i.e. close; by implication, to leap (by contracting the limbs); specifically, to die (from gathering up the feet); shut (up), skip, stop, take out of the way.
Transliteration:qâphats
Pronunciation:kaw-fats'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H7092}}` (qâphats) is a primitive verbal root whose core meaning revolves around the concept of "drawing together" or "contracting." This foundational sense gives rise to a diverse semantic range. Primarily, it denotes a physical act of closing or congealing, where elements are drawn into a compact state. By extension, this contraction of limbs leads to the meaning "to leap" or "to skip," as a sudden gathering of the body's parts precedes a jump. A more specialized and somber application of the root is "to die," often understood as a euphemism for the body's final contraction or the cessation of life, perhaps by "gathering up the feet" in death. Other derived meanings include "to shut (up)," "to stop," or "to take out of the way," all stemming from the idea of bringing something to a close or an end.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of `{{H7092}}` in the Hebrew Bible, though few, illustrate its rich semantic breadth:
* **Exodus 15:8**: In the Song of the Sea, describing God's miraculous parting of the Red Sea, it states, "And with the blast of Your nostrils the waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea." Here, `{{H7092}}` (וַיִּקְפְּאוּ, *vayyiqpĕ'û*) describes the waters becoming "congealed" or "solidified," standing firm like a wall. This usage perfectly aligns with the core meaning of drawing together and becoming fixed, demonstrating God's power to suspend natural laws.
* **Psalm 114:4, 6**: This psalm celebrates God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt. It poetically asks, "The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs" (v. 4), and repeats the question in verse 6, "Why do you skip, you mountains, like rams? You little hills, like lambs?" In both instances, `{{H7092}}` (קָפְּדוּ, *qâpĕdû*) is used to depict the mountains "skipping" or "leaping." This vivid imagery describes the earth's trembling and movement in awe and fear before the manifest presence of the Lord, particularly at the Exodus and the giving of the Law at Sinai. It highlights the dynamic and responsive nature of creation to its Creator.
* **Job 24:19**: In Job's discourse on the fate of the wicked, it states, "Drought and heat consume the snow waters; So does Sheol those who have sinned." The verb `{{H7092}}` (יִקְפְּאוּ, *yiqpĕ'û*) here is often rendered as "snatches away," "consumes," or "takes out of the way." In this context, it refers to the swift and decisive action of Sheol (the grave) in claiming the lives of the wicked, paralleling the rapid evaporation of snowmelt in drought. This usage aligns with the derived meaning of "to die" or "to be taken out of the way," emphasizing the finality and inevitability of death.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of `{{H7092}}` intersects with several related Hebrew terms and concepts.
* **Contraction/Closing:** Words like `{{H5462}}` (sāgar, "to shut, close") and `{{H6908}}` (qābaṣ, "to gather, collect") share a conceptual overlap with the "drawing together" aspect of `{{H7092}}`.
* **Movement/Leaping:** The "leaping" aspect of `{{H7092}}` connects it to terms like `{{H7540}}` (rāqaḏ, "to skip, dance") or `{{H6544}}` (pāraṣ, "to break forth, burst out"), which also describe vigorous or sudden movement.
* **Cessation/Death:** The meaning "to die" or "to stop" links `{{H7092}}` to fundamental terms for death, such as `{{H4191}}` (mûṯ, "to die"), or concepts of cessation, like `{{H6116}}` (ʿāṣar, "to restrain, stop").
* **Divine Power:** The contexts in Exodus and Psalm 114 evoke the concept of divine omnipotence and control over creation, where nature responds directly to God's command or presence.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H7092}}` is profound, primarily revealing aspects of God's sovereignty and the nature of His interaction with creation and humanity.
* **Divine Sovereignty Over Creation:** In Exodus 15 and Psalm 114, `{{H7092}}` powerfully illustrates God's absolute control over the natural world. The "congealing" waters and "skipping" mountains are not random occurrences but direct responses to the divine presence and will. This emphasizes God's ability to manipulate, suspend, or animate creation according to His purposes, demonstrating His unique status as Creator and Sustainer. The very earth trembles and moves in acknowledgment of His glory.
* **Theophany and Awe:** The "skipping" mountains in Psalm 114 are a vivid poetic descriptor of the earth's reaction to the manifest presence of God (theophany). This imagery evokes a sense of awe, fear, and profound respect that creation holds for its Maker, reminding humanity of the immense power and holiness of the Lord.
* **The Finality of Death and Divine Judgment:** In Job 24:19, the use of `{{H7092}}` in relation to death underscores its finality and inevitability. While not explicitly a judgment, the context of the wicked being "snatched away" by Sheol suggests a divine order where consequences for sin, or the natural course of life, lead to a decisive end. It serves as a reminder of human mortality and the ultimate boundaries set by God.
* **The Breadth of God's Dominion:** The semantic range of `{{H7092}}` itself, from vibrant "leaping" to stark "dying," encapsulates the full spectrum of existence. That one root can describe both the dynamic exuberance of creation before God and the solemn finality of death speaks to the comprehensive nature of God's dominion over all aspects of being, from the most energetic movement to the ultimate cessation.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H7092}}` (qâphats) is a concise yet potent term whose core meaning is "to draw together" or "to contract." This fundamental sense extends to encompass "to close," "to congeal," "to leap" or "to skip" (as from contracting limbs), and by powerful implication, "to die" or "to be taken out of the way" (through a final cessation or gathering up). Its biblical occurrences are few but highly significant, demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over creation in causing waters to "congeal" at the Red Sea ([[Exodus 15:8]]) and mountains to "skip" in His presence ([[Psalm 114:4, 6]]). Furthermore, it conveys the finality of death, as Sheol "snatches away" the wicked ([[Job 24:19]]). Theologically, `{{H7092}}` serves as a powerful testament to God's omnipotence, the awe-inspiring nature of His presence, and His comprehensive dominion over both life and death.
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