English · KJV
H7096

קָצָה

qâtsâh /kaw-tsaw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto cut off; (figuratively) to destroy; (partially) to scrape off
KJV usagecut off, cut short, scrape (off).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qâtsâh — 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 qâtsâh, represented by H7096, is a primitive root meaning to cut off or to scrape off. It appears 6 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. While its usage is infrequent, it carries significant meanings in both literal and figurative contexts, ranging from physical scraping to the figurative destruction or reduction of a people.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical application, H7096 describes acts of removal and reduction. In a literal sense, it is used in the laws of purification to detail how a house with a plague should be scraped to remove the defilement (Leviticus 14:41, 43). Figuratively, it conveys divine judgment, as when the LORD began to cut Israel short by reducing its territory 2 Kings 10:32. The term is also used in wisdom literature to illustrate self-harm, where sending a message by a fool is compared to cutting off one's own feet Proverbs 26:6. Finally, it speaks to moral consequence, where cutting off many people results in sinning against one's own soul Habakkuk 2:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illuminate the contexts in which H7096 appears:

  • H7106 qâtsaʻ (to scrape): This root is used alongside H7096 to describe the process of cleansing a house, where it is ordered to be scraped within Leviticus 14:41.
  • H5221 nâkâh (to smite): This word is directly connected to the act of "cutting short," describing how Hazael smote Israel in all their coasts as their territory was reduced 2 Kings 10:32.
  • H2398 châṭâʼ (to sin): The act of "cutting off" others is linked to moral failure, as one who does so has sinned against his own soul Habakkuk 2:10.
  • H2490 châlal (to begin, profane, wound): This verb initiates the action of judgment in 2 Kings, stating that the LORD began to cut Israel short 2 Kings 10:32.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7096 is seen in its application to divine action and moral law.

  • Divine Judgment: The word is used to describe a direct act of God reducing the nation of Israel, illustrating His sovereignty to cut short or diminish a people as a form of judgment 2 Kings 10:32.
  • Ritual Purity: The literal act of scraping a house to remove a plague underscores the importance of thoroughly removing defilement and uncleanness to restore a place to a state of purity (Leviticus 14:41, 43).
  • Moral Accountability: The word serves as a stark warning that destructive actions toward others, such as cutting off people, bring about dire personal consequences, including shame and sin Habakkuk 2:10.

Summary

In summary, H7096 is a powerful word signifying removal and reduction. Whether used literally for scraping away physical impurity or figuratively for cutting off a nation's territory or people, it consistently points to an act of separation or diminution. It illustrates themes of divine judgment, the necessity of purification, and the severe consequences of destructive actions.

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.

  • הִקְצוֹת
  • הִקְצוּ
  • קַצּוֹת
  • מְקַצֶּה
  • קְצוֹת

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.

H7106 קָצַע a primitive root; to strip off, i.e. (partially) scrape; by implication, to segregate (as an angle); cause to scrape, co H5221 נָכָה a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [id H2398 חָטָא a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, H2490 חָלַל a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, t

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 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Leviticus (2 verses); never once in the other 35.

2
Leviticus
1
2 Kings
1
Proverbs
1
Habakkuk

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.