a primitive root; to chop off (literally or figuratively); cut (asunder, in pieces, in sunder, off), [idiom] utmost.
Transliteration:qâtsats
Pronunciation:kaw-tsats'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H7112}}` (קָצַץ, qâtsats) is a primitive root carrying the fundamental meaning "to chop off." Its semantic range extends from literal acts of severance to figurative expressions of termination, destruction, or reaching an extreme limit. The core idea is one of cutting, severing, or bringing something to an end. It can describe cutting "asunder," "in pieces," "in sunder," or simply "off." The extended idiomatic sense of "utmost" suggests a cutting to the very limit or extreme, implying completion or finality in a destructive sense. This root emphasizes a decisive and often violent act of separation or reduction.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Occurrences of `{{H7112}}` in the Hebrew Bible illustrate its diverse applications:
* **Literal Amputation/Severance:** In [[Judges 1:7]], the seventy kings confess to having their thumbs and big toes "cut off" (קֻצְּצוּ, qutstsetsu) by Adoni-Bezek. This is a vivid, literal application of the root, signifying incapacitation and humiliation.
* **Agricultural Cutting/Preparation:** [[Isaiah 28:24]] uses `{{H7112}}` in the context of a farmer who "cuts off" (יְקַצֵּץ, yəqatsets) his furrows. Here, it describes the act of breaking up the ground, perhaps with a cutting implement, to prepare it for sowing. This suggests a preparatory, albeit forceful, act of division.
* **Figurative Judgment/Destruction:** [[Isaiah 18:5]] employs `{{H7112}}` to describe the cutting off of sprigs, metaphorically representing the swift and decisive judgment upon nations. Similarly, [[Psalm 129:4]] declares that the Lord "has cut asunder" (קִצֵּץ, qitsets) the cords of the wicked, signifying the breaking of their power and influence. This illustrates God's sovereign ability to bring an end to evil and oppression.
* **Expressions of Despair/Termination of Life:** In [[Job 6:9]], Job, in his profound suffering, expresses a fervent wish that God would "cut me off" (וְיִקֹּץ, wəyiqqots), desiring an end to his life. This same desperate plea appears in [[Lamentations 3:54]], where the speaker laments that "my life was cut off" (נִקְצְצוּ, niqtsətsu), reflecting a sense of imminent demise or profound despair. In these contexts, `{{H7112}}` conveys a desire for, or experience of, the cessation of existence or extreme suffering.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of "cutting off" is central to many facets of biblical thought and relates to several other Hebrew roots:
* `{{H3772}}` (כָּרַת, karath): This is perhaps the most common word for "to cut," often used for "cutting a covenant" (implying a solemn division or agreement) or "cutting off" individuals or lineages as a form of judgment. While `{{H7112}}` emphasizes the act of chopping or severing, `{{H3772}}` often carries a broader sense of decisive separation or termination, especially in legal and covenantal contexts.
* `{{H1504}}` (גָּזַז, gazaz): "to shear," typically used for cutting wool or hair, implying a more controlled or specific type of cutting.
* `{{H6789}}` (צָמַת, tsamath): "to cut off," "to destroy," often used in the context of utterly annihilating or bringing to an end.
* `{{H5428}}` (נָתַשׁ, natash): "to uproot," "to pluck up," often used for removing plants or people from their land, implying a forceful severance from a foundation.
Concepts related to `{{H7112}}` include: judgment, destruction, termination, amputation, severance, breaking of power, and the experience of ultimate despair or an extreme limit.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H7112}}` primarily revolves around the themes of divine judgment, human suffering, and the sovereignty of God.
* **Divine Judgment and Justice:** When God "cuts off" the wicked or their power (as in [[Psalm 129:4]] and [[Isaiah 18:5]]), it signifies His righteous judgment against sin and His commitment to upholding justice. This act of severance is a definitive end to rebellion and a demonstration of His power to intervene in human affairs. It underscores the consequences of disobedience, where individuals or nations can be completely removed from their position or existence.
* **Human Vulnerability and Despair:** The use of `{{H7112}}` in the laments of Job and Jeremiah (in Lamentations) highlights the profound human experience of suffering and despair. The desire to be "cut off" from life reflects an ultimate state of brokenness and a longing for release from unbearable pain. This reveals the depths of human frailty and the cry for divine intervention, even if that intervention is perceived as an end.
* **God's Sovereignty and Control:** In both judgment and the allowance of suffering, the root `{{H7112}}` implicitly points to God's ultimate control over life and death, over the rise and fall of nations. He is the one who can bring things to an abrupt and decisive end, whether it is the power of oppressors or the life of a suffering individual. This demonstrates His authority as the Creator and Sustainer, who also has the prerogative to sever and terminate.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H7112}}` (קָצַץ, qâtsats) fundamentally means "to chop off" or "to cut asunder." Its usage in the Hebrew Bible spans literal acts of amputation, agricultural processes of breaking ground, and powerful figurative expressions. The root is employed to describe the decisive termination of power, the execution of divine judgment, and the profound human experience of despair leading to a desire for the end of life. `{{H7112}}` consistently conveys a sense of definitive severance, reduction, or reaching an ultimate limit, underscoring themes of divine sovereignty, justice, and the often-harsh realities of human existence.
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