English · KJV
H7197

קָשַׁשׁ

qâshash /kaw-shash'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto become sapless through drought; used only as denominative from קַשׁ; to forage for straw, stubble or wood; figuratively, to assemble
KJV usagegather (selves) (together).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qâshash — 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 qâshash, represented by H7197, is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to becoming sapless through drought, but it is used as a denominative to mean foraging for straw, stubble, or wood. Figuratively, it means to assemble or gather. It appears 8 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7197 is used in both literal and figurative contexts. Its most frequent use is literal, describing the gathering of basic materials. The Israelites were forced to gather stubble for making bricks in Egypt (Exodus 5:7, Exodus 5:12). The word is also used to describe individuals gathering sticks for a fire, as seen with the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:10, 1 Kings 17:12) and the man who violated the Sabbath Numbers 15:32. Figuratively, the word is used as a command for a nation to gather itself together, as seen in the prophetic call in Zephaniah 2:1.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words appear alongside H7197, providing a fuller context for the action of gathering:

  • H4672 mâtsâʼ (to find or acquire): This word is used when the man gathering sticks on the Sabbath was found Numbers 15:32 and again when those who found him brought him to the congregation Numbers 15:33.
  • H6327 pûwts (to disperse or scatter): This term is used in direct connection with gathering. In Egypt, the people were scattered abroad specifically to gather stubble, showing the difficulty of their task Exodus 5:12.
  • H7126 qârab (to approach or bring near): After the man was found gathering sticks, he was brought before Moses and Aaron for judgment Numbers 15:33, linking the act of gathering to the consequence of being brought to justice.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7197 is demonstrated through its context. While a simple verb, its application carries significant meaning.

  • A Call to Assembly: The word is used figuratively in a command for a "nation not desired" to gather itself together Zephaniah 2:1. This implies a summons for collective reflection or repentance in the face of impending judgment.
  • An Act of Disobedience: The act of gathering sticks becomes a capital crime when performed on the Sabbath Numbers 15:32. This illustrates how even a mundane task of survival can represent a serious violation of divine law, highlighting the importance of obedience.
  • A Depiction of Desperation: For the widow of Zarephath, gathering two sticks is an act of finality and desperation before she and her son expect to die from famine 1 Kings 17:12. Here, gathering underscores a state of extreme poverty and hopelessness.

Summary

In summary, H7197 is a word whose significance is defined by its context. Literally, it denotes the simple, often arduous, task of foraging for materials like straw and wood (Exodus 5:12, 1 Kings 17:10). Figuratively, it elevates to a command for a nation to assemble Zephaniah 2:1. Whether describing an act of forced labor, a violation of sacred time, or a desperate attempt at survival, qâshash demonstrates how a basic human action can carry profound biblical and theological importance.

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 8 occurrences, inflected in 7 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.

  • מְקֹשֵׁשׁ
  • הִתְקוֹשְׁשׁוּ
  • קֹשְׁשׁוּ
  • קֹשֵׁשׁ
  • מְקֹשֶׁשֶׁת
  • מְקֹשֶׁשֶׁת
  • קוֹשּׁוּ

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.

H4672 מָצָא a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figur H6327 פּוּץ a primitive root; to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse); break (dash, shake) in (to) pie H7126 קָרַב a primitive root; to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose; (cause to) approach, (cause to) bring (for

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 7 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus, Numbers, and 1 Kings (2 verses each); never once in the other 35.

2
Exodus
2
Numbers
2
1 Kings
1
Zephaniah

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.