English · KJV
H1504

גָּזַר

gâzar /gaw-zar'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto cut down or off; (figuratively) to destroy, divide, exclude, or decide
KJV usagecut down (off), decree, divide, snatch.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of gâzar — 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 gâzar, represented by H1504, is a primitive root meaning to cut down or off. It appears 13 times across 13 unique verses in the Bible. Figuratively, its meaning extends to concepts like destroying, dividing, excluding, or deciding, and is translated as cut down (off), decree, divide, and snatch.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H1504 is used to describe acts of decisive separation and authority. It can be a literal, physical action, such as when King Solomon commands to divide the living child 1 Kings 3:25 or when the Red Sea is divided into parts Psalms 136:13. Figuratively, it conveys being cut off or excluded, as when King Uzziah was cut off from the house of the LORD due to his leprosy 2 Chronicles 26:21. It is also used for making an official decision, such as the decree made against Queen Vashti Esther 2:1 or the promise that a righteous man can decree a thing and have it established Job 22:28.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide deeper context to the actions described by gâzar:

  • H4941 mishpâṭ (judgment): This word, meaning "a verdict... or formal decree," appears with gâzar in Isaiah 53:8, where the servant is "cut off" from judgment, linking the separation to a judicial process.
  • H6965 qûwm (to rise, decree, establish): This term is used in tandem with gâzar in Job 22:28, showing that after one does decree a thing, it shall be established, or "made good."
  • H2491 châlâl (slain): In Psalms 88:5, those who are "cut off" from God's hand are compared to the slain who lie in the grave, connecting the idea of being cut off with finality and death.
  • H4194 mâveth (death): The consequence of Uzziah being "cut off" from the temple was that he remained a leper until the day of his death 2 Chronicles 26:21, highlighting the permanent nature of the separation.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1504 is centered on the concepts of separation, judgment, and authority.

  • Separation as Judgment: Being "cut off" is often a direct consequence of transgression or a divine verdict. The suffering servant is cut off from the land of the living for the transgression of the people Isaiah 53:8, and King Uzziah is cut off from the house of the LORD for his sin 2 Chronicles 26:21.
  • Act of Sovereign Decision: The word signifies an action of absolute power. This is seen most clearly in God's miraculous act of dividing the Red Sea Psalms 136:13. It also appears in the context of human authority, where a king's command to divide 1 Kings 3:25 or decree Esther 2:1 is final.
  • Expression of Utter Desolation: To be "cut off" is to be in a state of complete hopelessness. The house of Israel expresses this despair by saying, "we are cut off" Ezekiel 37:11, and the psalmist cries out from affliction, "I am cut off" Lamentations 3:54.

Summary

In summary, H1504 is a powerful word that conveys actions of decisive separation. From the literal dividing of the Red Sea to the figurative act of issuing a decree or being cut off from life and community, gâzar illustrates a final, definitive action. It serves to articulate significant biblical concepts of judgment, sovereign authority, and profound desolation.

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 13 occurrences, inflected in 10 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.

  • נִגְזַר
  • גִּזְרוּ
  • נִגְזַרְנוּ
  • נִגְזָרְתִּי
  • נִגְזָרוּ
  • תִגְזַר
  • יִּגְזְרוּ
  • יִּגְזֹר
  • גֹזֵר
  • גָּזַר

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.

H4941 מִשְׁפָּט from שָׁפַט; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decre H6965 קוּם a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [i H2491 חָלָל from חָלַל; pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted; kill, profane, slain (man), [idiom] slew, (deadly) wo H4194 מָוֶת from מוּת; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, rui

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 13 verses across 10 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Kings, Psalms, and Isaiah (2 verses each); never once in the other 29.

2
1 Kings
1
2 Kings
1
2 Chronicles
1
Esther
1
Job
2
Psalms
2
Isaiah
1
Lamentations
1
Ezekiel
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.