בָּצִיר
clipped, i.e. the grape crop
Definition
The noun בָּצִיר (bâtsîyr) refers to the 'vintage,' specifically the grape harvest or the grapes themselves that have been gathered. It denotes the fruit of the vine that has been 'clipped' or cut off from the vine, as seen in its use for the gathered crop in Leviticus 26:5 and Judges 8:2. In prophetic literature, the word often carries a metaphorical sense, symbolizing the end of a season of prosperity or judgment, such as in Isaiah 24:13 where the shaking of the olive tree and the gleaning of the grape harvest depict desolation. In Micah 7:1, the prophet laments that the godly have perished, using the imagery of seeking fruit after the vintage to convey a time of spiritual barrenness.
Biblical Usage
בָּצִיר is used six times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic contexts. It appears in legal material (Leviticus 26:5) as part of a blessing for agricultural abundance. In historical narrative (Judges 8:2), it is used literally to compare a minor military victory to leftover grapes. Its most significant usage is in the prophets (Isaiah 24:13, Isaiah 32:10, Jeremiah 48:32, Micah 7:1), where it frequently serves as a metaphor for the end of a season, often of judgment or lament, painting a picture of what remains after the main harvest is over.
Etymology
בָּצִיר is a noun derived from the root בָּצַר (bâtsar, H1219), which means 'to cut off, gather, or harvest.' The root conveys the action of harvesting grapes by cutting them from the vine. Cognate words in other Semitic languages also relate to harvesting or gathering. The noun form specifically focuses on the product of that action—the vintage itself.
Semantic Range
Theologically, בָּצִיר is significant as it is woven into the biblical themes of blessing, judgment, and lament. In blessings like Leviticus 26:5, it represents God's provision and the fruitfulness of obedience. In prophecy, it becomes a powerful image for the culmination of God's judgment (Isaiah 24:13, Jeremiah 48:32) or a time of spiritual scarcity (Micah 7:1). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the contrast between God's abundant provision and the barrenness that follows disobedience, connecting agricultural cycles to spiritual realities.
In ancient Israelite culture, the vintage was a critical, labor-intensive agricultural season following the grain harvest. It represented a time of celebration and abundance when the year's wine supply was secured. The metaphorical use by the prophets would have resonated deeply with an agrarian society, where a failed or completed vintage signaled economic hardship or the definitive end of a cycle. The image of seeking fruit after the vintage (Micah 7:1) paints a vivid picture of desperate and futile searching.
קָצִיר (qâtsîyr, H7105) — 'harvest'; typically refers to the grain harvest, while בָּצִיר is specific to grapes. כֶּרֶם (kerem, H3754) — 'vineyard'; the place where grapes are grown, not the harvested crop itself. עֲנָבִים (ʿănâbîym, H6025) — 'grapes'; the fruit on the vine, not necessarily the gathered harvest.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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