חָצַץ
properly, to chop into, pierce or sever; hence, to curtail, to distribute (into ranks); to shoot an arrow
Definition
The Hebrew verb חָצַץ (châtsats) carries the core idea of dividing or cutting through. Its primary sense is to chop, pierce, or sever, as seen in its use for shooting an arrow (Job 21:21). From this, it extends to the concept of curtailing or cutting off, and by further extension, to the act of arranging or distributing into separate groups or ranks, as in the description of recounting the righteous acts of the LORD and the villagers in Israel in Judges 5:11. In Proverbs 30:27, it describes locusts advancing in orderly ranks, illustrating this distributive meaning.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only three times in the Old Testament, each reflecting a different nuance of its meaning. In Judges 5:11, it describes the act of recounting or distributing the story of God's victories. In Job 21:21, it refers to the piercing action of an arrow, symbolizing sudden death. In Proverbs 30:27, it depicts locusts advancing in organized, divided ranks without a king. It appears in poetic and wisdom literature.
Etymology
חָצַץ is a primitive root. It is related to חָצָה (châtsâh, H2673), meaning 'to divide' or 'to halve,' sharing the core concept of separation. It also functions as a denominative verb from the noun חֵץ (chets, H2671), meaning 'arrow,' hence the specific action 'to shoot an arrow.'
Semantic Range
Though used rarely, חָצַץ connects to themes of divine judgment and order. In Job 21:21, the piercing arrow illustrates the sudden, inescapable nature of death and divine reckoning. In Judges 5:11, its use in the Song of Deborah highlights the distribution and proclamation of God's righteous acts in salvation history, turning communal memory into praise. Understanding this range from violent piercing to orderly distribution enriches readings of God's sovereign action in both judgment and the structured unfolding of His purposes.
The imagery draws directly from ancient Near Eastern life. The 'archer' (from its use in Job) was a central figure in warfare, and arrows symbolized swift, piercing judgment. The depiction of locusts in ranks (Proverbs 30:27) reflects keen observation of a common agricultural plague, using their inexplicable, orderly advance as a wisdom lesson. The act of 'distributing' a story (Judges 5:11) points to a communal, oral culture where reciting history was a public act of covenant remembrance.
חָצָה (châtsâh, H2673) — focuses more on the act of dividing or splitting into parts. חֵץ (chets, H2671) — the noun 'arrow,' the instrument of the piercing action. בָּקַע (bâqa`, H1234) — to split or break open, often with more force than חָצַץ.
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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