פּוּץ
to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)
Definition
The Hebrew verb פּוּץ (pûwts) carries the core meaning of 'to scatter' or 'to disperse,' often with a sense of forceful breaking apart. It describes literal physical scattering, such as the dispersion of people (Genesis 11:4, 8) or the driving away of enemies (Numbers 10:35). Figuratively, it conveys the idea of being shattered or broken into pieces, as in the cursing of Simeon and Levi's anger that is 'scattered' in Israel (Genesis 49:7). The word can imply both a negative judgment of fragmentation and a positive action of spreading something abroad.
Biblical Usage
פּוּץ is used 65 times across the Old Testament, prominently in narrative and prophetic books. It frequently describes God's judgment in scattering nations or people as a consequence of rebellion, most famously at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:4, 8-9). It is also used for military defeat (Psalm 68:1) and the forced exile of Israel (Deuteronomy 4:27; Jeremiah 9:16). In a positive sense, it describes the spreading of God's fame (Numbers 14:21) or the driving away of enemies (Psalm 144:6).
Etymology
As a primitive root, פּוּץ (pûwts) is the base for related words. Its fundamental sense is a violent or forceful separation. Cognates in other Semitic languages support meanings of 'breaking' and 'scattering.' The related noun מִפְצָה (miphtsah, H4666) means 'a crushing' or 'shattering,' reinforcing the root's connection to destructive force.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is central to the biblical theme of judgment and sovereignty. God's act of scattering at Babel (Genesis 11) is a direct response to human pride and unified rebellion, establishing dispersion as a key form of divine judgment. Conversely, the prophetic hope often involves God reversing this scattering by gathering his exiled people (e.g., Ezekiel 11:17). Understanding פּוּץ enriches the reading of both judgment oracles and promises of restoration.
In an ancient Near Eastern context, a unified people, language, and city represented security, power, and cultural identity. To be 'scattered' was a profound curse, removing people from their land, kinship networks, and protective social structures. It meant vulnerability, loss of identity, and often subjugation. This makes the judgment at Babel and the later exiles deeply catastrophic events from a cultural perspective.
זָרָה (zârâh, H2219) — to scatter, often like winnowing grain; less violent connotation. פָּזַר (pâzar, H6340) — to scatter, disperse; often used for spreading wealth or distributing. נָפַץ (nâphats, H5310) — to dash to pieces, shatter; focuses on the breaking action more than the dispersal.
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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