קָפַץ
to draw together, i.e. close; by implication, to leap (by contracting the limbs); specifically
Definition
The Hebrew verb קָפַץ (qâphats) primarily means 'to draw together' or 'to close,' often describing the physical action of shutting something, like a hand or a door. By extension, this drawing together of the limbs describes the motion of 'leaping' or 'skipping,' as seen in the lover's approach in Song of Solomon 2:8. In a more figurative and grave sense, the word can imply 'to die,' picturing death as the final gathering up of one's feet or vitality, a usage found in Job 24:24. Thus, the word spans actions from closing off to energetic movement to the cessation of life.
Biblical Usage
קָפַץ is used in diverse contexts across several Old Testament books. Its literal sense of closing or shutting is seen in commands about not 'shutting' one's hand from a poor neighbor (Deuteronomy 15:7). The sense of leaping appears poetically in Song of Solomon 2:8. The metaphorical use for dying or being brought to a sudden end is present in the wisdom literature (Job 5:16, 24:24) and in descriptions of the wicked perishing (Psalm 107:42). It also appears in the enigmatic description of the servant in Isaiah 52:15 ('so shall he sprinkle many nations'), where the verb might carry a sense of causing to leap or startle.
Etymology
As a primitive root, קָפַץ conveys a core idea of contraction or drawing inward. Cognates in other Semitic languages support meanings related to gathering, collecting, or jumping. The development of meaning from a physical drawing together (close/shut) to a rapid motion (leap) and finally to a figurative gathering in death shows how a concrete action expanded into broader metaphorical uses in biblical Hebrew.
Semantic Range
This word connects to several theological themes. In Deuteronomy 15:7, it directly relates to the ethics of generosity and social justice, warning against 'closing' one's heart and hand. Its use for death, especially of the wicked (Job 24:24, Psalm 107:42), underscores the biblical view of death as a definitive end or gathering. The rare usage in Isaiah 52:15 contributes to the complex portrait of the suffering servant, potentially highlighting a startling, awe-inspiring effect on the nations. Understanding these nuances enriches reading by linking physical actions to spiritual realities.
The conceptual link between drawing the limbs together and leaping reflects an ancient, observational understanding of motion. The metaphor of death as 'gathering the feet' may relate to cultural practices of preparing a body or the final rest of a person, viewing death as a closing up of one's earthly journey.
סָגַר (sâgar, H5462) — a more common general term for closing or shutting, especially gates and doors. דָּלַג (dâlag, H1801) — specifically to leap or spring. גָּוַע (gâvaʿ, H1478) — a common term for dying or expiring, without the imagery of contraction.
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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