קָצַר
to dock off, i.e. curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain)
Definition
The Hebrew verb קָצַר (qâtsar) primarily means 'to cut short' or 'to harvest.' In its literal sense, it refers to the agricultural act of reaping grain or cutting grass, as seen in laws about harvest (Leviticus 19:9, 23:10). Figuratively, it describes being or becoming short, often in the context of patience, spirit, or life. For example, the Israelites' patience 'grew short' during their wilderness journey (Numbers 21:4), and God questions if His 'hand is shortened' in Numbers 11:23, meaning His power is not limited. Thus, the word bridges concrete action and abstract limitation.
Biblical Usage
קָצַר is used 46 times, primarily in the Pentateuch (especially Leviticus) and the historical books. Its usage splits between literal agricultural harvesting (e.g., Leviticus 25:5, 11; Deuteronomy 24:19) and the figurative sense of becoming discouraged, impatient, or limited (e.g., Numbers 21:4; Judges 10:16; 16:16). The figurative use often describes emotional or spiritual shortness, such as a 'shortened spirit.' The verb appears in both transitive ('to reap a harvest') and intransitive ('the spirit grew short') forms.
Etymology
קָצַר is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to cutting or shortening. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic (qaṣara, 'to cut short') and Aramaic, supporting the basic sense of reduction or termination. The development from the concrete act of cutting crops to abstract concepts of impatience or limitation is a natural semantic extension within Hebrew.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects God's provision and human responsibility in agriculture (harvest laws leaving gleanings for the poor) with the human condition of spiritual impatience and limitation. The key contrast is between human 'shortness'—of spirit, patience, or perspective—and God's declaration that His hand is not 'shortened' (Numbers 11:23, Isaiah 59:1), emphasizing His unlimited power and faithfulness. Understanding this range enriches reading by linking physical harvest to spiritual posture.
In ancient Israel, harvesting was a vital, time-sensitive activity central to survival and religious law. The command not to reap the edges of a field (Leviticus 19:9) was a social welfare provision. The figurative sense of a 'short spirit' or 'short hand' would be immediately understood in an agrarian society where a 'short' harvest meant scarcity, and a 'short' temper or patience was a tangible, dangerous liability in community life.
קצר (qātsar, H7114) — This is the verb itself, the base entry. חָצַר (chātsar, H2673) — to cut off, enclose; focuses more on surrounding or cutting off access. אָסַף (ʾāsaph, H622) — to gather, collect; often for harvest but implies bringing in rather than the cutting action. קָצָה (qātsâ, H7096) — to cut off, determine; often used for setting boundaries or ends.
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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