קָצִיר
severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or figuratively; also a limb (of a tree
Definition
The Hebrew word קָצִיר (qâtsîyr) primarily means 'harvest' in its most common usage, referring to the act of reaping crops, the harvested crop itself, or the harvest season. For example, in Exodus 34:21, it denotes the time of harvest. It can also refer to a 'harvester' or 'reaper' as the agent of the action. In a more literal sense of 'something cut off,' it is used metaphorically for a 'bough' or 'limb' of a tree, as seen in Isaiah 18:5. This range of meaning—from the concrete agricultural process to a severed branch—springs from its core idea of cutting or severing.
Biblical Usage
קָצִיר is used 49 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in the Pentateuch and Prophets. Its primary context is agricultural, detailing laws about harvest (Leviticus 19:9, 23:10) and the cycle of seasons (Genesis 8:22). It appears in historical narratives (Genesis 30:14; 45:6) and prophetic writings, sometimes figuratively for a time of judgment or reaping (Jeremiah 51:33; Hosea 6:11). The sense of 'bough' is rarer, found in poetic texts like Isaiah.
Etymology
קָצִיר is a noun derived from the root verb קָצַר (qâtsar, H7114), meaning 'to cut off, harvest, reap.' This root connection is clear, as the noun denotes the result or agent of the cutting action. Cognate words exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'kasāru' (to reap), reinforcing its fundamental link to harvesting.
Semantic Range
קָצִיר is theologically significant as it anchors God's covenant faithfulness in the natural order (Genesis 8:22) and His provision through agricultural laws that care for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10). It also becomes a powerful metaphor in the prophets for divine judgment—God's harvest of the nations (Joel 3:13) or of Israel's sin (Hosea 6:11). Understanding this word enriches reading by connecting physical sustenance with spiritual themes of timing, recompense, and God's sovereignty over cycles of life and history.
In ancient Israel, the harvest (קָצִיר) was a central, life-sustaining event in the agrarian calendar. It was not merely a season but a period of intense communal labor and celebration, as seen in the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), which concluded the barley harvest (Exodus 34:22). The concept carried immediate economic and survival implications far removed from modern industrialized food systems. The 'harvest time' dictated the rhythm of life, law, and religious festival.
אָסִיף (ʼâsîyph, H6258) — 'ingathering,' often used for the later autumn fruit harvest. בְּכִיר (bᵉkîyr, H1061) — 'first-ripe fruit,' specifying the early harvest. תְּבוּאָה (tᵉbûʼâh, H8393) — 'produce, yield,' a more general term for what the land brings forth.
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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