קְוֻצָּה
a forelock (as shorn)
Definition
The Hebrew noun קְוֻצָּה (qᵉvutstsâh) refers specifically to a lock or tuft of hair, particularly a forelock or a curled lock of hair on the head. It is used exclusively in the Song of Solomon to describe the beautiful, flowing hair of the beloved. In Song of Solomon 5:2, the woman describes her beloved's head as 'dripping with dew,' his 'locks' (qᵉvutstsâh) wet with the night's moisture. In Song of Solomon 5:11, she further praises him, saying his 'head is the finest gold; his locks (qᵉvutstsâh) are wavy, black as a raven.' The word consistently denotes a feature of physical beauty and adornment.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the Song of Solomon (5:2, 5:11). In both instances, it is used in the context of intimate, poetic descriptions of physical beauty within the love poetry of the book. It functions as a specific, evocative detail highlighting the attractiveness and vitality of the male beloved, contributing to the sensual and metaphorical imagery of the text.
Etymology
The word קְוֻצָּה is a feminine noun derived from the root קוּץ (qûts, H6972), which carries the basic sense of 'to awake' or 'to arouse.' In its participial form used here, it developed the meaning 'a lock (of hair),' possibly from the idea of hair that is 'roused' or 'stirred' (i.e., curled or wavy), or hair that is 'awakened' or prominent. It is a passive participle, indicating something that is 'shorn' or 'cut,' hence the traditional gloss linking it to a forelock.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is not theologically loaded, its use in the Song of Solomon is significant. It contributes to the book's celebration of human love, beauty, and physicality as gifts from God. Understanding this specific Hebrew term enriches the reading of these poetic passages, allowing modern readers to appreciate the precise and vivid imagery the original author used to depict love and desire, which many interpreters see as reflecting the love between God and His people or Christ and the Church.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, well-kept, luxurious hair was a common symbol of youth, health, vitality, and beauty. Descriptions of hair, including specific terms for locks or curls, were standard features of ancient love poetry and descriptions of attractive individuals. The mention of hair being 'wavy' and 'black as a raven' (Song of Solomon 5:11) uses imagery that would have been immediately understood as representing ideal masculine beauty and vigor in that cultural setting.
צַמָּה (tsammah, H6777) — a general term for a lock or braid of hair, also used in Song of Solomon (7:5). מַחְלָפָה (machlâphâh, H4253) — a plait or braid of hair (Judges 16:13, 19).
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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