קֹצֶר

shortness (of spirit), i.e. impatience

Definition

The Hebrew noun קֹצֶר (qôtser) literally means 'shortness' or 'brevity,' but in its sole biblical occurrence, it is used metaphorically to describe a state of mind. It refers to 'shortness of spirit,' a condition of impatience, discouragement, or anguish that prevents someone from hearing or responding to a message. This is vividly illustrated in Exodus 6:9, where the Israelites, due to their harsh slavery and 'shortness of spirit' (קֹצֶר רוּחַ, qôtser rûach), could not listen to Moses's promises of deliverance from God. The word captures a psychological and spiritual state where external pressure crushes hope and the capacity for faith.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Exodus 6:9. It appears in the specific phrase 'shortness of spirit' (קֹצֶר רוּחַ) to describe the Israelites' emotional and spiritual state under Egyptian bondage. The context is critical: God has just reaffirmed His covenant promises to Moses, but when Moses relays them to the people, they are too broken by 'cruel bondage' to receive this good news. The usage highlights how extreme suffering can create an internal barrier to hearing God's word.

Etymology

קֹצֶר (qôtser) is a noun derived from the root קָצַר (qātsar, H7114), which means 'to be short' or 'to harvest.' The core idea of the root is cutting short or brevity. From the physical sense of a short measure or a shortened time, it developed the metaphorical meaning of a short, impatient, or discouraged disposition. The related adjective קָצַר (qātsar) is used in Proverbs 14:17 for someone who is 'short of temper.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it diagnoses a fundamental human spiritual condition under duress. 'Shortness of spirit' describes a crisis of faith where suffering overwhelms the ability to trust God's promises. In Exodus 6:9, it explains the people's unresponsiveness not as rebellion, but as a trauma-induced incapacity. Understanding this enriches our reading by adding compassion to the narrative and highlighting that God's redemptive work often begins by meeting people in their broken, 'short-spirited' state before leading them to liberation.

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the 'spirit' (רוּחַ, rûach) was understood as the vital breath or animating force of a person, closely tied to one's emotional and volitional capacity. A 'short' spirit was one that was constricted, unable to expand with hope or endurance. This contrasts with a modern, purely psychological view by framing the condition as a holistic crisis of the entire person—physical, emotional, and spiritual—under the crushing weight of slavery and despair.

כַּעַס (kaʿas, H3708) — refers more to provocation, vexation, or anger, often with a cause. קֹצֶר describes an internal state of crushed endurance. יָגוֹן (yāgôn, H3015) — means sorrow or grief, a broader emotional pain, whereas קֹצֶר specifies the impatience and discouragement from prolonged hardship.

Word Details

Scripture References