קוּט
properly, to cut off, i.e. (figuratively) detest
Definition
The Hebrew verb קוּט (qûwṭ) fundamentally means 'to cut off' or 'to sever,' but in its biblical usage, it almost exclusively carries a strong figurative sense of intense emotional rejection. It describes a deep-seated feeling of loathing, disgust, or grief directed either toward oneself or toward others. In some contexts, it expresses God's own detestation of sin and rebellion, as seen in Psalm 95:10 where God is 'grieved' with a generation. In other passages, it describes the profound self-loathing and remorse that people feel when confronted with their own sin, a key theme in Ezekiel 20:43 and 36:31.
Biblical Usage
This word is used six times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic books. It appears three times in the Psalms (95:10; 119:158; 139:21) and three times in Ezekiel (6:9; 20:43; 36:31). In the Psalms, it describes the psalmist's righteous indignation toward the wicked (Psalm 139:21) and God's own grief over human faithlessness (Psalm 95:10). In Ezekiel, its usage is patterned and profound: it consistently describes the future repentance of Israel, who will 'loathe themselves' for their iniquities when God restores them (Ezekiel 6:9; 20:43; 36:31).
Etymology
קוּט is a primitive root verb, meaning its origin is not derived from another known Hebrew word. Its core meaning is physical 'cutting off,' which evolved into the metaphorical idea of cutting off an emotional connection, leading to feelings of detestation and loathing. This semantic shift from a physical to an intense emotional action is common in Hebrew.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the profound emotional dimension of repentance and divine judgment. It moves beyond mere intellectual regret to describe a visceral, gut-level disgust with sin—a necessary component of true contrition before God, as emphasized in Ezekiel. It also reveals an emotional attribute of God, who is personally grieved by human rebellion (Psalm 95:10). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches our reading by highlighting the depth of feeling involved in both human repentance and God's response to sin.
In the ancient Near Eastern cultural context, emotions like grief and loathing were often expressed in strong, physical terms. The concept of 'cutting off' one's connection to something or someone carried weighty covenantal and social consequences, making this metaphor for emotional severance particularly powerful and understandable to the original audience.
תָּעַב (tāʿaḇ, H8581) — a stronger term often translated 'abhor' or 'abominate,' focusing on something being ritually or morally detestable. שָׂנֵא (śānēʾ, H8130) — the common word for 'to hate,' denoting a settled opposition or dislike, but not necessarily the intense, visceral disgust implied by קוּט.
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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