גּוּז
𐤂𐤅𐤆
gûwz
H1468 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To pass by swiftly or to disappear quickly; in use, denotes the action of transient movement (such as rapid passing or vanishing), rather than the act of shearing. Although the root indicates a concrete, physical action (to shear or cut off), biblical usage is limited to the figurative sense of something fleeting or transient—a rapid departure or disappearance.
Semantic Range
to pass by swiftly, to vanish, to disappear quickly, to be transient, to be cut off (figurative)
Root / Etymology
Root is גוז (g-w-z). The core root meaning is 'to cut, shear off.' The verb גּוּז in Biblical Hebrew forms a denominative or stative aspect from this root, with its actual usage focusing on swift passing, rather than literal cutting. Root meaning and lexical meaning diverge in recorded biblical occurrences.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, גּוּז appears only in the sense of something transitory, notably in poetic or wisdom literature. For example, in Job 14:2 and Psalm 90:10, it describes human life or a moment as fleeting, like something that 'passes by quickly.' This differs from the related root גָּזַז (g-z-z), which more directly means 'to shear' (as with sheep) and expresses a concrete, physical activity rather than an abstract, temporal quality. English translations often render גּוּז with terms for rapid disappearance or passing, such as 'pass away,' 'fly away,' or 'vanish,' which adequately capture the metaphorical sense but may obscure the root's original connection to cutting or shearing. In later Hebrew, the physical sense (to shear) is more apparent in derivatives and related roots, but in biblical usage גּוּז functions only in this figurative, temporal way. This word is not used in contexts referring to ethnic, geographic, or religious identity, nor does it carry later theological or liturgical significance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (compare גַּזָז); properly, to shear off; but used only in the (figuratively) sense of passing rapidly; bring, cut off.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גוז (g-w-z) — to cut, shear, remove
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1470 | גּוֹזָן | Gozan |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1468-01 |
גָ֥ז | gaz | HVqp3ms |
it is cut off | he has swiftly vanished | 1 |
H1468-02 |
וַ/יָּ֣גָז | vayagaz | HC/Vqw3ms |
and brought | and he swiftly vanished | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1468-02 |
Numbers 11:31 | וַ/יָּ֣גָז | vayagaz | HC/Vqw3ms |
and brought | and he swiftly vanished |
H1468-01 |
Psalms 90:10 | גָ֥ז | gaz | HVqp3ms |
it is cut off | he has swiftly vanished |