גָּזָה
𐤂𐤆𐤄
gâzâh
H1491 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cut off, to shear, or to remove by cutting, especially in the sense of dividing or apportioning material objects, such as hair or wool, or resources. The word primarily carries the nuance of physical separation by cutting, and by extension, the act of taking or distributing a share as a result of such division.
Semantic Range
to cut off, to shear (wool or hair), to apportion by cutting, to remove a portion, to take by dividing
Root / Etymology
Root: גזה. The root is related to the act of cutting or shearing. The verb גָּזָה is likely derived from the basic sense 'to cut' or 'to shear,' and is akin to גּוּז (to shear, to cut off), sharing the idea of separating something from a larger whole by means of physical cutting.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb גָּזָה appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, typically in reference to activities such as shearing sheep (i.e., removing wool) or otherwise cutting off a piece of something tangible. Its usage is primarily literal and physical, rather than metaphorical or abstract. In Israelite agricultural and pastoral contexts, shearing sheep was a significant seasonal and economic activity; thus, the verb can be associated with these recurring life rhythms. There is sometimes overlap in nuance between גָּזָה and the related root גּוּז, but גָּזָה tends to emphasize the act of cutting or apportioning itself. English translations often render this simply as 'cut off,' 'shear,' or 'take,' which may obscure the specific, tactile sense of removal implied in Hebrew. The term remains focused on physical separation rather than broader ideas of elimination or spiritual removal.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (akin to גּוּז); to cut off, i.e. portion out; take.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גזה (g-z-h) — to cut, to shear, to remove by cutting
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1496 | גָּזִית | in hewn stone |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1491-01 |
גוֹזִ֑/י | gozi | HVqrmsc/Sp1cs |
my deliverer | my cutter | my deliverer | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1491-01 |
Psalms 71:6 | גוֹזִ֑/י | gozi | HVqrmsc/Sp1cs |
my deliverer | my cutter | my deliverer |