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חָצָה

𐤇𐤑𐤄

châtsâh

H2673 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חצה to divide, split, separate, halve

Definition

To divide, split, or separate into two or more parts, often with the sense of passing through, cleaving, or apportioning. The verb is most frequently used for the literal or figurative act of dividing space (such as waters, people, or an inheritance) or objects. It can also signify dividing time or life into portions, sometimes expressed idiomatically (e.g., 'live half of one's days'). In some contexts, it refers to reaching or being in the middle or midst of something.

Semantic Range

to cut in two, to split (waters, objects, paths), to divide (space, inheritance), to pass through (a divided area), to apportion or assign into parts, to live half (days, lifespan, idiomatic), to reach or be in the midst

Root / Etymology

From root חצה, meaning 'to divide' or 'to split.' The verb form is the direct verbal expression of the root’s action. This root is distinct from similar roots such as חלק (to apportion, distribute) and בקע (to break open, split), but all share concepts of division or separation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָצָה is attested throughout various strata of biblical Hebrew, including narratives (e.g., the division of the Red Sea, Exodus 14:21, and Jordan River, Joshua 3:17) and idiomatic expressions (e.g., Psalm 55:24, 'they shall not live out half their days'). Its primary use is concrete—physical division of waters or paths—while secondary, less frequent figurative use refers to dividing time, lifespan, or experiences. During the monarchic and exilic periods, it continues to denote actual partition or movement through divided spaces. Later translations (especially LXX) at times render the verb with Greek διαιρεῖν ('to divide'), but English translations may flatten idiomatic meaning (e.g., 'live out half'). The term functions differently from חלק (to divide into lots, especially of land), as חָצָה often connotes an active movement through or splitting that creates a passage or boundary, whereas חלק focuses more on distribution of portions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

lemma חָעָה ayin, corrected to חָצָה; a primitive root (compare זֵד)); to cut or split in two; to halve; divide, [idiom] live out half, reach to the midst, participle

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חצה (ḥ-ṣ-h) — divide, split, separate, halve

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2676 חָצוֹת night-division
H2677 חֵצִי in the half of
H2679 חֲצִי הַמְּנֻחוֹת half of
H2680 חֲצִי הַמְּנַחְתִּי half-Manahethite
H3183 יַחְצְאֵל to El-divides

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2673-02 וַ/יַּ֜חַץ vayachats HC/Vqw3ms and he divided and he divided 3
H2673-03 וַ/יֵּחָצ֖וּ vayechatsu HC/VNw3mp and they were divided and they were split 2
H2673-04 וַֽ/יֶּחֱצֵ/ם֙ vayechetsem HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp and divided them and he divided them 1
H2673-07 וְ/תֵחָ֕ץ vetechats HC/VNj3fs and it will be divided and may she be divided 1
H2673-09 יֶֽחֱצֶ֔ה yechetseh HVqi3ms it-divides he divides 1
H2673-05 וְ/חָצִ֨יתָ֙ vechatsita HC/Vqq2ms and you shall divide and you divided 1
H2673-11 יֶ֝חֱצ֗וּ/הוּ yechetsuhu HVqi3mp/Sp3ms divide him they will divide him 1
H2673-10 יֶחֱצ֣וּ yechetsu HVqi3mp live half they divide 1
H2673-12 יֶֽחֱצֽוּ/ן yechetsun HVqi3mp/Sn they shall divide they divide 1
H2673-06 וְ/חָצ֣וּ vechatsu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall divide and they divided 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2673-02 Genesis 32:8 וַ/יַּ֜חַץ vayachats HC/Vqw3ms and he divided and he divided
H2673-02 Genesis 33:1 וַ/יַּ֣חַץ vayachats HC/Vqw3ms he divided and he divided
H2673-06 Exodus 21:35 וְ/חָצ֣וּ vechatsu HC/Vqq3cp and they shall divide and they divided
H2673-12 Exodus 21:35 יֶֽחֱצֽוּ/ן yechetsun HVqi3mp/Sn they shall divide they divide
H2673-05 Numbers 31:27 וְ/חָצִ֨יתָ֙ vechatsita HC/Vqq2ms and you shall divide and you divided
H2673-01 Numbers 31:42 חָצָ֣ה chatsah HVqp3ms had divided he divided
H2673-02 Judges 7:16 וַ/יַּ֛חַץ vayachats HC/Vqw3ms And he divided and he divided
H2673-04 Judges 9:43 וַֽ/יֶּחֱצֵ/ם֙ vayechetsem HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3mp and divided them and he divided them
H2673-03 2 Kings 2:8 וַ/יֵּחָצ֖וּ vayechatsu HC/VNw3mp and they were divided and they were split
H2673-03 2 Kings 2:14 וַ/יֵּֽחָצוּ֙ vayechatsu HC/VNw3mp and they were divided and they were split
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