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חָצוֹת

𐤇𐤑𐤅𐤕

châtsôwth

H2676 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חצה to divide, split, cut in half

Definition

A temporal noun denoting the middle point or division of the night, specifically 'midnight.' Used in temporal expressions to indicate the halfway mark through the night, often with reference to events occurring at or near midnight.

Semantic Range

middle of the night, midnight, point of division in the night

Root / Etymology

חָצוֹת derives from the root חצה (ḥ-tz-h), 'to divide,' with the noun form indicating 'the division' or 'the midpoint.' The plural form חָצוֹת reflects an abstract or collective sense, typical of Hebrew temporal or spatial divisions (cf. רָאשִׁים heads = divisions). The word itself refers narrowly to the dividing point of the night, not the generic act of dividing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָצוֹת is used exclusively in temporal contexts, always with לַיְלָה ('night'), forming the idiom חֲצוֹת הַלַּיְלָה ('midnight'). This expression is literary and appears mainly in narrative or poetic settings, such as the account of the final plague in Exodus 12:29, where Yahweh passes through Egypt at 'midnight.' The plural form is a form of abstraction, consistent with other Hebrew expressions for points in time (compare בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם, 'between the evenings'). In later periods, the word continues to mean specifically 'midnight' in post-biblical literature, maintaining consistency with its biblical usage. English translations as 'midnight' are consistently accurate; however, the Hebraic sense focuses on the act or time of division rather than a fixed clock hour. No theological meaning is inherent in the word.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

lemma חָעוֹת ayin, corrected to חָצוֹת; from חָצָהlemma חָעָה ayin, corrected to חָצָה; the middle (of the night); mid(-night).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חצה (ḥ-ṣ-h) — divide, split, cut in half

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2673 חָצָה he divided
H2677 חֵצִי in the half of
H2679 חֲצִי הַמְּנֻחוֹת half of
H2680 חֲצִי הַמְּנַחְתִּי half-Manahethite
H3183 יַחְצְאֵל to El-divides

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2676-03 וַ/חֲצ֪וֹת vachatsot HC/Ncfsc and at midnight division-point of night 1
H2676-01 חֲצֽוֹת chatsot HNcfsc At midnight night-division 1
H2676-02 כַּ/חֲצֹ֣ת kachatsot HR/Ncfsc about midnight at the night-division 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2676-02 Exodus 11:4 כַּ/חֲצֹ֣ת kachatsot HR/Ncfsc about midnight at the night-division
H2676-01 Psalms 119:62 חֲצֽוֹת chatsot HNcfsc At midnight night-division
H2676-03 Job 34:20 וַ/חֲצ֪וֹת vachatsot HC/Ncfsc and at midnight division-point of night
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