חָצַץ
𐤇𐤑𐤑
châtsats
H2686 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To divide or cut, typically by chopping, breaking, or piercing something in order to separate or distribute it; to shoot or let fly (as with arrows). The primary sense is the physical act of dividing or splitting, which extends metaphorically to actions such as distributing into groups, organizing in ranks, or launching projectiles. In particular contexts, it can denote the act of shooting arrows or being an archer.
Semantic Range
to divide (by chopping or splitting), to distribute into groups or ranks, to shoot (as an arrow), to act as an archer, to pierce, to sever, to allocate by dividing
Root / Etymology
From the root חצץ, which fundamentally means 'to cut, split, divide.' The word derives directly from this root, and is also connected with the noun חֵץ (chetz, 'arrow'), supporting broader denominative uses related to archery. It is distinct from, but may sometimes be confused with, חָצָה ('to divide, halve'), though their roots and nuances differ. The sense 'to shoot an arrow' arises by extension from 'to cut' or 'pierce.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָצַץ appears only a few times in the Hebrew Bible and almost always in the context of division or separation, including distributing people or objects into ranks (Joshua 18:10, Judges 20:37), or in the context of archery, either as the act of shooting (1 Chronicles 10:3) or as a denominative describing an archer (Jeremiah 51:11). During the pre-monarchic and monarchic periods, 'dividing' language often refers to organizing people into groups, reflecting ancient social or military practices. The specific archery sense is more prominent in prophetic or later historical texts, likely influenced by the related noun חֵץ ('arrow'). English translations often obscure the nuance by rendering as 'distribute,' 'divide,' or 'shoot,' depending on context; these do not always capture the unity of the underlying sense of separation or piercing. In later Hebrew, the connection with archery solidifies but the broader meaning of division or splitting is retained in related vocabulary. The term is distinct from other words for distributing (such as פָּרַס or חָלַק), which emphasize sharing out rather than a more forceful division or severance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (compare חָצָהlemma חָעָה ayin, corrected to חָצָה); also as denominative from חֵץ; properly, to chop into, pierce or sever; hence, to curtail, to distribute (into ranks); to shoot an arrow; archer, [idiom] bands, cut off in the midst.
Bantu Hebrew
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חצץ (ḥ-ṣ-ṣ) — cutting, splitting, dividing, piercing
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2686-01 |
חֹצֵ֣ץ | chotsets | HVqrmsa |
divided | the one who cuts | 1 |
H2686-03 |
מְחַֽצְצִ֗ים | mechatsetsim | HVprmpa |
of those who divide | the piercers | 1 |
H2686-02 |
חֻצָּֽצוּ | chutsatsu | HVPp3cp |
is cut off | they were split apart | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2686-03 |
Judges 5:11 | מְחַֽצְצִ֗ים | mechatsetsim | HVprmpa |
of those who divide | the piercers |
H2686-01 |
Proverbs 30:27 | חֹצֵ֣ץ | chotsets | HVqrmsa |
divided | the one who cuts |
H2686-02 |
Job 21:21 | חֻצָּֽצוּ | chutsatsu | HVPp3cp |
is cut off | they were split apart |