קוּץ
𐤒𐤅𐤑
qûwts
H6973 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To feel revulsion, intense dislike, or loathing; also, to be in distress or to become emotionally weary due to external circumstances or internal anxiety. The verb is used to express strong aversion or a sense of being deeply troubled. In some contexts, it indicates not merely mild irritation but a profound emotional or psychological reaction, often in situations involving interpersonal relationships, suffering, or hardship.
Semantic Range
to be disgusted, to loathe, to abhor, to be distressed, to be emotionally weary, to be vexed, to be grieved
Root / Etymology
קוּץ (qûwts) derives from the root קוץ, which has the basic meaning 'to feel a loathing, to abhor, to be weary of.' It is a primitive verbal root. There is also an association with the related root קוט (qut), which is semantically and possibly etymologically connected, though their precise differentiation is somewhat debated by scholars. Both roots express feelings of aversion or emotional distress, but קוץ (qûwts) more commonly denotes revulsion or wearying disgust.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb קוּץ appears several times across the Hebrew Bible, notably describing emotional responses of aversion, such as Israelite weariness with manna (Numbers 21:5) or the distress of the Egyptians at the rapid multiplication of the Israelites (Exodus 1:12). It conveys a strong, visceral reaction—more than mere irritation—often reflecting a sense of being overwhelmed, psychologically or socially. It therefore differs in emphasis from other Hebrew verbs such as תָּעַב (taʿav, 'to abhor' in a more ethical or ceremonial sense) and גָּעַל (gaʿal, 'to abhor, loathe' with a sense of ritual impurity), focusing instead on a psychological sense of being repulsed or emotionally worn down. In post-exilic and later texts, it continues to bear these senses but sometimes blends with experiences of spiritual or existential distress. English translations often render it 'loathe,' 'abhor,' or 'be weary,' but these may not capture the full emotional intensity or variety of its ancient usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (identical with through the idea of severing oneself from (compare קוּט)); to be (causatively, make) disgusted or anxious; abhor, be distressed, be grieved, loathe, vex, be weary.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קוץ (q-w-ts) — revulsion, loathing, emotional weariness, distress
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6972 | קוּץ | and he spent the summer |
| H6974 | קוּץ | I will rouse |
| H6975 | קוֹץ | like a thorn |
| H6976 | קוֹץ | the Thorn |
| H6977 | קְוֻצָּה | his trimmed locks |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6973-07 |
וַ/יָּ֣קָץ | vayaqats | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he abhorred | and he felt revulsion | 2 | |
H6973-05 |
וּ/נְקִיצֶ֔/נָּה | uneqitsenah | HC/Vhi1cp/Sp3fs |
and terrorize it | and we will cause her to feel revulsion | 1 | |
H6973-03 |
קַ֣צְתִּי | qatseti | HVqp1cs |
I loathe | I loathed | 1 | |
H6973-06 |
וָ/אָקֻ֖ץ | vaaquts | HC/Vqw1cs |
and I abhorred | and I felt revulsion | 1 | |
H6973-08 |
וַ/יָּקֻ֕צוּ | vayaqutsu | HC/Vqw3mp |
So they were in dread | they felt revulsion | 1 | |
H6973-02 |
קָ֔צָה | qatsah | HVqp3fs |
loathes | she felt revulsion | 1 | |
H6973-01 |
קָ֔ץ | qats | HVqrmsa |
dread | the one who loathes | 1 | |
H6973-04 |
תָּ֝קֹ֗ץ | taqots | HVqj2ms |
loathe | may you loathe | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6973-03 |
Genesis 27:46 | קַ֣צְתִּי | qatseti | HVqp1cs |
I loathe | I loathed | |
H6973-08 |
Exodus 1:12 | וַ/יָּקֻ֕צוּ | vayaqutsu | HC/Vqw3mp |
So they were in dread | they felt revulsion | |
H6973-06 |
Leviticus 20:23 | וָ/אָקֻ֖ץ | vaaquts | HC/Vqw1cs |
and I abhorred | and I felt revulsion | |
H6973-02 |
Numbers 21:5 | קָ֔צָה | qatsah | HVqp3fs |
loathes | she felt revulsion | |
H6973-07 |
Numbers 22:3 | וַ/יָּ֣קָץ | vayaqats | HC/Vqw3ms |
and Moab was distressed | and he felt revulsion | |
H6973-07 |
1 Kings 11:25 | וַ/יָּ֨קָץ֙ | vayaqats | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he abhorred | and he felt revulsion | |
H6973-05 |
Isaiah 7:6 | וּ/נְקִיצֶ֔/נָּה | uneqitsenah | HC/Vhi1cp/Sp3fs |
and terrorize it | and we will cause her to feel revulsion | |
H6973-01 |
Isaiah 7:16 | קָ֔ץ | qats | HVqrmsa |
dread | the one who loathes | |
H6973-04 |
Proverbs 3:11 | תָּ֝קֹ֗ץ | taqots | HVqj2ms |
loathe | may you loathe |