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קוֹץ

𐤒𐤅𐤑

qôwts

H6975 noun

SILEX Entry

Root קוץ to loathe, feel disgust, recoil, shrink back

Definition

A spine, thorn, or sharp point projecting from a plant, typically found on shrubs, bushes, or certain trees; by extension used metaphorically for annoyance, obstruction, or something causing discomfort. The primary sense is a physical, botanical thorn, but can extend to describe objects or persons who cause irritation or hardship.

Semantic Range

spine, thorn, prickle, sharp point on a plant; figuratively, source of irritation or cause of discomfort, something or someone functioning as an obstacle or annoyance

Root / Etymology

From the root קוץ (q-w-ts), which in verb form generally means 'to feel loathing, be disgusted, recoil, or be wearied.' The noun קוֹץ (qôwts) is derived from this root, originally designating that which causes discomfort or is unpleasant to touch, hence a 'thorn' or 'spine.' The relation between the root sense (to loathe, to recoil) and the noun's meaning (thorn) lies in the idea of aversion or something one would avoid or recoil from due to discomfort.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The noun קוֹץ occurs mainly in contexts describing the natural vegetation of Canaan, especially as a symbol of undesirable or uncultivated growth, in contrast to cultivated crops (e.g., Genesis 3:18, where thorns and thistles are consequences of the ground being cursed; Isaiah 5:6). It is often paired with דרדר (dardar, 'thistle') to evoke imagery of wild, neglected, or cursed land. Outside its literal use, the word is employed metaphorically to refer to people or things that are troublesome, unwelcome, or cause harm (e.g., Numbers 33:55; Ezekiel 28:24). The LXX often renders the term with terms denoting thorns or prickly plants (such as 'akantha'), while later translation traditions sometimes use 'thorn' in metaphorical senses more broadly than the Hebrew warrants. The English word 'thorn' captures the basic meaning but can fail to express the vivid negative connotation and metaphorical richness present in the Hebrew. In the biblical period, thorny plants indicated land that was desolate, under divine judgment, or not maintained agriculturally. There are no significant diachronic shifts in basic meaning, though later Israelite and Judean literature continue the metaphorical uses found already in earlier texts. Related terms such as חָדַר (ḥādar, 'brier'), דרדר ('thistle'), and סִיר ('thornbush') highlight subtle distinctions among various types of wild, prickly flora.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or קֹץ; from קוּץ (in the sense of pricking); a thorn; thorn.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קוץ (q-w-ts) — to loathe, feel disgust, recoil, shrink back

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6972 קוּץ and he spent the summer
H6973 קוּץ the one who loathes
H6974 קוּץ I will rouse
H6976 קוֹץ the Thorn
H6977 קְוֻצָּה his trimmed locks

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6975-04 קֹצִים֙ qotsim HNcmpa thorns thorns 4
H6975-03 קוֹצֵ֥י qotsey HNcmpc thorns thorns of 2
H6975-05 וְ/ק֥וֹץ veqots HC/Ncmsa and thorns and thorn 2
H6975-02 ק֥וֹץ qots HNcmsa thorns thorn 2
H6975-01 כְּ/ק֥וֹץ keqots HR/Ncmsa like thorns like a thorn 1
H6975-06 וְ/קֹצִ֣ים veqotsim HC/Ncmpa but thorns and thorns 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6975-05 Genesis 3:18 וְ/ק֥וֹץ veqots HC/Ncmsa and thorns and thorn
H6975-04 Exodus 22:5 קֹצִים֙ qotsim HNcmpa thorns thorns
H6975-03 Judges 8:7 קוֹצֵ֥י qotsey HNcmpc thorns thorns of
H6975-03 Judges 8:16 קוֹצֵ֥י qotsey HNcmpc thorns thorns of
H6975-01 2 Samuel 23:6 כְּ/ק֥וֹץ keqots HR/Ncmsa like thorns like a thorn
H6975-02 Isaiah 32:13 ק֥וֹץ qots HNcmsa thorns thorn
H6975-04 Isaiah 33:12 קוֹצִ֥ים qotsim HNcmpa thorns thorns
H6975-04 Jeremiah 4:3 קוֹצִֽים qotsim HNcmpa thorns thorns
H6975-06 Jeremiah 12:13 וְ/קֹצִ֣ים veqotsim HC/Ncmpa but thorns and thorns
H6975-05 Ezekiel 28:24 וְ/ק֣וֹץ veqots HC/Ncmsa and-thorn and thorn
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