קָטַט
𐤒𐤈𐤈
qâṭaṭ
H6990 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cut off or break off, typically with reference to a violent or abrupt action; by extension, to break apart, destroy, or bring to an end in a forceful way. The sense encompasses both the literal act of clipping or cutting (as with a branch or object) and figurative use for various forms of ruin or cessation imposed by breaking or division.
Semantic Range
to clip off, cut off, break off, destroy violently, be broken, bring to an end abruptly, cause ruin or severance
Root / Etymology
From the root קטט (qṭṭ), which broadly relates to breaking or severing. The root-level meaning is 'to cut off, break, or sever.' The verb form קָטַט (qāṭaṭ) refers more specifically to the act of cutting or breaking something off, often violently or abruptly. The meaning developed into established figurative senses for terminating or destroying within narrative contexts.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Usage of קָטַט is attested rarely in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in poetic and prophetic passages, often evoking imagery of destruction, severing, or abrupt cessation (e.g. burning or breaking off branches, nations, or peoples). It is related in meaning to verbs like כרת ('to cut, make a covenant'), but often emphasizes violent or ruinous separation as opposed to formal or ritual division. In later language periods and translation traditions, the sense of severance has sometimes been conflated with general ruin or destruction, though the Hebrew sense remains focused on sudden breakage or separation. English translations commonly render it with words like 'cut off,' 'break off,' or 'destroy,' which may not always capture the element of abruptness or violence implied in the Hebrew context. The word does not appear frequently enough to trace significant semantic change across historical periods, but its imagery aligns with ancient Near Eastern motifs of uprooting, lopping, or breaking as acts of judgment or war.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to clip off, i.e. (figuratively) destroy; be cut off.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קטט (q-ṭ-ṭ) — cutting off, breaking, severing, detaching
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6985 | קַט | a small amount |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6990-01 |
יָק֥וֹט | yaqot | HVqi3ms |
confidence shall be cut off | he will cut off | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6990-01 |
Job 8:14 | יָק֥וֹט | yaqot | HVqi3ms |
confidence shall be cut off | he will cut off |