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קָמַט

𐤒𐤌𐤈

qâmaṭ

H7059 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To gather together with the hand, to grasp, to seize or draw together; by extension, to cause wrinkling or contraction, as when the skin gathers or shrivels. In some contexts, used metaphorically of gathering or plucking up with violence, sometimes with the nuance of bringing ruin or ending life. The primary lexical sense involves the physical motion of drawing together or contracting, either by plucking, wrinkling, or gathering.

Semantic Range

to gather together (with the hand), to grasp, to contract or wrinkle (as skin), to pluck up, to shrivel, to bring to an end or ruin (by gathering up or drawing in)

Root / Etymology

Root קמט (q-m-ṭ), core meaning: to grasp, seize, contract. The form קָמַט likely derives from the concrete image of contracting the hand or face — gathering, seizing, or causing wrinkling. Not directly related to more common words for simple destroying, but overlaps with the idea of plucking up (as plants) or wrinkling (as skin).

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb קָמַט appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in poetic language (such as Job 16:8, "You have shriveled me;" cf. a description of withering or shriveling from suffering). The term's nuance of wrinkling is distinct from other words for 'destroy' or 'consume,' such as שָׁחַת (to corrupt, ruin) or כָּרַת (to cut off). The word's usage is typically metaphorical, describing both physical change (to gather or wrinkle skin) and existential adversity (gathering or ending a life, plucking one up from the earth). English translations sometimes render it as 'destroy,' but this can obscure the nuance of contraction or shriveling; in many contexts, the imagery is closer to withering or being forcibly gathered in (much as one plucks up or contracts something). The notion of 'filling with wrinkles' captures the physical sense, while 'plucking' or 'destroying' arises from the gathering or contraction by force. No significant development of meaning is apparent in later biblical or post-biblical Hebrew. The term is rare and poetic, not a standard verb for ordinary 'destruction.'

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to pluck, i.e. destroy; cut down, fill with wrinkles.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קמט (q-m-ṭ) — grasping, seizing, contracting, gathering together

Root קמט to grasp, seize, contract, gather together

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7059-01 קֻמְּט֥וּ qumetu HVPp3cp were snatched away they were gathered up were snatched away 1
H7059-02 וַֽ֭/תִּקְמְטֵ/נִי vatiqemeteni HC/Vqw2ms/Sp1cs and-you-have-shriveled-me and you contracted me and you shriveled me 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7059-02 Job 16:8 וַֽ֭/תִּקְמְטֵ/נִי vatiqemeteni HC/Vqw2ms/Sp1cs and-you-have-shriveled-me and you contracted me and you shriveled me
H7059-01 Job 22:16 קֻמְּט֥וּ qumetu HVPp3cp were snatched away they were gathered up were snatched away
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