קָסַס
𐤒𐤎𐤎
qâçaç
H7082 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cut off or prune, typically referring to the removal of branches or other parts from trees, shrubs, or plants. The action may relate to horticultural pruning or, metaphorically, severance or removal of persons or entities. The sense ranges from literal horticultural practices to figurative or poetic expressions of removal or reduction.
Semantic Range
to cut off (branches), to prune (plants), to remove by cutting, to sever (in a figurative or literal sense), to lop off limbs or extensions
Root / Etymology
Root: קסס (q-s-s). The root conveys the idea of cutting or trimming. The derived verb קָסַס directly reflects the notion of lopping off or pruning, though it is attested only rarely in biblical texts.
Historical & Contextual Notes
קָסַס is a rare verb in biblical Hebrew, with very limited attestations. Its primary usage is in agricultural or horticultural contexts, particularly describing the act of trimming or lopping branches or other parts of plants. The action is distinguished from more common roots such as כרת (to cut, especially in the sense of making a covenant or destroying), and גזז (to shear, usually in relation to removing fleece or hair). In post-biblical Hebrew, the semantic development remains focused on the horticultural context. There is no developed religious or ritual nuance to this root in the biblical corpus. The standard English rendering "to lop off" or "to cut off" is accurate for its literal uses, though English translations occasionally obscure the horticultural nuance, especially in figurative contexts. Because of its rarity, קָסַס does not play a significant role in later Israelite or Judahite religious literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to lop off; cut off.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קסס (q-s-s) — cutting, pruning, lopping off
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7082-01 |
יְקוֹסֵ֣ס | yeqoses | HVmi3ms |
strip off | he will lop off | it will lop off | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7082-01 |
Ezekiel 17:9 | יְקוֹסֵ֣ס | yeqoses | HVmi3ms |
strip off | he will lop off | it will lop off |