קֶצֶב
𐤒𐤑𐤁
qetseb
H7095 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A portion or piece determined or set apart, often referring to something marked off by cutting or shaping; can denote a base, bottom, or a distinct measure, particularly of a structure or object that has been shaped or cut to specification. In some usages, it refers to the base or foundation of a pedestal or piece of furniture.
Semantic Range
base (of an object), foundation, bottom, shaped portion, measured segment, piece cut off, portion of a structure
Root / Etymology
From the root קצב (Q-Ts-B), which carries the idea 'to cut off, to cut, to shape by cutting.' קֶצֶב (qetseb) is a noun formation referring to the product or result of cutting, i.e., a portion, segment, or shaped piece. The semantic development is from the action of cutting to the resulting segment or form.
Historical & Contextual Notes
קֶצֶב appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, with primary attestation in contexts describing the base or foundation of objects, such as furniture in the Temple (e.g., 1 Kings 7:35, referring to the base of the 'laver stands'). Its use is technical, tied especially to measurement, construction, and craftsmanship vocabulary of the monarchic First Temple period. The nuance of 'size' or 'measure' is derived from the sense of something being 'cut to fit' or 'shaped.' Translations such as 'base' or 'bottom' may capture the physical referent but may not bring out the nuance of shaping or measured portion. This term should be distinguished from similar but unrelated terms indicating 'end, limit' (e.g., קֵץ, qets), which denote temporal or spatial boundaries rather than a constructed piece. In later Hebrew or post-biblical tradition, the root retains the sense of 'cutting' or 'setting off a portion,' but the technical usage of קֶצֶב itself is not preserved. English translations may obscure the connotation of craftsmanship or measured shaping evident in the ancient context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָצַב; shape (as if cut out); base (as if there cut off); bottom, size.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קצב (q-ts-b) — to cut, to hew, to shape, to determine by cutting
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7094 | קָצַב | the cut-off ones |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7095-01 |
לְ/קִצְבֵ֤י | leqitsevey | HR/Ncmpc |
to the bars | to the cut-portions of | 1 |
H7095-02 |
קֶ֥צֶב | qetsev | HNcmsa |
form | cut-shaped base | 1 |
H7095-03 |
וְ/קֶ֥צֶב | veqetsev | HC/Ncmsa |
and shape | cut-shaped portion | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7095-03 |
1 Kings 6:25 | וְ/קֶ֥צֶב | veqetsev | HC/Ncmsa |
and shape | cut-shaped portion |
H7095-02 |
1 Kings 7:37 | קֶ֥צֶב | qetsev | HNcmsa |
form | cut-shaped base |
H7095-01 |
Jonah 2:7 | לְ/קִצְבֵ֤י | leqitsevey | HR/Ncmpc |
to the bars | to the cut-portions of |