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קָצֵר

𐤒𐤑𐤓

qâtsêr

H7116 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root קצר to be short, diminish, curtail, lack

Definition

Short or insufficient in extent, duration, quantity, or capacity. Used of something lacking sufficient length (physical stature), brevity in time (life or period), limitation in amount (fewness, smallness), or deficiency in strength or patience (impatience, hastiness). Functions descriptively for things, people, or periods that are notably diminished or less than expected.

Semantic Range

short (in stature or length), brief (in duration or time), few (in number), insufficient, hasty, impatient, lacking in strength, curtailed

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root קצר, which at the root level means 'to be short, to be curtailed, to be inadequate.' The form קָצֵר is an adjective, indicating a quality of 'shortness' or 'insufficiency' in its various applications, rooted in the concept of cutting short or being diminished.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, קָצֵר is often used adjectivally to describe physical stature ('short' of height), briefness of time or duration ('short-lived'), or limitation in number ('few'). It can also denote a lack of endurance, either in terms of strength or patience, leading to concepts such as being 'impatient' or 'hasty.' For example, 'short of spirit' is an idiom meaning 'impatient.' The semantic scope of קָצֵר contrasts with related terms such as מעט (me‘at, 'little, few'), which emphasize quantity rather than duration or extension. Whereas קָצֵר includes implications of curtailment or frustrating brevity, מעט does not carry connotations of being curtailed. English translations usually select 'short,' 'few,' or 'brief,' but may not always convey the nuance of lacking sufficient time, number, or resources. Over Israelite historical periods, the semantic usage of קָצֵר remains relatively stable, but idiomatic uses (such as in describing 'shortness of breath/spirit' as shorthand for impatience or distress) reflect contextual specificities in wisdom and prophetic literature.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from קָצַר; short (whether in size, number, life, strength or temper); few, hasty, small, soon.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

קצר (q-ṣ-r) — to be short, diminish, curtail, lack

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7105 קָצִיר in the harvest
H7114 קָצַר in the reaping-one
H7115 קֹצֶר from shortness of

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7116-02 קִצְרֵי qitserey HAampc short-of short-of 2
H7116-01 קְֽצַר qetsar HAamsc is short short 2
H7116-03 וּ/קְצַר uqetsar HC/Aamsc but short short-of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7116-02 2 Kings 19:26 קִצְרֵי qitserey HAampc short-of short-of
H7116-02 Isaiah 37:27 קִצְרֵי qitserey HAampc short-of short-of
H7116-01 Proverbs 14:17 קְֽצַר qetsar HAamsc short-tempered short
H7116-03 Proverbs 14:29 וּ/קְצַר uqetsar HC/Aamsc but short short-of
H7116-01 Job 14:1 קְצַ֥ר qetsar HAamsc is short short
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