Original Word: גָּזַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: gazar
Pronunciation: gah-ZAR
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-zar')
Definition: To cut, to divide, to decree
Meaning: to cut down, off, to destroy, divide, exclude, decide

cut down off, decree, divide, snatch

A primitive root; to cut down or off; (figuratively) to destroy, divide, exclude, or decide -- cut down (off), decree, divide, snatch.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to cut, divide
NASB Translation
cut down (1), cut off (6), decree (1), decreed (1), divide (2), divided (1), slice off (1).

גָּזַר verb cut, divide (Arabic , Late Hebrew גָּזַר cut, determine, circumcise; Ethiopic Aramaic גְּזַר, ) —

Qal Perfect גָּזַר Habakkuk 3:17; Imperfect וַיִּגְזֹר Isaiah 9:19; 2masculine singular תִּגְזַר Job 22:28; וַיִּגְזְרוּ 2 Kings 6:4; Participle active גֹּזֵר Psalm 136:13; —

1 divide, cut in two, followed by accusative 1 Kings 3:25 (לִשְׁנָ֑יִם ׳ג) compare 1 Kings 3:26 (object not expressed).

2 divide the Red Sea (accusative) Psalm 136:13 followed by לִגְזָרִים.

3 cut down הָעֵצִים 2 Kings 6:4.

4 cut off (piece of meat to eat, but object not expressed "" אכל) Isaiah 9:19.

5 cut off, i.e. destroy, exterminate Habakkuk 3:17 (with accusative; indefinite subject), followed by מִן local

6 decree (Aramaism, compare Biblical Aramaic) Job 22:28 with accusative

Niph`al Perfect נִגְזַר2Chronicles 26:21; Esther 2:1, נִגְזָ֑רְתִּי Lamentations 3:24, נִגְזָ֑רוּ Psalm 88:6, נִגְזַרְנוּ Ezekiel 37:11; Isaiah 53:8; —

1 be cut off, separate, excluded from (מִן) temple 2 Chronicles 26:21, from (מִן) Yahweh's hand Psalm 88:5 (of the slain), from (מִן) the land of the living Isaiah 53:8 (of the suffering servant of ׳י).

2 be cut off = destroyed Lamentations 3:54; Ezekiel 37:11.

3 be decreed, Esther 2:1 followed by עַל against (compare Qal 6).

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G142 (αἴρω, airō): To raise, take up, lift
• G683 (ἀποκόπτω, apokoptō): To cut off
• G1244 (διακρίνω, diakrinō): To distinguish, decide, judge
• G1578 (ἐκκόπτω, ekkoptō): To cut out, cut off
• G1587 (ἐκτελέω, ekteleō): To complete, accomplish
• G2632 (κατακρίνω, katakrinō): To condemn, judge against

The Hebrew verb גָּזַר (gazar) encompasses a range of meanings from physical cutting to metaphorical decisions and divine decrees, reflecting its versatile use in the biblical text.

Usage: The verb גָּזַר (gazar) is used in various contexts in the Hebrew Bible, often implying a decisive action such as cutting, dividing, or decreeing. It can refer to physical cutting or metaphorical decisions and decrees.

Context: • Physical Cutting/Dividing: The primary sense of גָּזַר is to cut or divide. This can refer to physical actions, such as cutting wood or dividing land. For example, in 1 Kings 3:25, Solomon commands, "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."

• Metaphorical Use: The term is also used metaphorically to describe decisions or decrees. In Job 22:28, it is written, "You will decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways." Here, גָּזַר conveys the idea of making a firm decision or decree.

• Destruction/Exclusion: In some contexts, גָּזַר implies destruction or exclusion. For instance, in Isaiah 9:10, the people declare, "The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." The cutting down of sycamores symbolizes destruction.

• Divine Decrees: The word is also used in the context of divine decrees or judgments. In Daniel 4:24, the interpretation of the king's dream is described as a decree from the Most High, using the term גָּזַר to emphasize the decisiveness and authority of God's judgment.

גְּזֹֽרוּ׃ גִּזְר֛וּ גָּזַ֤ר גזר גזרו גזרו׃ וְֽתִגְזַר־ וַֽיִּגְזְר֖וּ וַיִּגְזֹ֤ר ויגזר ויגזרו ותגזר־ לְגֹזֵ֣ר לגזר נִגְזַ֖ר נִגְזַ֥רְנוּ נִגְזַר֙ נִגְזָֽרְתִּי׃ נִגְזָֽרוּ׃ נגזר נגזרו׃ נגזרנו נגזרתי׃ gā·zar gaZar gāzar gə·zō·rū geZoru gəzōrū giz·rū gizRu gizrū lə·ḡō·zêr legoZer ləḡōzêr niḡ·zā·rə·tî niḡ·zā·rū niḡ·zar niḡ·zar·nū nigZar niḡzar nigZareti niḡzārətî nigZarnu niḡzarnū nigZaru niḡzārū vaiyigzeRu vaiyigZor vetigzar way·yiḡ·zə·rū way·yiḡ·zōr wayyiḡzərū wayyiḡzōr wə·ṯiḡ·zar- wəṯiḡzar-Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts