Original Word: קֶצֶו
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qetsev
Pronunciation: kah-tsoo
Phonetic Spelling: (keh'-tsev)
KJV: end, edge, uttermost participle
NASB: ends, borders
Word Origin: [from H7096 (קָצָה - cut off)]

1. a limit (used like H7097, but with less variety)

end, edge, uttermost participle

And (feminine) qitsvah {kits-vaw'}; from qatsah; a limit (used like qatseh, but with less variety) -- end, edge, uttermost participle

see HEBREW qatsah

see HEBREW qatseh

Word Origin
from qatsah
Definition
end, boundary
NASB Translation
borders (1), ends (2).

[קָ֫צוּ] noun [masculine] end, boundary; (on form Kö^{ii. 1, 61}); — only plural construct קַצְוֵיאֶֿרֶץ ends of the earth Psalm 48:11; Psalm 65:6; boundaries of the land Isaiah 26:15.

Essential Sense

קֶצֶו portrays the extreme edge, final limit, or farthest border of a thing—whether an object made by human hands, the land of Israel, or the whole earth. Though its appearances are few, each instance highlights the great span of divine concern, from the corners of the altar in the tabernacle court to the remotest regions of creation.

Occurrences and Contexts

1. Exodus 38:5 — The craftsmen “cast four rings for the four ends of the bronze altar”. Here קֶצֶו marks the furthest points of the altar, enabling poles to be inserted for transport. The detail emphasizes God’s provision for both worship and mobility; Israel’s sacrifices were to accompany the people on their entire wilderness journey.

2. Psalm 48:10 — “As Your name, O God, so Your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness.” Zion’s God is not confined to her walls. קֶצֶו underlines that His renown rightfully stretches to every extremity of the globe.

3. Psalm 65:5 — God is hailed as “the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.” Human longing at every fringe of the inhabited world finds its answer in the covenant God of Israel. קֶצֶו therefore introduces a universality that anticipates the gospel’s future reach.

4. Isaiah 26:15 — “You have extended all the borders of the land.” In a prophecy celebrating future enlargement, קֶצֶו denotes boundaries pushed outward by divine favor. National security and blessing come from the Lord who alone controls borders.

Theological and Historical Significance

• Divine Universality: In the Psalms the word magnifies God’s global sovereignty. The “ends of the earth” motif answers the recurring biblical promise that all nations will be blessed through Abraham (Genesis 12:3) and foreshadows the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

• Worship on the Move: Exodus 38:5 reminds readers that true worship was never intended to be static. The altar’s portable design mirrors later calls to take God’s glory beyond Israel—fulfilled ultimately in Spirit-indwelt believers, “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1) carried to the world’s ends.

• Territorial Stewardship: Isaiah 26:15 shows that national boundaries expand or contract by God’s sovereign hand. This informs a biblical theology of land, reminding modern readers that human polity is accountable to divine rule.

Missional and Pastoral Implications

• Hope for the Margins: Because God is the “hope of all the ends,” the church confidently proclaims salvation to every unreached people group, trusting the Lord who already claims the furthest coasts.

• Praise Without Limit: Psalm 48:10 calls for worship that matches God’s name in scale—praise as boundless as the horizons. Congregations therefore cultivate a global vision in song, prayer, and giving.

• Security in Sovereignty: Isaiah 26:15 steadies believers amid geopolitical upheaval. Nations rise and fall, but the kingdom of God advances until every boundary is encompassed by His glory (Habakkuk 2:14).

Summary

קֶצֶו gathers the corners of an altar, the borders of a land, and the horizons of the planet into one sweeping truth: the God of Israel reigns from center to circumference. His saving power travels with His people, His praise pursues every limit, and His kingdom presses outward until nothing lies beyond His gracious rule.

הַקְּצָוֹ֖ת הקצות קַצְוֵי־ קצוי־ hakketzaVot haq·qə·ṣā·wōṯ haqqəṣāwōṯ katzvei qaṣ·wê- qaṣwê-Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts