7114. qatsar
Lexical Summary
qatsar: To be short, to shorten, to reap, to harvest

Original Word: קָצַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: qatsar
Pronunciation: kah-tsar'
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-tsar')
KJV: reap
Word Origin: [A primitive root]

1. To shorten
2. to reap
3. to harvest

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cut down, much discouraged, grieve, harvestman, loathe, mourn, reaper,

A primitive root; to dock off, i.e. Curtail (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative); especially to harvest (grass or grain) -- X at all, cut down, much discouraged, grieve, harvestman, lothe, mourn, reap(-er), (be, wax) short(-en, -er), straiten, trouble, vex.

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[קָצֵר], I. קָצַר (Ges§ 44c Sta§ 384, 2)

verb be short (Late Hebrew קָצֵר short, קִצֵּר shorten; Arabic shorten, be short, with come short of; Jewish-Aramaic קְצַר be short); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular קָצַר Isaiah 28:20; Micah 2:7 (SS קְצַר from adjective קָצֵר); 3 feminine singular קָֽצְרָה Isaiah 50:2; Isaiah 59:1; Imperfect3feminine singular תִּקְצַר Job 21:4 +, 3 feminine plural תִּקְצֹרְנָה Proverbs 10:27; Infinitive absolute קָצוֺר Isaiah 50:2; Passive participle feminine plural קְצֻרוֺת Ezekiel 42:5; — be short, of bed Isaiah 28:20 (figurative), of לְשָׁכוֺת Ezekiel 42:5; especially (figurative) of ׳יַד י, i.e. be ineffective, powerless Numbers 11:23 (JE), with מִן compare Isaiah 50:2 (+ infinitive absolute), Isaiah 59:1; with בֶפֶשׁ, רוּחַ, = be impatient (opposed to [אָרַח] Hiph`il 1 (c)): נֶפֶשׁ הָעָם ׳וִתִּק Numbers 21:4b (JE), of utter discouragement, compare (of רוּחַ) Job 21:4; נַפְשׁוֺ ׳וַתִּק Judges 16:16 i.e. he was worn out (by importunity), so of prophets (representing ׳י) Zechariah 11:8 (ב person) reach limit of patience with, endurance of; of ׳י Judges 10:16 (ב of thing); ׳רוּחַ י ׳ק Micah 2:7 (see above); ׳ק of time Proverbs 10:27 (years of wicked).

Pi`el shorten Perfect3masculine singular קִצַּר יָמַי Psalm 102:24.

Hiph`il id., Perfect3masculine singular ׳הִקְצַרְתָּ יְמֵי וגו Psalm 89:46.

II. [קָצַר] verb reap, harvest (Late Hebrew id., also קָצִיר harvest; compare Assyrian ‡aƒâru join together, collect; see DlPr 166 f. ZehnpfBAS i. 503 (not Syriac bind, Ethiopic : [] constringere, see NöZMG xl (1886), 735)); —

Qal Perfect3plural קָצָ֑רוּ Jeremiah 12:13, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִקְצוֺר Isaiah 17:5; Ecclesiastes 11:4 + Proverbs 22:8 Kt (Qr יִקְצָרֿ); 3 masculine plural יִקְצֹרוּן Ruth 2:9, etc.; Imperative masculine plural קִצְרוּ Hosea 10:12 +; Infinitive construct לִקְצֹר 1 Samuel 8:12 +; suffix קֻצְרֶ֑ךָ Leviticus 23:22, קֻצְרְכֶם Leviticus 19:9; Leviticus 23:22; Participle קוֺצֵר Jeremiah 9:21 +, etc.: — reap, with accusative of crop: accusative of congnate meaning with verb קָצִיר 1 Samuel 6:13; 1 Samuel 8:12 (+ חָרִשׁ), Leviticus 19:9; Leviticus 23:10,22 (all H) Deuteronomy 24:19; accusative of grain Isaiah 17:5 (figurative; "" אָסַף), Job 24:6 (Qr; Kt see

Hiph`il), compare Leviticus 25:5 (H), Leviticus 25:11 (P; + זָרַע), so (object omitted) 2 Kings 19:29 = Isaiah 37:30; Micah 6:15 (opposed to זָרַע), Leviticus 19:9; b Leviticus 23:22 b Ruth 2:9; Ecclesiastes 11:4 (+ זָרַע); object קֹצִים Jeremiah 12:13 (opposed to זָרַע); Participle = reaper Amos 9:13 ( + חוֺרֵשׁ), Jeremiah 9:21 (simile), Psalm 129:7 ("" מְעַמֵּר), + Isaiah 17:5 (for קָצִיד, so BuhlLex 13 Marti); plural 2 Kings 4:18; Ruth 2:3,4,5,6,7,14; figurative of reaping fruits of righteousness Hosea 10:12 (+ זָרַע), of evil Hosea 8:7 (both + זָרַע), Hosea 10:13 ( + חָרָשׁ), Job 4:8 (+ חָרַשׁ, זָרַע, Proverbs 22:8; Psalm 126:5 they that sow (זָרַע) in tears shall reap in joy.

Hiph`il Imperfect יקצירו Job 24:6 Kt (< Qr יִקְצ֑וֺרוּ, see above).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

קָצַר (qatsar) spans the concrete act of cutting grain and the figurative idea of being “shortened” or “impatient.” Found about forty-nine times, it moves from fields of barley and wheat to the inner life of the soul, and even to the question of whether the LORD’s power could ever be “cut short.”

Agricultural Practice and Calendar

Qatsar first evokes the ordinary rhythm of Israel’s agrarian year. From the pre-exilic period onward, reaping began with the barley harvest around the time of Passover, followed by the wheat harvest that culminated at the Feast of Weeks. The verb appears in settings as varied as Ruth 2:3, where Boaz’s workers “reap” while Ruth gleans behind them, and 1 Samuel 6:13, where Beth-shemesh farmers are “reaping the wheat harvest in the valley” when the Ark returns. The practice required sickle work done swiftly before the Canaanite spring rains or summer siroccos could ruin the grain (Proverbs 10:5).

Covenant Legislation and Worship

Israel’s law embedded qatsar in Sabbath-keeping and feast observance:
Exodus 34:21 – “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing and harvest you must rest.”
Leviticus 23:10 – firstfruits from the reaping were waved before the LORD, binding the harvest to worship.
Deuteronomy 24:19 – reapers were to leave forgotten sheaves for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Such statutes safeguarded holy time and social compassion simultaneously.

Provision for the Poor and the Stranger

By limiting how thoroughly one might reap (Leviticus 19:9; Ruth 2:2), qatsar became an instrument of mercy. Fields were never to be stripped bare; edges and corners remained for the marginalized. The scene of Ruth gleaning during “barley and wheat harvests” (Ruth 2:23) demonstrates the law in living color and shows how the faithful exercise of qatsar could weave Gentiles into the lineage of Messiah.

Harvest as Theological Motif

Prophets turned the farmer’s verb into rich metaphor. Hosea pleads, “Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loyal love” (Hosea 10:12). Jeremiah warns, “They sowed wheat but reaped thorns” (Jeremiah 12:13). Isaiah pictures judgment “like a reaper gathering the standing grain” (Isaiah 17:5). Thus qatsar proclaims both promise and peril: the covenant people will reap precisely what they sow, whether obedience or rebellion.

Divine Power Never ‘Cut Short’

When Moses questions the feasibility of feeding six hundred thousand men, the LORD replies, “Is the LORD’s arm too short?” (Numbers 11:23). Isaiah echoes, “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save” (Isaiah 59:1; cf. Isaiah 50:2). Here qatsar negates any imagined limitation on divine ability. The same verb that shortens a stalk of wheat emphatically does not shorten the redeeming reach of God.

Human Impatience and Weariness

The root also describes inward impatience or emotional constriction. “The people became impatient on the journey” (Numbers 21:4). Judges 10:16 notes that the LORD’s “soul could no longer bear the misery of Israel.” Zechariah 11:8 says, “My soul grew impatient with them.” In each case, qatsar portrays a shrinking tolerance—whether human frustration in the wilderness or divine revulsion toward covenant-breakers.

Christological and Eschatological Echoes

Although the Hebrew term itself does not appear in the New Testament, its imagery reverberates. Jesus’ pronouncement, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37), leans on the Old Testament backdrop where reaping symbolizes both ingathering and judgment. The Feast of Weeks, anchored in the act of qatsar, foreshadows Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit brings the firstfruits of the worldwide Church.

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

1. Work and Rest: Exodus 34:21 balances diligent labor with Sabbath faithfulness—an enduring model for Christian vocation.
2. Generosity: Leaving gleanings shows that productivity must be tempered by charity. Churches today mirror this through benevolence funds and food banks.
3. Spiritual Harvest: Preachers may press Hosea’s appeal—plow up fallow ground, sow righteousness, and expect to “reap” covenant love.
4. Confidence in God’s Sufficiency: When ministry demands seem overwhelming, the rebuttal remains, “Is the LORD’s arm too short?”
5. Guarding the Heart: Israel’s wilderness impatience warns believers to resist spiritual short-temper and trust providence.

Summary

Qatsar gathers Israel’s grain, legislates her compassion, exposes her sin, and magnifies her Redeemer. Whether sharpening a farmer’s sickle or sharpening prophetic urgency, the verb reminds readers that what is cut down in the field ultimately points to the Lord who cannot be “cut short” in power, grace, or faithfulness.

Forms and Transliterations
אָ֑וֶן און בְּקֻצְרֶ֔ךָ בַּקֹּצֵ֔ר בקצר בקצרך הֲקָצ֨וֹר הֲקָצַר֙ הִ֭קְצַרְתָּ הַקֹּצְרִ֑ים הַקֹּצְרִֽים׃ הַקֹּצֵ֖ר הַקּֽוֹצְרִ֑ים הַקּֽוֹצְרִ֔ים הַקּוֹצְרִ֑ים הַקּוֹצְרִ֖ים הקוצרים הקצור הקצר הקצרים הקצרים׃ הקצרת וְלִקְצֹ֣ר וְקִצְר֛וּ וַתִּקְצַ֤ר וַתִּקְצַ֥ר וּֽבְקֻצְרְכֶ֞ם וּֽבְקֻצְרְכֶם֙ וּקְצַרְתֶּ֖ם ובקצרכם ולקצר וקצרו וקצרתם ותקצר יִקְצ֑וֹר יִקְצְרֻֽהוּ׃ יִקְצָר־ יִקְצֹ֑ורוּ יִקְצֹ֑רוּ יִקְצֹֽרוּ׃ יִקְצֹרוּן֙ יִקְצֽוֹר׃ יקצור יקצור׃ יקצורו יקצר־ יקצרהו׃ יקצרו יקצרו׃ יקצרון לַקּוֹצְרִ֖ים לקוצרים קְצַרְתֶּ֖ם קְצֻר֑וֹת קִצְר֣וּ קִצַּ֥ר קָצְרָ֤ה קָצְרָ֥ה קָצַ֥ר קָצָ֔רוּ קֹצְרִ֥ים קוֹצֵ֗ר קוצר קצר קצרה קצרו קצרות קצרים קצרתם תִּקְצָ֑ר תִּקְצֹֽרְנָה׃ תִקְצ֑וֹר תִקְצ֔וֹר תִקְצְרוּ֙ תִקְצַ֥ר תִקְצֹר֩ תקצור תקצר תקצרו תקצרנה׃ ’ā·wen ’āwen Aven bakkoTzer baq·qō·ṣêr baqqōṣêr bə·quṣ·re·ḵā bekutzRecha bəquṣreḵā hă·qā·ṣar hă·qā·ṣō·wr hakaTzar hakaTzor hakkoTzer hakkotzeRim hakkotzRim haq·qō·ṣə·rîm haq·qō·ṣêr haq·qō·wṣ·rîm hăqāṣar hăqāṣōwr haqqōṣêr haqqōṣərîm haqqōwṣrîm Hiktzarta hiq·ṣar·tā hiqṣartā kaTzar kaTzaru katzeRah ketzarTem ketzuRot kitzRu kitzTzar koTzer kotzeRim lakkotzRim laq·qō·wṣ·rîm laqqōwṣrîm qā·ṣā·rū qā·ṣar qā·ṣə·rāh qāṣar qāṣārū qāṣərāh qə·ṣar·tem qə·ṣu·rō·wṯ qəṣartem qəṣurōwṯ qiṣ·rū qiṣ·ṣar qiṣrū qiṣṣar qō·ṣə·rîm qō·w·ṣêr qōṣərîm qōwṣêr tikTzar tiktzeRu tikTzor tikTzorenah tiq·ṣār ṯiq·ṣar ṯiq·ṣə·rū tiq·ṣō·rə·nāh ṯiq·ṣō·wr ṯiq·ṣōr tiqṣār ṯiqṣar ṯiqṣərū ṯiqṣōr tiqṣōrənāh ṯiqṣōwr ū·ḇə·quṣ·rə·ḵem ū·qə·ṣar·tem ūḇəquṣrəḵem uketzarTem ūqəṣartem uvekutzreChem vattikTzar vekitzRu velikTzor wat·tiq·ṣar wattiqṣar wə·liq·ṣōr wə·qiṣ·rū wəliqṣōr wəqiṣrū yiktzeRuhu yiktzor yikTzoru yiktzoRun yiq·ṣār- yiq·ṣə·ru·hū yiq·ṣō·rū yiq·ṣō·rūn yiq·ṣō·w·rū yiq·ṣō·wr yiqṣār- yiqṣəruhū yiqṣōrū yiqṣōrūn yiqṣōwr yiqṣōwrū
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Englishman's Concordance
Leviticus 19:9
HEB: וּֽבְקֻצְרְכֶם֙ אֶת־ קְצִ֣יר
NAS: Now when you reap the harvest
KJV: And when ye reap the harvest
INT: reap the harvest of your land

Leviticus 23:10
HEB: נֹתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם וּקְצַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־ קְצִירָ֑הּ
NAS: I am going to give to you and reap its harvest,
KJV: which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest
INT: I am to give and reap harvest shall bring

Leviticus 23:22
HEB: וּֽבְקֻצְרְכֶ֞ם אֶת־ קְצִ֣יר
NAS: When you reap the harvest
KJV: And when ye reap the harvest
INT: reap the harvest of your land

Leviticus 23:22
HEB: פְּאַ֤ת שָֽׂדְךָ֙ בְּקֻצְרֶ֔ךָ וְלֶ֥קֶט קְצִירְךָ֖
NAS: of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners
KJV: of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather
INT: corners of your field reap the gleaning of your harvest

Leviticus 25:5
HEB: קְצִֽירְךָ֙ לֹ֣א תִקְצ֔וֹר וְאֶת־ עִנְּבֵ֥י
NAS: aftergrowth you shall not reap, and your grapes
KJV: of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather
INT: your harvest's shall not reap and your grapes of untrimmed

Leviticus 25:11
HEB: תִזְרָ֔עוּ וְלֹ֤א תִקְצְרוּ֙ אֶת־ סְפִיחֶ֔יהָ
NAS: nor reap its aftergrowth,
KJV: be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth
INT: sow nor reap for aftergrowth

Numbers 11:23
HEB: הֲיַ֥ד יְהוָ֖ה תִּקְצָ֑ר עַתָּ֥ה תִרְאֶ֛ה
NAS: power limited? Now
KJV: hand waxed short? thou shalt see
INT: power is the LORD'S short henceforth shall see

Numbers 21:4
HEB: אֶ֣רֶץ אֱד֑וֹם וַתִּקְצַ֥ר נֶֽפֶשׁ־ הָעָ֖ם
NAS: and the people became impatient because of the journey.
KJV: of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
INT: the land of Edom became and the soul of the people

Deuteronomy 24:19
HEB: כִּ֣י תִקְצֹר֩ קְצִֽירְךָ֨ בְשָׂדֶ֜ךָ
NAS: When you reap your harvest
KJV: When thou cuttest down thine harvest
INT: When reap your harvest your field

Judges 10:16
HEB: אֶת־ יְהוָ֑ה וַתִּקְצַ֥ר נַפְשׁ֖וֹ בַּעֲמַ֥ל
NAS: the LORD; and He could bear the misery
KJV: and his soul was grieved for the misery
INT: and served the LORD could and his soul the misery

Judges 16:16
HEB: הַיָּמִ֖ים וַתְּאַֽלֲצֵ֑הוּ וַתִּקְצַ֥ר נַפְשׁ֖וֹ לָמֽוּת׃
NAS: him, that his soul was annoyed to death.
KJV: him, [so] that his soul was vexed unto death;
INT: daily and urged was annoyed his soul to death

Ruth 2:3
HEB: בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אַחֲרֵ֖י הַקֹּצְרִ֑ים וַיִּ֣קֶר מִקְרֶ֔הָ
NAS: after the reapers; and she happened
KJV: after the reapers: and her hap
INT: the field after the reapers to come hap

Ruth 2:4
HEB: לֶ֔חֶם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לַקּוֹצְרִ֖ים יְהוָ֣ה עִמָּכֶ֑ם
NAS: and said to the reapers, May the LORD
KJV: and said unto the reapers, The LORD
INT: Bethlehem and said to the reapers may the LORD and they

Ruth 2:5
HEB: הַנִּצָּ֖ב עַל־ הַקּֽוֹצְרִ֑ים לְמִ֖י הַנַּעֲרָ֥ה
NAS: who was in charge of the reapers, Whose
KJV: that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel
INT: charge of the reapers Whose young

Ruth 2:6
HEB: הַנִּצָּ֥ב עַל־ הַקּוֹצְרִ֖ים וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נַעֲרָ֤ה
NAS: in charge of the reapers replied,
KJV: that was set over the reapers answered
INT: charge of the reapers and said is the young

Ruth 2:7
HEB: בָֽעֳמָרִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֖י הַקּוֹצְרִ֑ים וַתָּב֣וֹא וַֽתַּעֲמ֗וֹד
NAS: after the reapers among the sheaves.'
KJV: after the reapers among the sheaves:
INT: the sheaves after the reapers came remained

Ruth 2:9
HEB: בַּשָּׂדֶ֤ה אֲשֶׁר־ יִקְצֹרוּן֙ וְהָלַ֣כְתְּ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ן
NAS: which they reap, and go
KJV: [be] on the field that they do reap, and go
INT: the field which reap and go after

Ruth 2:14
HEB: וַתֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ מִצַּ֣ד הַקּֽוֹצְרִ֔ים וַיִּצְבָּט־ לָ֣הּ
NAS: beside the reapers; and he served
KJV: beside the reapers: and he reached
INT: sat beside the reapers served her roasted

1 Samuel 6:13
HEB: וּבֵ֣ית שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ קֹצְרִ֥ים קְצִיר־ חִטִּ֖ים
NAS: Now [the people of] Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat
KJV: And [they of] Bethshemesh [were] reaping their wheat
INT: Beth-shemesh were reaping harvest their wheat

1 Samuel 8:12
HEB: וְלַחֲרֹ֤שׁ חֲרִישׁוֹ֙ וְלִקְצֹ֣ר קְצִיר֔וֹ וְלַעֲשׂ֥וֹת
NAS: his plowing and to reap his harvest
KJV: his ground, and to reap his harvest,
INT: do his plowing reap his harvest make

2 Kings 4:18
HEB: אָבִ֖יו אֶל־ הַקֹּצְרִֽים׃
NAS: out to his father to the reapers.
KJV: to his father to the reapers.
INT: father to the reapers

2 Kings 19:29
HEB: הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗ית זִרְע֧וּ וְקִצְר֛וּ וְנִטְע֥וּ כְרָמִ֖ים
NAS: year sow, reap, plant vineyards,
KJV: sow ye, and reap, and plant
INT: the third sow reap plant vineyards

Job 4:8
HEB: וְזֹרְעֵ֖י עָמָ֣ל יִקְצְרֻֽהוּ׃
NAS: And those who sow trouble harvest it.
KJV: and sow wickedness, reap the same.
INT: sow trouble harvest

Job 21:4
HEB: מַ֝דּ֗וּעַ לֹא־ תִקְצַ֥ר רוּחִֽי׃
NAS: And why should I not be impatient?
KJV: and if [it were so], why should not my spirit be troubled?
INT: how not be troubled air

Job 24:6
HEB: [יַקְצִירוּ כ] (יִקְצֹ֑ורוּ ק) וְכֶ֖רֶם
NAS: They harvest their fodder
KJV: They reap [every one] his corn
INT: the field their fodder cut down the vineyard of the wicked

49 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7114
49 Occurrences


’ā·wen — 1 Occ.
baq·qō·ṣêr — 1 Occ.
bə·quṣ·re·ḵā — 1 Occ.
hă·qā·ṣar — 1 Occ.
hă·qā·ṣō·wr — 1 Occ.
haq·qō·ṣêr — 1 Occ.
haq·qō·ṣə·rîm — 2 Occ.
haq·qō·wṣ·rîm — 4 Occ.
hiq·ṣar·tā — 1 Occ.
qā·ṣar — 1 Occ.
qā·ṣā·rū — 1 Occ.
qā·ṣə·rāh — 2 Occ.
qə·ṣar·tem — 1 Occ.
qə·ṣu·rō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
qiṣ·rū — 1 Occ.
qiṣ·ṣar — 1 Occ.
qō·w·ṣêr — 1 Occ.
qō·ṣə·rîm — 1 Occ.
laq·qō·wṣ·rîm — 1 Occ.
tiq·ṣār — 2 Occ.
ṯiq·ṣə·rū — 1 Occ.
ṯiq·ṣō·wr — 3 Occ.
tiq·ṣō·rə·nāh — 1 Occ.
ū·qə·ṣar·tem — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·quṣ·rə·ḵem — 2 Occ.
wat·tiq·ṣar — 4 Occ.
wə·qiṣ·rū — 2 Occ.
wə·liq·ṣōr — 1 Occ.
yiq·ṣə·ru·hū — 1 Occ.
yiq·ṣār- — 3 Occ.
yiq·ṣō·w·rū — 3 Occ.
yiq·ṣō·rūn — 1 Occ.

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