Original Word: קֹצֶר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qotser
Pronunciation: ko'-tser
Phonetic Spelling: (ko'-tser)
KJV: anguish
Word Origin: [from H7114 (קָצַר - To be short)]

1. shortness (of spirit), i.e. impatience

anguish

From qatsar; shortness (of spirit), i.e. Impatience -- anguish.

see HEBREW qatsar

Word Origin
from qatsar
Definition
shortness
NASB Translation
despondency* (1).

קֹ֫צֶר noun [masculine] shortness; — construct רוּחַ ׳ק Exodus 6:9 (P) = impatience.

Definition and Overview

קֹצֶר denotes a state of constriction, brevity, or insufficiency that settles upon the inner life. Rather than describing physical stature, the term exposes a spiritual condition in which the human spirit feels pressed, diminished, or impatient under oppressive circumstances.

Occurrence and Context in Exodus 6:9

“Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their broken spirit and cruel bondage” (Exodus 6:9). Here קֹצֶר modifies “spirit,” spotlighting Israel’s emotional collapse after generations of slavery. The promised deliverance sounds incredible to ears dulled by exhaustion, illustrating how external affliction can foster an inward shortness that stifles faith.

Historical Setting: Israel in Bondage

• Egypt’s relentless labor quotas (Exodus 5:6–18) produced both physical depletion and spiritual compression.
• Pharaoh’s doubled demands followed Moses’ initial appeal, making the people “too discouraged to believe.”
• The episode sets the stage for the plagues, demonstrating that divine redemption begins by addressing not only political oppression but also the crushed hearts of God’s people.

Spiritual Dynamics of Shortness of Spirit

1. Discouragement blunts receptivity to God’s word. Even a clear promise—“I will redeem you with an outstretched arm” (Exodus 6:6)—meets resistance when the heart is constricted.
2. Prolonged affliction can tempt believers to interpret God’s delays as divine absence, shrinking hope.
3. The Lord responds to such shortness with persistent revelation and mighty acts, proving that His faithfulness is not limited by human frailty.

Theological Themes

• Covenant Fidelity: God’s pledge to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob remains operative despite Israel’s incapacity to believe (Exodus 6:2–8).
• Divine Compassion: The Lord “heard their groaning” (Exodus 2:24), showing that He attends to both the outward cry and the inner sigh of His people.
• Sanctification through Deliverance: Liberation from Egypt illustrates salvation history—God breaks both the chains and the despair forged by sin and oppression.

Ministry Applications

• Pastoral Care: Shepherds should recognize that prolonged trials can compress the souls of believers, making patient reassurance essential.
• Preaching: Highlight the God who perseveres with the faint-hearted, encouraging congregations that feel too weary to hope.
• Prayer Ministry: Intercession can address “shortness of spirit,” asking the Holy Spirit to expand hearts to receive the fullness of God’s promises (Ephesians 3:16–19).

Christological and New Covenant Reflections

• Jesus’ call, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened” (Matthew 11:28), answers the ancient cry of קֹצֶר by offering rest for souls.
• The resurrection demonstrates that even the apparent finality of death cannot compress the life of God’s Spirit within His people (Romans 8:11).
• Pentecost reverses “shortness” with fullness: “Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4).

Related Biblical Concepts

• “Faintheartedness” (Deuteronomy 20:3) underscores fear that paralyzes obedience.
• “Heavy burden” (Psalm 38:4) captures oppression that weighs on the soul.
• “Hope deferred” (Proverbs 13:12) reveals how delay can sicken the heart.

Summary

Strong’s Hebrew 7115 focuses on the inner contraction produced by suffering. Exodus 6:9 illustrates how oppressive circumstances diminish capacity to believe, yet Scripture also records God’s relentless commitment to restore hope. From Egypt to Calvary, the Lord stretches forth His hand to lengthen, enlarge, and enliven the spirits of His covenant people, ensuring that shortness of spirit never has the final word.

מִקֹּ֣צֶר מקצר mikKotzer miq·qō·ṣer miqqōṣerInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts