קָצֵר
qa.tser (H7114A)
be short
AI Word Study
# Qatser (קָצֵר): The Concept of Shortness in Biblical Hebrew The Hebrew word *qatser* carries the basic meaning of "be short" and appears fifteen times throughout the biblical text. This verb describes a fundamental spatial or temporal condition—something that falls below an expected or desired length or duration. The word functions as a straightforward descriptor of diminishment, whether applied to physical dimensions or time-related concepts. The relatively modest frequency of this term in Scripture (15 occurrences) suggests it served a practical rather than theologically dominant function in biblical language. Rather than carrying specialized religious significance, *qatser* operated as a common descriptor for situations where something was insufficient, abbreviated, or inadequate in length. Its presence across biblical narrative and poetry indicates it was part of everyday Hebrew vocabulary used to communicate concrete observations about the physical and temporal world. Understanding *qatser* demonstrates how biblical Hebrew employed simple, concrete language to express basic human experiences. The word's straightforward meaning—without elaborate theological overtones attached to it—reflects how ancient Hebrew speakers discussed the ordinary circumstance of things being short or falling short of expectation.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
Yahweh said to Moses, “Has Yahweh’s hand grown short? Now you will see whether my word will happen to you or not.”
They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey.
They put away the foreign gods from among them and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
When she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, his soul was troubled to death.
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame.
He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap oneself in.
Why, when I came, was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can’t redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea. I make the rivers a wilderness. Their fish stink because there is no water, and die of thirst.
Behold, Yahweh’s hand is not shortened, that it can’t save; nor his ear dull, that it can’t hear.
Now the upper rooms were shorter; for the galleries took away from these, more than from the lower and the middle, in the building.
Shall it be said, O house of Jacob: “Is Yahweh’s Spirit angry? Are these his doings? Don’t my words do good to him who walks blamelessly?”
I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.