Lexical Summary qatser: Short, brief Original Word: קָצֵר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance few, hasty, small, soon From qatsar; short (whether in size, number, life, strength or temper) -- few, hasty, small, soon. see HEBREW qatsar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qatsar Definition short NASB Translation quick-tempered* (2), short (2), short-lived* (1), who (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [קָצֵר] adjective short; — in phrase קִצְרֵייָֿד 2 Kings 19:26 short of hand, feeble, = Isaiah 37:27; figurative קְצַרֿ אַמַּיִם Proverbs 14:7 = impatient, so קְצַּר רוּחַ Proverbs 14:29 (opposed to אֶרֶח אַמַּיִם); of time קְצַר יָמִים Job 14:1 short-lived. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Themes The term embraces the idea of “shortness” or “brevity” expressed in three main domains: (1) brevity of life and strength, (2) impermanence of human achievement, and (3) a temperament that is “short-fused,” that is, easily provoked. In every setting the word highlights the frailty of humankind in contrast with the enduring sufficiency of the Lord. Occurrences and Contextual Analysis In Hezekiah’s day the Assyrian propaganda machine boasted of irresistible conquest. God answers through Isaiah, describing those conquered by Assyria as “like grass on the rooftops, scorched before it is grown”. The word pictures a crop cut off prematurely, never able to stand erect. The taunt reverses upon Assyria: all who oppose the Lord, no matter how imposing, prove short-lived and wither under His rebuke. “Man, born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble”. Here the vocabulary is applied to human life itself. Job’s lament does not question God’s justice but frankly acknowledges mortality. The passing nature of days presses the reader to weigh life in view of eternity and divine grace (compare Psalm 90:12). Proverbs 14:17, Proverbs 14:29 “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly… Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered exalts folly”. The same root that speaks of brevity in lifespan now speaks of brevity in patience. The contrast is deliberate: to be “short” in temper is to abandon wisdom, whereas lengthened restraint reflects a heart schooled in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). Theological and Pastoral Implications 1. Finite power. Nations and individuals who ignore the covenant God discover they are but rooftop grass, flourishing briefly, then gone (Psalm 103:15-16). Intercanonical Connections • Rooftop grass imagery reappears in Psalm 129:6-7, reinforcing the same theme of enemies quickly withering. Application for Believers • Humility before God’s sovereignty: Recognize that every human plan or power apart from Him is inherently short-lived. The word’s five appearances form a unified testimony: what is “short” in us—life, strength, patience—finds its true length and purpose only under the Lord’s sustaining hand. Forms and Transliterations וּקְצַר־ וקצר־ קְֽצַר־ קְצַ֥ר קִצְרֵי־ קצר קצר־ קצרי־ keTzar kitzrei qə·ṣar qə·ṣar- qəṣar qəṣar- qiṣ·rê- qiṣrê- ū·qə·ṣar- uketzar ūqəṣar-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 19:26 HEB: וְיֹֽשְׁבֵיהֶן֙ קִצְרֵי־ יָ֔ד חַ֖תּוּ NAS: Therefore their inhabitants were short of strength, KJV: Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, INT: their inhabitants were short of strength were dismayed Job 14:1 Proverbs 14:17 Proverbs 14:29 Isaiah 37:27 5 Occurrences |
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