בָּצַע
𐤁𐤑𐤏
bâtsaʻ
H1214 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To cut, break off, or sever, especially with the connotation of taking something by force or for personal gain, often implying plundering, seizing loot, or acting for selfish profit. In figurative or derived usage, to act in a covetous or greedy manner, or to obtain wealth unjustly. Occasionally, intransitive sense of bringing something to an end or being cut off. The primary sense is that of violent or forceful appropriation.
Semantic Range
to cut off, to break off, to divide or sever (physically), to plunder, to seize as loot, to acquire unjust gain, to act greedily, to covet, to end or finish (rare, context-dependent), to act with selfish ambition, to take bribes
Root / Etymology
Root: בָּצַע (ב-צ-ע). The root fundamentally means 'to cut or break off.' The verb developed to signify not only the act of physically dividing or cutting, but also, by metaphorical extension, acquiring something by seizing or appropriating it, especially with implication of greed or injustice. From this root, it came to be associated with plundering, robbery, or acting with selfish ambition for material gain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בָּצַע in the Hebrew Bible most commonly appears with the nuance of acquiring wealth or goods through violence, greed, or unjust means (e.g., plundering in warfare or exploitative behaviors). It frequently serves as a negative characterization of someone motivated by personal gain, especially at others' expense (e.g., leaders taking bribes, merchants acting unfairly, or individuals stealing). In the wisdom literature and prophetic texts, it is strongly associated with covetousness and unethical acquisition of property. The figurative sense of 'cutting off' or 'fulfilling' an end is rare and context-dependent. The standard English translations such as "greedy" or "covetous" reflect a secondary, derived sense and may miss the original, concrete image of forcibly cutting off or taking something. This word is distinct from related terms like חמס (ḥāmas, "violence, wrong") in that בָּצַע connotes both the violent act and the greedy motivation. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, the term continues to connote greed, profit-seeking, and unlawful gain.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root to break off, i.e. (usually) plunder; figuratively, to finish, or (intransitively) stop; (be) covet(-ous), cut (off), finish, fulfill, gain (greedily), get, be given to (covetousness), greedy, perform, be wounded.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בצע (b-ts-ʿ) — cut, break off, divide, sever
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1215 | בֶּצַע | ill-gotten gain |
Word Forms
12 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1214-03 |
בּוֹצֵ֣עַ | botsea | HVqrmsa |
greedy-for | plundering one | 5 |
H1214-07 |
וַ/תְּבַצְּעִ֤י | vatevatsei | HC/Vpw2fs |
and-you-have-greedily-gained | and you greedily seized | 1 |
H1214-09 |
יְבַצַּ֤ע | yevatsa | HVpi3ms |
he completes | he forcefully seizes | 1 |
H1214-01 |
בְּצֹ֥עַ | betsoa | HVqc |
get | to seize unjust gain | 1 |
H1214-06 |
וּ/בֹצֵ֥עַ | uvotsea | HC/Vqrmsa |
and the greedy | and a plundering one | 1 |
H1214-11 |
יִבְצָ֑ע | yivetsa | HVqi3ms |
is cut off | he will seize for gain | 1 |
H1214-04 |
תְּבַצַּ֑עְנָה | tevatsaenah | HVpi3fp |
will finish | they will plunder | 1 |
H1214-12 |
יִבְצָֽעוּ | yivetsau | HVqi3mp |
they-are-wounded | they will seize greedily | 1 |
H1214-10 |
יְבַצְּעֵ֔/נִי | yevatseeni | HVpi3ms/Sp1cs |
He cuts me off | he will violently cut me off | 1 |
H1214-02 |
בִּצַּ֤ע | bitsa | HVpp3ms |
he has fulfilled | he plundered | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
16 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1214-09 |
Isaiah 10:12 | יְבַצַּ֤ע | yevatsa | HVpi3ms |
he completes | he forcefully seizes |
H1214-10 |
Isaiah 38:12 | יְבַצְּעֵ֔/נִי | yevatseeni | HVpi3ms/Sp1cs |
He cuts me off | he will violently cut me off |
H1214-03 |
Jeremiah 6:13 | בּוֹצֵ֣עַ | botsea | HVqrmsa |
is greedy for | plundering one |
H1214-03 |
Jeremiah 8:10 | בֹּצֵ֣עַ | botsea | HVqrmsa |
greedy-for | plundering one |
H1214-07 |
Ezekiel 22:12 | וַ/תְּבַצְּעִ֤י | vatevatsei | HC/Vpw2fs |
and-you-have-greedily-gained | and you greedily seized |
H1214-01 |
Ezekiel 22:27 | בְּצֹ֥עַ | betsoa | HVqc |
get | to seize unjust gain |
H1214-12 |
Joel 2:8 | יִבְצָֽעוּ | yivetsau | HVqi3mp |
they-are-wounded | they will seize greedily |
H1214-05 |
Amos 9:1 | וּ/בְצַ֨עַ/ם֙ | uvetsaam | HC/Vqv2ms/Sp3mp |
and cut them off | sever them |
H1214-03 |
Habakkuk 2:9 | בֹּצֵ֛עַ | botsea | HVqrmsa |
who covets | plundering one |
H1214-04 |
Zechariah 4:9 | תְּבַצַּ֑עְנָה | tevatsaenah | HVpi3fp |
will finish | they will plunder |