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חֵץ

𐤇𐤑

chêts

H2671 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A pointed projectile weapon, primarily an arrow used with a bow; also extends to any missile or dart with a similar shape or function. In metaphorical usage, it can refer to anything swift and piercing, including a flash of lightning or a sudden destructive agent. The term can describe the literal physical object, the act of shooting such objects, or metaphorically refer to swift disaster or judgment.

Semantic Range

arrow, dart, projectile, missile, shaft of a spear, lightning/thunderbolt (figurative), cause or agent of wounds or destruction (metaphorical)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חָצַץ (ḥāṣaṣ), meaning 'to divide, split, or pierce.' The noun חֵץ (chêts) develops from the core notion of something that pierces or divides, coming to refer specifically to an arrow or similar missile. There is a secondary suggested interchange with עֵץ (ʿēṣ, 'wood' or 'tree'), possibly due to the arrow's wooden shaft, but this influence is likely secondary and does not alter the primary root meaning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term חֵץ most commonly refers to arrows used in ancient Israelite warfare and hunting. Archaeological finds of arrowheads in Levantine contexts confirm their everyday and military significance. In poetic and prophetic passages, חֵץ is used metaphorically for sudden destruction (e.g., divine judgment as 'arrows'), or for swift, unstoppable forces such as lightning ('thunderbolts'). Later periods sometimes expand the term to refer to other flying projectiles. The use of חֵץ as a metaphor for divine action is common in Psalms and prophetic texts. The term is distinct from קֶשֶׁת (qešet, 'bow'), which is the launching instrument, and from other missile words like רֹמַח (romach, 'spear/javelin'). English translations often narrow the term to 'arrow,' but such renderings can obscure metaphorical nuances, especially in poetry or apocalyptic imagery.

Translation Consistency

primary "arrow" 36 occurrences

Most common and natural English equivalent for חֵץ across contexts (21 occurrences as “arrows” and 12 as “arrow”). It captures the primary physical sense (arrow, dart, shaft) and works naturally for the metaphorical senses (a piercing or swift agent, e.g. lightning or judgment). Choosing “arrow” yields consistent, idiomatic renderings for all forms.

Alternatives (9 occurrences):
"piercing-arrow of" (3x) "piercing-arrows of" (3x) "piercing-arrows" (1x) "staff" (1x) "wound" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָצַץ; also by interchange for עֵץ; properly, a piercer, i.e. an arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God) thunderbolt; the shaft of aspear; [phrase] archer, arrow, dart, shaft, staff, wound.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חצץ (ḥ-ṣ-ṣ) — divide, split, pierce

Root חצץ to divide, split, pierce
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2686 חָצַץ the one who cuts
H2687 חָצָץ sharp gravel

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2671-02 חֵץ chets HNcmsc an arrow piercing-arrow of piercing-arrow of 7
H2671-05 חִצָּי/ו֙ chitsayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his arrows his piercing-arrows his arrows 5
H2671-07 חִצֶּ֨י/ךָ֙ chitseykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your arrows your piercing-projectiles your arrows 4
H2671-06 חִצֵּי֩ chitsey HNcmpc arrows piercing-arrows of piercing-arrows of 3
H2671-23 וְ/חִצִּ֑ים vechitsim HC/Ncmpa and arrows and piercing-arrows and arrows 3
H2671-09 חִצִּֽים chitsim HNcmpa arrows piercing arrows piercing arrows 3
H2671-20 וְ/חֵ֣ץ vechets HC/Ncmsc and arrow piercing-arrow of and arrow of 2
H2671-03 חִצָּ֣/ם chitsam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their arrow their piercing-arrow their arrow 2
H2671-04 חִצַּ֖/י chitsay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my arrows my piercing-arrows my arrows 2
H2671-15 לְ/חֵ֣ץ lechets HR/Ncmsa as an arrow to a piercing-arrow to an arrow 1

Occurrences in Scripture

45 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2671-09 Genesis 49:23 חִצִּֽים chitsim HNcmpa arrows piercing arrows piercing arrows
H2671-21 Numbers 24:8 וְ/חִצָּ֥י/ו vechitsayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms with his arrows and his piercing-arrows and his piercing-arrows
H2671-04 Deuteronomy 32:23 חִצַּ֖/י chitsay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my arrows my piercing-arrows my arrows
H2671-04 Deuteronomy 32:42 חִצַּ/י֙ chitsay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my arrows my piercing-arrows my arrows
H2671-19 1 Samuel 17:7 ו/חץ vchts HC/Ncmsc and staff and piercing-arrow of and staff
H2671-09 2 Samuel 22:15 חִצִּ֖ים chitsim HNcmpa arrows piercing arrows piercing arrows
H2671-23 2 Kings 13:15 וְ/חִצִּ֑ים vechitsim HC/Ncmpa and arrows and piercing-arrows and arrows
H2671-23 2 Kings 13:15 וְ/חִצִּֽים vechitsim-2 HC/Ncmpa and arrows and piercing-arrows and arrows
H2671-02 2 Kings 13:17 חֵץ chets HNcmsc Arrow piercing-arrow of piercing-arrow of
H2671-20 2 Kings 13:17 וְ/חֵ֣ץ vechets HC/Ncmsc and arrow piercing-arrow of and arrow of
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