קָפַץ (H7092) — Hebrew Lexicon

קָפַץ

𐤒𐤐𐤑

qâphats

H7092 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To draw together, contract, or close (especially the hand or limbs); by extension, to gather, shut, or restrict in a physical or metaphorical sense; in some contexts, to leap, spring, or skip (as a physical contracting of the body before movement); rarely, to die (idiomatically, by gathering up one's feet). The term can refer to clutching, constricting, or withholding, as well as to a sudden physical action.

Semantic Range

to contract or close (the hand, mouth, etc.), to shut or withhold, to leap or spring, to skip, to withdraw or take away, to die (idiomatically, as in gathering feet together)

Root / Etymology

Root קפץ, with the core meaning of 'to contract, to draw together.' The verb derives directly from the root and primarily conveys the action of bringing together or compressing something (especially the hand or limbs). The sense of leaping arises from the physical act of contracting limbs before a jump. Other uses such as 'shutting' or 'withdrawing' are metaphorical extensions, representing restriction or removal.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, קָפַץ appears in diverse contexts: physical actions (as in contracting the hand, shutting the mouth, or skipping/leaping), and metaphorically (withholding compassion, sealing resources, or closing opportunities). The idiomatic use to describe dying (e.g., 'to gather up the feet') likely reflects the cultural observation of physical contraction at death rather than a standardized euphemism. Qafatz is distinct from חָבַק (ḥavaq, 'to embrace') which focuses on enveloping, not contracting. In later Hebrew and Rabbinic usage, the primary emphases remain on contraction and closing, and the root is rarely confused with verbs like פָּסַח (pasach, 'to leap; to pass over'). Standard English translations often render קָפַץ as 'shut,' 'withhold,' or 'leap,' but these may fail to convey the root idea of physical contraction or restrictive closing.

Translation Consistency

primary "close" 1 occurrence

The primary sense of qâphats is to draw together or contract — to shut/close the hand, mouth, or an opening — and 'close' naturally covers the common literal and figurative uses (shut, withhold, draw together). It is more flexible than narrower options like 'clench' and more idiomatic than alternatives; other rare senses (leap, die idiom) can be handled in context while keeping a single consistent base verb.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):

"shut" (3x) "shut up" (1x) "gathered" (1x) "skipping" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to draw together, i.e. close; by implication, to leap (by contracting the limbs); specifically, to die (from gathering up the feet); shut (up), skip, stop, take out of the way.

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Root Family

קפץ (q-p-ts) — to contract, draw together, compress

Root קפץ to contract, draw together, compress

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H7092-03`	קָ֣פְצָה	qafetsah	`HVqp3fs`	shuts	she contracted	is shut	2
`H7092-02`	קָפַ֥ץ	qafats	`HVqp3ms`	shut up	he drew together	he shut up	1
`H7092-05`	יִקָּפְצ֑וּ/ן	yiqafetsun	`HVNi3mp/Sn`	they-are-gathered	they will draw themselves together	they are gathered	1
`H7092-04`	תִקְפֹּץ֙	tiqepots	`HVqi2ms`	shut	you will contract	you shut	1
`H7092-06`	יִקְפְּצ֥וּ	yiqepetsu	`HVqi3mp`	they-will-shut	they will draw together	they will shut	1
`H7092-01`	מְקַפֵּ֖ץ	meqapets	`HVprmsa`	skipping	the one who tightly constricts	skipping	1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H7092-04`	Deuteronomy 15:7	תִקְפֹּץ֙	tiqepots	`HVqi2ms`	shut	you will contract	you shut
`H7092-06`	Isaiah 52:15	יִקְפְּצ֥וּ	yiqepetsu	`HVqi3mp`	they-will-shut	they will draw together	they will shut
`H7092-02`	Psalms 77:10	קָפַ֥ץ	qafats	`HVqp3ms`	shut up	he drew together	he shut up
`H7092-03`	Psalms 107:42	קָ֣פְצָה	qafetsah	`HVqp3fs`	shuts	she contracted	is shut
`H7092-03`	Job 5:16	קָ֣פְצָה	qafetsah	`HVqp3fs`	shuts	she contracted	she closed
`H7092-05`	Job 24:24	יִקָּפְצ֑וּ/ן	yiqafetsun	`HVNi3mp/Sn`	they-are-gathered	they will draw themselves together	they are gathered
`H7092-01`	Song of Songs 2:8	מְקַפֵּ֖ץ	meqapets	`HVprmsa`	skipping	the one who tightly constricts	skipping

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