What does בָּצַע (bāṣaʿ) mean in the Bible?
בָּצַע (bāṣaʿ): Breaking off or severing for gain; dominantly used of greedy acquisition and covetous plunder rather than neutral cutting.
Hebrew · H1214
בָּצַע
To break off, i.e. (usually) plunder ; figuratively, to finish , or (intransitively) stop
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
בָּצַעH1214
Pronunciationbāṣaʿ
What does בָּצַע (bāṣaʿ) mean in the Bible?
בָּצַע (bāṣaʿ): Breaking off or severing for gain; dominantly used of greedy acquisition and covetous plunder rather than neutral cutting.
Full entry for בָּצַע (H1214) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1214?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include are greedy (2), and cut me off (1), breaking ranks (1), dishonest gain (1), has completed (1).
Where does בָּצַע (bāṣaʿ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Job 6:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (2), Isaiah (2), Jeremiah (2), Job (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itare greedy2×Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 8:10
and cut me off1×Job 6:9
breaking ranks1×Joel 2:8
dishonest gain1×Ezekiel 22:27
has completed1×Isaiah 10:12
He cuts me off1×Isaiah 38:12
He has accomplished1×Lamentations 2:17
he is cut off1×Job 27:8
He who is greedy1×Proverbs 15:27
take1×Ezekiel 22:12
the greedy1×Psalms 10:3
to him who builds1×Habakkuk 2:9
Topple them1×Amos 9:1
who are greedy1×Proverbs 1:19
will complete it1×Zechariah 4:9
Show sample aligned rows
Job 6:9וִֽיבַצְּעֵֽנִי׃toand cut me offConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singularJob 27:8יִבְצָ֑עtohe is cut offVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularPsalms 10:3וּבֹצֵ֥עַtothe greedyConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularProverbs 1:19בֹּ֣צֵֽעַtowho are greedyVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularProverbs 15:27בּוֹצֵ֣עַtoHe who is greedyVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularIsaiah 10:12יְבַצַּ֤עtohas completedVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 38:12יְבַצְּעֵ֔נִיtoHe cuts me offVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singularJeremiah 6:13בּוֹצֵ֣עַtoare greedyVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularJeremiah 8:10בֹּצֵ֣עַtoare greedyVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularLamentations 2:17בִּצַּ֤עtoHe has accomplishedVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowJob 6:9
Aligned rows16
Books represented11
Job2Psalms1Proverbs2Isaiah2Jeremiah2Lamentations1Ezekiel2Joel1Amos1Habakkuk1Zechariah1
Source forms
בּוֹצֵ֣עַ2xbō·w·ṣê·a‘Proverbs 15:27, Jeremiah 6:13
בְּצֹ֥עַ1xbə·ṣō·a‘Ezekiel 22:27
בִּצַּ֤ע1xbiṣ·ṣa‘Lamentations 2:17
בֹּ֣צֵֽעַ1xbō·ṣê·a‘Proverbs 1:19
בֹּצֵ֣עַ1xbō·ṣê·a‘Jeremiah 8:10
בֹּצֵ֛עַ1xbō·ṣê·a‘Habakkuk 2:9
וּבֹצֵ֥עַ1xū·ḇō·ṣê·a‘Psalms 10:3
וּבְצַ֙עַם֙1xū·ḇə·ṣa·‘amAmos 9:1
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular5xProverbs 1:19, Proverbs 15:27, Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 8:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular1xJob 6:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person feminine singular1xEzekiel 22:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person masculine plural1xAmos 9:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1xPsalms 10:3
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine plural1xZechariah 4:9
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 10:12
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular1xIsaiah 38:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Breaking off or severing for gain; dominantly used of greedy acquisition and covetous plunder rather than neutral cutting.
Strong'sH1214
Lexical occurrences16 versesWord forms2 forms11 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 56:9-12Source Gloss
to break off, i.e. (usually) plunder ; figuratively, to finish , or (intransitively) stop
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Breaking off or severing for gain; dominantly used of greedy acquisition and covetous plunder rather than neutral cutting.
to break off, i.e. (usually) plunder; figuratively, to finish, or (intransitively) stop BDB: cut off Usage: (be) covet(-ous), cut (off), finish, fulfill, gain (greedily), get, be given to (covetousness), greedy, perform, be wounded.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms11
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense8×
Participle activeHab 2:9 · Jer 6:13 · Jer 8:10 · Prov 1:19 · Prov 15:275×
ImperfectJob 27:8 · Joel 2:82×
Infinitive constructEzek 22:271×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action3×
ImperfectIsa 10:12 · Zech 4:92×
PerfectLam 2:171×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Dogs described as greedy, unable to be satisfied, consuming excessively
One who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, showing destructive consequences
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 16 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
בָּצַע is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.