What does גָּזַז mean in the Bible?
גָּזַז is a Hebrew word meaning "to cut off ; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy".
Hebrew · H1494
גָּזַז
To cut off ; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy
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גָּזַזH1494
What does גָּזַז mean in the Bible?
גָּזַז is a Hebrew word meaning "to cut off ; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy".
Full entry for גָּזַז (H1494) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1494?
The BSB source-word alignment has 15 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include shearing (2), and cut off your hair (1), and shaved (1), are you to shear (1), Cut off (1).
Where does גָּזַז appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 31:19. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Samuel (4), Genesis (3), 2 Samuel (2), Deuteronomy (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itshearing2×Genesis 31:19, 1 Samuel 25:2
and cut off your hair1×Micah 1:16
and shaved1×Job 1:20
are you to shear1×Deuteronomy 15:19
Cut off1×Jeremiah 7:29
for my shearers1×1 Samuel 25:11
her shearers1×Isaiah 53:7
hired shearers1×2 Samuel 13:24
his sheepshearers1×Genesis 38:12
it is time for shearing1×1 Samuel 25:7
sheepshearers1×2 Samuel 13:23
they will be cut down1×Nahum 1:12
to shear1×Genesis 38:13
was shearing1×1 Samuel 25:4
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 31:19לִגְזֹ֖זtoshearingPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructGenesis 38:12גֹּֽזֲזֵ֤יtohis sheepshearersVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructGenesis 38:13לָגֹ֥זtoto shearPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructDeuteronomy 15:19תָגֹ֖זtoare you to shearVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1 Samuel 25:2בִּגְזֹ֥זtoshearingPreposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1 Samuel 25:4גֹזֵ֥זtowas shearingVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular1 Samuel 25:7גֹזְזִ֖יםtoit is time for shearingVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural1 Samuel 25:11לְגֹֽזְזָ֑יtofor my shearersPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular2 Samuel 13:23גֹֽזְזִים֙tosheepshearersVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural2 Samuel 13:24גֹזְזִ֖יםtohired shearersVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 31:19
Aligned rows15
Books represented9
Genesis3Deuteronomy11 Samuel42 Samuel2Job1Isaiah1Jeremiah1Micah1Nahum1
Source forms
גֹזְזִ֖ים2xḡō·zə·zîm1 Samuel 25:7, 2 Samuel 13:24
בִּגְזֹ֥ז1xbiḡ·zōz1 Samuel 25:2
גֹזֵ֥ז1xḡō·zêz1 Samuel 25:4
גֹּֽזֲזֵ֤י1xgō·ză·zêGenesis 38:12
גֹזְזֶ֖יהָ1xḡō·zə·ze·hāIsaiah 53:7
גֹֽזְזִים֙1xḡō·zə·zîm2 Samuel 13:23
גָּזִּ֤י1xgāz·zîJeremiah 7:29
וָגֹ֔זִּי1xwā·ḡōz·zîMicah 1:16
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural3x1 Samuel 25:7, 2 Samuel 13:23, 2 Samuel 13:24
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct2xGenesis 31:19, Genesis 38:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1xJob 1:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular1xMicah 1:16
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1x1 Samuel 25:2
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular1x1 Samuel 25:11
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural1xNahum 1:12
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular1xJeremiah 7:29
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to cut off ; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy
Source Gloss
to cut off ; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to cut off; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy BDB: shear Usage: cut off (down), poll, shave, (sheep-) shear(-er).
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 forms8
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense7×
Participle active1Sam 25:4 · 1Sam 25:7 · 2Sam 13:23 · 2Sam 13:24 · Gen 38:125×
ImperfectDeut 15:191×
Sequential imperfectJer 7:291×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
PerfectNah 1:121×
Word Origins
גָּזַז is built from this root:
גּוּזH1468