What does קָצַף (qāṣap) mean in the Bible?
Being angry or provoking anger requires attention to the actor, cause and subsequent response. Naaman becomes angry when Elisha's instructions differ from his expectations.
Hebrew · H7107
קָצַף
Being angry or provoking anger requires attention to the actor, cause and subsequent response. Naaman becomes angry when Elisha's instructions differ from his expectations.
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קָצַףH7107
Pronunciationqāṣap
What does קָצַף (qāṣap) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for קָצַף (H7107) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7107?
The BSB source-word alignment has 34 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include was angry (4), angry (3), be angry (3), were angry (3), you provoked (2).
Where does קָצַף (qāṣap) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 40:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (8), Deuteronomy (5), Zechariah (4), 2 Kings (2).
What This Word Actually Means
Being angry or provoking anger requires attention to the actor, cause and subsequent response. Naaman becomes angry when Elisha's instructions differ from his expectations. Esther records the king's anger at Vashti's refusal without making that anger a universal justification for coercion. Jeremiah's officials become angry, beat him and imprison him in the narrated injustice.
Moses is angry over the offering, but the account continues with Aaron's explanation and Moses' acceptance. Isaiah names the Lord's anger while rebuking the captor's lack of mercy, and elsewhere states a limit to His continuing anger. These contexts do not approve every human expression because divine anger appears elsewhere. Read the whole response before applying a rebuke.
A congregation can acknowledge strong emotion while examining harmful conduct, hearing an explanation and refusing to make rage, bodily intensity or a grammatical stem proof that someone speaks for God.
How the Bible Uses It
Naaman's disappointment, royal rage, hostile officials, Moses' resolved concern and Isaiah's divine statements give anger different actors and assessments. A teacher must read the subsequent response before assuming the anger is justified.
- 2Kgs.5.11
But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy.
Naaman becomes angry because the expected personal action differs from the instructions he has received.
- Esth.1.12
Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.
The king becomes furious when Vashti refuses his command, within the narrated royal and household response.
- Jer.37.15
The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison.
The officials' anger leads to beating and imprisonment of Jeremiah in the stated confinement account.
- Lev.10.16
Later, Moses searched carefully for the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it had been burned up. He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked,
Moses is angry over the sin offering, and the unit continues through Aaron's explanation to acceptance.
- Isa.47.6
I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke.
The Lord names anger toward His people while rebuking the addressed captor for showing no mercy.
- Isa.57.16
For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me—the breath of life I have made.
The Lord states that He will not accuse or be angry forever, with the frailty of human spirits given.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itwas angry4×Genesis 40:2, Exodus 16:20, Numbers 31:14, 2 Kings 13:19
angry3×2 Kings 5:11, Zechariah 1:2, Zechariah 1:15
be angry3×Ecclesiastes 5:6, Isaiah 57:16, Isaiah 64:9
were angry3×1 Samuel 29:4, Isaiah 64:5, Jeremiah 37:15
you provoked2×Deuteronomy 9:7, Deuteronomy 9:8
. . .1×Zechariah 1:15
and remain angry1×Lamentations 5:22
and the LORD will be angry1×Leviticus 10:6
became furious1×Esther 1:12
grew angry1×Esther 2:21
had directed1×Deuteronomy 9:19
He grew angry1×Deuteronomy 1:34
He was angry1×Leviticus 10:16
He will be angry1×Joshua 22:18
I was angry1×Isaiah 47:6
I was enraged1×Isaiah 57:17
in anger1×Isaiah 57:17
provoked Me to anger1×Zechariah 8:14
that I will not be angry1×Isaiah 54:9
they angered1×Psalms 106:32
they will become enraged1×Isaiah 8:21
was once angry1×Genesis 41:10
will You be angry1×Numbers 16:22
You continued to provoke1×Deuteronomy 9:22
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 40:2וַיִּקְצֹ֣ףtowas angryConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 41:10קָצַ֣ףtowas once angryVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 16:20וַיִּקְצֹ֥ףtowas angryConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 10:6יִקְצֹ֑ףtoand the LORD will be angryVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 10:16וַ֠יִּקְצֹףtoHe was angryConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 16:22תִּקְצֹֽף׃פtowill You be angryVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularNumbers 31:14וַיִּקְצֹ֣ףtowas angryConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 1:34וַיִּקְצֹ֖ףtoHe grew angryConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 9:7הִקְצַ֛פְתָּtoyou provokedVerb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 9:8הִקְצַפְתֶּ֖םtoyou provokedVerb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 40:2
Aligned rows34
Books represented15
Genesis2Exodus1Leviticus2Numbers2Deuteronomy5Joshua11 Samuel12 Kings2Esther2Psalms1Ecclesiastes1Isaiah8Jeremiah1Lamentations1Zechariah4
Source forms
וַיִּקְצֹ֣ף2xway·yiq·ṣōp̄Genesis 40:2, Numbers 31:14
וַיִּקְצֹ֥ף2xway·yiq·ṣōp̄Exodus 16:20, 2 Kings 5:11
קָצַ֧ף2xqā·ṣap̄Deuteronomy 9:19, Zechariah 1:2
קָצַ֣פְתִּי2xqā·ṣap̄·tîIsaiah 47:6, Zechariah 1:15
אֶקְּצ֑וֹף1x’eq·qə·ṣō·wp̄Isaiah 57:16
בְּהַקְצִ֤יף1xbə·haq·ṣîp̄Zechariah 8:14
הִקְצַ֛פְתָּ1xhiq·ṣap̄·tāDeuteronomy 9:7
הִקְצַפְתֶּ֖ם1xhiq·ṣap̄·temDeuteronomy 9:8
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular8xGenesis 40:2, Exodus 16:20, Leviticus 10:16, Numbers 31:14
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular4xGenesis 41:10, Deuteronomy 9:19, Esther 2:21, Zechariah 1:2
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular3xLeviticus 10:6, Joshua 22:18, Ecclesiastes 5:6
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular3xIsaiah 47:6, Isaiah 57:17, Zechariah 1:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural2x1 Samuel 29:4, Jeremiah 37:15
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xNumbers 16:22, Isaiah 64:9
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular2xIsaiah 64:5, Lamentations 5:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xPsalms 106:32
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Hear explanations and examine harmful conduct without granting rage a presumption of divine authority.
- Allow people to report danger and protest harm without labeling their concern spiritually disobedient.
Avoid claiming...
- Anger cannot authorize coercion, assault or automatic divine authority for a current leader.
- A grammatical stem or bodily reaction cannot establish holiness, and anger counsel cannot silence safety concerns.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Intense, sudden explosive anger—a bursting forth rather than sustained wrath; characteristically divine displeasure in response to covenant violation
Source Gloss
to crack off, i.e. (figuratively) burst out in rage
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Intense, sudden explosive anger—a bursting forth rather than sustained wrath; characteristically divine displeasure in response to covenant violation
to crack off, i.e. (figuratively) burst out in rage BDB: be wroth Usage: (be) anger(-ry), displease, fret self, (provoke to) wrath (come), be wroth.
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 forms19
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense16×
PerfectDeut 9:19 · Esth 2:21 · Gen 41:10 · Zech 1:2 · Isa 47:6 · Isa 57:17 · Zech 1:15 · Isa 64:4 · Lam 5:229×
ImperfectEccl 5:5 · Josh 22:18 · Lev 10:6 · Isa 57:16 · Num 16:225×
JussiveIsa 64:81×
Participle activeZech 1:151×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action3×
PerfectDeut 9:7 · Deut 9:82×
Participle activeDeut 9:221×
Word Origins
קָצַף is a primitive root - no further derivation.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Anger is not assessed by its intensity alone. Naaman's reaction arises from expectations about how healing would happen; the account continues rather than presenting his first response as final wisdom. The king's fury in Esther and the officials' beating of Jeremiah require attention to the narrated power and harm, without approving coercion because an actor is angry.
Moses' offering concern is followed by Aaron's explanation and his acceptance, a movement a teacher should not omit. Isaiah 47 states the Lord's anger while condemning the captor's merciless burden on the aged, so a claim of judgment does not excuse cruelty. Isaiah 57 names restraint and continues toward healing while also retaining its distinction concerning the wicked.
A congregation should hear explanations, examine harm and allow correction of an initial response. It must not make bodily heat, volume, a stem label or a leader's position proof that anger speaks for God.
Anchor passage
Lev.10.16
Doctrinal connections
- Naaman's anger follows disappointed expectations within his particular narrated healing account.
- Esther's royal anger remains the king's reaction within the stated command and response.
- Jeremiah's officials act in anger through the beating and imprisonment the account describes.
- Moses' offering concern continues through Aaron's explanation and his subsequent acceptance.
- Isaiah condemns the captor's lack of mercy even while naming the Lord's anger.
- Isaiah's stated restraint acknowledges human frailty within the unit's healing and warning.
Qal and causative constructions distinguish being angry from provoking anger, without a holiness or bodily-intensity inference. Thirty-four BSB tokens in thirty-two verses remain separate from canonical thirty-four; actual tagging and artifact transliteration are preserved rather than assigning every grammatical form one moral judgment.
From Old to New Testament
James 1:19-27 calls hearers to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger, stating that human anger does not produce God's righteousness and continuing into doing the word and care. This is a canonical anger comparison, not an occurrence of the Hebrew verb or a reason to silence responsible protest against harm.