H3772 H3772
To cut — physically cutting trees or objects, cutting a covenant, or being cut off as divine punishment; spans Qal, Niphal, Hifil, and Hofal stems.
A verb whose concrete physical action — cutting with a blade — generates the Hebrew Bible's most important covenant idiom and its most severe judgment formula. When Abraham 'cuts' a covenant in Genesis 15:18, the word preserves the memory of an ancient ritual where animals were literally split and the parties walked between the pieces. When God threatens that a soul 'shall be cut off from its people' (Exod 12:15), the same root carries lethal finality. The multilingual evidence tracks these divergences precisely: Hindi uses 'bandha' (to bind/tie) for covenant-cutting but 'kaata' (to cut) for physical felling, showing that translators recognize fundamentally different conceptual frames despite the shared Hebrew root.
3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) — Niphal passive/reflexive: to be cut off from one's people, land, or life. With 74 occurrences, this is the standard penalty formula in Priestly legislation — 'that soul shall be cut off from Israel' (Exod 12:15,19; 30:33,38). The passive voice emphasizes the result rather than the agent, though God is understood as the implied cause. Arabic 'yunqatiu' (Form VII reflexive) and Korean 'kkeuneojida' (to become severed) reflect the passive/resultative morphology. This formula appears almost exclusively in legal contexts as the ultimate sanction for covenant violation. 74×
AR["فَ-تُقْطَعُ","وَ-تُقطَعُ","وَ-تُقْطَعُ","وَ-يُقْطَعُ","وَتُقْطَعُ","يُقْطَعُ"]·ben["উচ্ছেদ-হবে","এবং-উচ্ছিন্ন-করা-হবে","এবং-উচ্ছেদ-হবে","এবং-কেটে-ফেলা-হবে","এবং-ছিন্ন-হবে","এবং-ছেদন-হবে"]·DE["abschneiden","und-ausgerottet-werden-soll","und-es-soll-sein-schnitt-weg","und-soll-sein-schneiden-weg","und-soll-sein-schnitt-weg"]·EN["and-it-shall-be-cut-off","and-shall-be-cut-off","and-will-be-cut-off","will-be-cut-off"]·FR["et---être-couper-dehors","et-cela-devra-être-couper-off","et-devra-être-couper-off","retrancher"]·heb["ו-ניכרתה","ו-נכרתה","יכרת"]·HI["और-कअत-दिय-जयेग","और-काट-दिया-जाए","और-काट-दिया-जाएगा","और-काट-दी-जाएगी","और-काटा-जाए","और-काटा-जाएगा","काटा-जाएगा","टूटेगा","तो-काट-डाले-जाएंगे","तो-काट-दिया-जाए","तो-काट-दिया-जाएगा","तो-काटा-जाए"]·ID["akan-dilenyapkan","akan-terputus","dan-akan-dilenyapkan","dan-dilenyapkan","dan-dilenyapkanlah","dan-diputus","dan-diputuskanlah","maka-dilenyapkanlah"]·IT["e-dovra-essere-tagliare-via","e-esso-dovra-essere-tagliare-via","e-shall-essere-cut-off","e-will-essere-cut-off","tagliare"]·jav["badhé-dipunpegat","lan-badhe-kasirnakaken","lan-badhé-kasirnakaken","lan-dipun-pegataken","lan-dipun-punggel","lan-dipun-tugel","lan-dipunpunggel","lan-dipuntigas","mila-dipun-sirnakaken"]·KO["그리고-끊겨질-것이다","그리고-끊어지리라","그리고-끊어질-것이다","끊어지겠다","끊어지다"]·PT["e-será-cortada","e-será-cortado","e-serão-cortadas","será-cortado"]·RU["будет-отсечён","и-будет-истреблена","и-истребится","и-истребятся"]·ES["será-cortado","te-faltará","y-será-cortada","y-será-cortado","y-serán-cortadas"]·SW["atakatiliwa-mbali","kukatwa","na-atakatiliwa","na-atakatiliwa-mbali","na-itakatiliwa-mbali","na-watakatiliwa-mbali"]·TR["kesilecek","ve-kesilecek"]·urd["-کاٹا-جائے-گا","اور-کاٹ-دی-جائیں","اور-کاٹ-دی-جائے","اور-کاٹ-دی-جائے-گی","اور-کاٹ-دیا-جائے","اور-کاٹ-دیا-جائے-گی","اور-کاٹ-دیا-جائےگا","اور-کاٹا-جائے","اور-کاٹا-جائے-گا","اور-کاٹی-جائے","اور-کاٹی-جائے-گی"]
Gen 17:14, Exod 12:15, Exod 12:19, Exod 30:33, Exod 30:38, Exod 31:14, Lev 7:20, Lev 7:21, Lev 7:25, Lev 7:27, Lev 17:4, Lev 17:9 (+38 more)
▼ 4 more senses below
Senses
1. cut a covenant / make a pact — The covenant idiom: to 'cut' (karat) a covenant, treaty, or agreement. With 97 occurrences, this is the single most frequent use of the verb, reflecting the centrality of covenant in biblical theology. Genesis 15:18 ('on that day the LORD cut a covenant with Abram') is the paradigmatic instance, where the literal cutting of animals (Gen 15:10,17) gives rise to the idiom. Exodus 24:8 and 34:27 extend it to the Sinai covenant. Hindi 'bandha' (to bind) and Korean 'gyeyak-eul maekda' (to tie a covenant) show that target languages interpret the idiom's meaning rather than its etymology, while French 'couper' preserves the cutting metaphor. 97×
AR["فَقَطَعَ","قَطَعَ","قَطَعَهُ","وَ-قَطَعَ","وَقَطَعَ"]·ben["আর-করল","আর-করলেন","আর-কেটে-ফেললেন","এবং-করলেন","ও-কেটে-দিলেন","ও-স্থাপন-করলেন","করলেন-নিয়ম","করেছিলেন","কাটলেন","তিনি-করেছিলেন","তিনি-কাটলেন","স্থাপন-করলেন","স্থাপন-করেছিলেন","স্থাপন-করেছেন"]·DE["Er-schnitt","abschneiden","er-schnitt","schloss","schneiden","schnitt","und-abschneiden"]·EN["He-cut","and-cut","and-cut-down","and-he-made","cut","he-cut","made"]·FR["Il-couper","coupa","couper","et-retrancher","il-coupa","il-couper","retrancher"]·heb["ו-יכרת","כרת"]·HI["और-उसने-बाँधी","और-काटा","और-बाँधा","और-बाँधी","काटा","बनधि","बाँधा","बाँधा-है","बाँधी","बांधी"]·ID["Dan-mengadakan","Dia-buat","Dia-potong","Ia-ikat","Ia-mengadakan","dan-membuat","dan-memotong","dan-menebang","dan-mengikat","diadakan","diikat","membuat","membuat-perjanjian","memotong","mengadakan-perjanjian"]·IT["Egli-tagliare","cut","e-tagliare","egli-tagliare","egli-tagliò","tagliare","tagliò"]·jav["Lan-ndamel","Yéhuwah-sampun-damel","damel","damel-prejanjian","dipun-damel","dipundamel","dipundamel-prajanjian","lan-damel-prajanjian","lan-ndamel","lan-nukaki","lan-nyethak","ndamel","nganakaken"]·KO["그리고-그가-세웠다","그리고-그가-쪼었다","그리고-맺었다","그리고-잘랐다","맺었다","맺으셨다","맺으셨던","맺은","세우셨다","세우셨던","세웠다"]·PT["E-cortou","cortou","e-cortou"]·RU["заключил","и-заключил","и-обрезал","и-срубил"]·ES["Y-cortó","cortó","hizo","hizo-pacto","pactó","y-cortó"]·SW["Na-akafanya","alifanya","alifanya-agano","amefanya","na-akafanya","na-akaikata","na-akakata","pamoja-na"]·TR["Ve-kesti","kesti","ve-kesti","yaptı"]·urd["اور-باندھا","اور-کاٹا","اور-کاٹے","اُس-نے-باندھا","باندھا"]
2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) — Hifil causative: to cause to be cut off, meaning to destroy, exterminate, or eliminate by divine or royal authority. The 81 Hifil occurrences carry the most severe theological weight — God actively cutting off idolaters (Lev 20:3,5,6), false worship (Lev 26:30), and entire nations. Arabic 'abada' (annihilate) and 'afna' (exterminate) capture the intensified agency of the causative stem. The Hifil marks divine or sovereign initiative in destruction, distinguishing it from the Niphal passive and the Qal covenant sense. 81×
AR["فَأَقْطَعُ","وَ-أَقْطَعُ","وَأَقْطَعُ"]·ben["আর-আমি-উচ্ছেদ-করব","আর-উচ্ছেদ-করব","এবং-আমি-উচ্ছেদ-করব","এবং-উচ্ছিন্ন-করব","এবং-উচ্ছেদ-করব","এবং-উচ্ছেদ-করব-আমি","এবং-নির্মূল-করব","এবং-বিচ্ছিন্ন-করব","ও-আমি-উচ্ছেদ-করব"]·DE["und-abschneiden","und-ich-wird-schnitt-ab","und-schnitt-ab"]·EN["and-I-cut-off","and-I-will-cut-off"]·FR["et-je-fera-coupa-au-loin","et-retrancher"]·heb["ו-היכרתי","ו-הכרתי","וְ-הִכְרַתִּי"]·HI["और-काट-डालूँगा","और-काट-डालूंगा","और-काट-दूँगा-मैं","और-काट-दूंगा","और-मैं-काट-डालूंगा","तो-काट-डालूँगा","मारे-हुओं","वहिख्रत्ती"]·ID["Dan-Aku-akan-melenyapkan","dan-Aku-akan-melenyapkan","dan-Aku-melenyapkan","maka-Aku-akan-melenyapkan"]·IT["e-io-vorrà-tagliò-via","e-tagliare"]·jav["lan-Aku-badhé-ngirat","lan-Aku-badh鱮umpes","lan-Ingsun-ngiris","lan-Kawula-badhe-ngirès","lan-Kawula-badhe-ngundhat","lan-Kawula-badhé-ngiris","lan-Kawula-badhé-nyirnakaken","lan-Kawula-numpes","lan-Kula-badhé-ngirat","lan-Kula-badhé-ngèlèk","lan-badhé-ngiris","lan-kawula-badhé-ngilangi","lan-kawula-badhé-nugel"]·KO["그리고-끊겠다","그리고-끊어리리라","그리고-끊으리라","그리고-끊을-것이다-내가","그리고-내가-끊으리라","끊으리라"]·PT["E-cortarei","e-cortarei"]·RU["И-истреблю","и-истреблю","и-отсеку","и-отсеку-Я","из-ножен-его"]·ES["Y-cortaré","y-cortaré"]·SW["Na-nitamkatilia-mbali","na-nitakatilia-mbali","na-nitamkatilia-mbali","na-nitawakatilia-mbali"]·TR["Ve-yok-edeceğim","ve-kesecegim","ve-keseceğim","ve-keserim","ve-kesersem","ve-yok-edeceğim"]·urd["اور-میں-کاٹ-ڈالوں-گا","اور-کاٹ-دوں-گا","اور-کاٹ-دوں-گا-میں","اور-کاٹ-ڈالوں","اور-کاٹ-ڈالوں-گا","اور-کاٹ-ڈالوں-گا-میں"]
Lev 17:10, Lev 20:3, Lev 20:5, Lev 20:6, Lev 26:30, Deut 12:29, Deut 19:1, 1 Sam 20:15, 1 Sam 24:21, 1 Kgs 9:7, 1 Kgs 14:10, 1 Kgs 21:21 (+38 more)
4. cut / cut down physically — Qal literal: to physically cut, fell, or chop down trees, branches, or material objects. The 35 occurrences include felling Asherah poles (Exod 34:13), cutting a grape cluster (Num 13:23-24), cutting trees for siege works (Deut 20:19-20), and the prohibition against castration (Lev 22:24). Hindi 'kaata,' Swahili '-kata,' Arabic 'qataa,' and Korean 'jallada/beoda' all use basic physical cutting verbs, confirming the concrete, non-idiomatic sense. This is the etymological base from which the covenant and judgment senses derive. 35×
AR["اقْطَعْ","الْقَاطِعُ","بِقَطعي","تَقْطَعُ","فَـ-قَطَعُوا","فَقَطَعَهُ","فَقَطَعُوا","قَطَعَ","قَطَعُوهُ","لِـ-يَقْطَعَ-","لِيَقْطَعَ-","وَ-أَقْطَعُ","وَ-قَطَعَ","وَ-قَطَعَ-","وَ-يَقْطَعُوا-","وَأَقْطَعُ","وَقَطَعَ"]·ben["-কাটুরে","আমার-কাটার-দ্বারা","আর-কেটে-ফেলল-তাকে","এবং-কাটল","এবং-কাটলেন","এবং-কেটে-দিলেন","এবং-কেটে-ফেলব","এবং-কেটে-ফেলল","এবং-কেটে-ফেললেন","এবং-তারা-কাটল","ও-আমি-কাটব","ও-কাটবে","কাটতে-","জানে","তারা-কেটেছে","তুমি-কাটবে","সে-কেটেছিল","সে-কেটেছে"]·DE["abschneiden","der-schnitt-ab","du-soll-schnitt-hinab","er-schnitt","er-schnitt-hinab","in-mein-schneidend","und-abschneiden","und-er-schnitt-hinab","und-ich-wird-schnitt-hinab","und-lass-ihnen-schnitt","und-schnitt","und-schnitt-ab","und-schnitt-hinab","und-sie-schnitt-ab","zu-schnitt","zu-schnitt-ab"]·EN["To-cut-down","and-I-cut-down","and-I-will-cut-down","and-cut","and-cut-down","and-cut-it-down","and-cut-off","and-he-cut-down","and-let-them-cut","and-they-cut-off","he-cut","he-cut-down","in-my-cutting","the-cutter","they-cut","to-cut","you-shall-cut-down"]·FR["dans-mon-coupant","et-coupa-au-loin","et-coupa-en-bas","et-couper","et-il-coupa-en-bas","et-ils-coupa-au-loin","et-je-fera-coupa-en-bas","et-que-eux-coupa","et-retrancher","il-coupa","il-couper-en-bas","retrancher","tu-devra-couper-en-bas","à-coupa"]·heb["ב-כרת-י","ה-כורת","ו-אכרות","ו-יכרות","ו-יכרתו","ו-יכרתוהו","ו-כרת","ו-כרתו","כרת","כרתו","ל-כרות","ל-כרות-","תיכרות","תכרות"]·HI["उसने-काटा","और-कअतअ-","और-काट-डाला","और-काट-डाला-उसे","और-काट-दिया","और-काटा","और-काटूँगा","और-काटें","और-मैं-काटूँगा","काट","काटने-के-लिए-","काटने-को","काटने-में-मेरे","काटने-वाला","काटा","काटा-उन्होंने","काटेगा","काटेगा-तू"]·ID["-penebang","Dan-menebanglah","Untuk-menebang-","dan-aku-akan-menebang","dan-aku-menebang","dan-biarlah-mereka-menebang-","dan-ia-menebang","dan-memotong","dan-menebang","dan-mereka-memotong","dia-memotong","kamu-tebang","ketika-aku-memotong","menebang-","mereka-potong","tebanglah","telah-menebang"]·IT["a-taglio","a-tagliò","e-egli-tagliò-giù","e-essi-tagliò-via","e-io-vorrà-tagliò-giù","e-lascia-loro-tagliò","e-tagliare","e-tagliò-giù","e-tagliò-via","egli-tagliare-giù","egli-tagliò","il-taglio","in-mio-tagliando","tagliare","tu-dovere-tagliare-giù","tu-dovra-tagliare-giu"]·jav["Kanggé-nebang-","Lan-negor","Libanon","ingkang-negor","lan-kula-negor","lan-mugi-negor","lan-negor","lan-ngiris","lan-nugel-","lan-piyambakipun-nebèngi","nalika-kawula-nugel","negor","panjenengan-negor","panjenengan-tegor","piyambakipun-sampun-nugel","piyambakipun-sigar","tegor"]·KO["그가-찍었다","그들이-갈랐던","그리고-베었다","그리고-베었다-그것을","그리고-자르게-하라","그리고-잘라냈다","그리고-잘랐다","그리고-잘랐다-","내가-찍겠다","네가-찍을","베기-위하여-","베는-자가","베리라","에-잘랑을-때","자르기를","잘랐다","쳠라","켼다"]·PT["E-cortaram","E-cortaram-o","E-cortarei","cortar-","cortaram","cortarás","cortou","e-cortaram","e-cortarei","e-cortarão-","e-cortou","e-cortou-","o-cortador","para-cortar-","quando-cortei"]·RU["И-срубили","дровосек","и-нарубят-","и-отрубили","и-отсек-","и-срубил","и-срубили-его","и-срублю","когда-отрезал-я","отрезал","рассекли","рубить","рубить-","срубай","сруби","срубил","срубишь"]·ES["Y-cortaron","Y-lo-cortaron","al-cortar-yo","cortar","cortar-","cortaron","cortarás","cortó","el-cortador","talarás","y-cortaron","y-cortaré","y-corten-","y-cortó","y-cortó-"]·SW["Kukata","Na-waliukata","alikata","amekata","dhidi-yetu","kukata","mkate","na-akakata","na-nikatema","na-nitakata","na-wakakata","na-wanikatie","nilipokata","uikate","utaikata","walikata"]·TR["-kestiğimde","Kesmek-icin-","keseceksin","kesmeyi","kesti","kestiler","oduncu","sunağını","ve-kesecegim","ve-keserim","ve-kessinler","ve-kesti","ve-kesti-","ve-kestiler","ve-kestiler-onu","yaptı"]·urd["اور-میں-کاٹوں-گا","اور-کاٹ-دیا","اور-کاٹ-دیا-اُسے","اور-کاٹ-ڈالا","اور-کاٹا","اور-کاٹوں-گا-میں","اور-کاٹیں","اور-کاٹے","تُو-کاٹے","کاٹ","کاٹا","کاٹا-اُس-نے","کاٹنا","کاٹنے-میں-میرے","کاٹنے-والا","کاٹنے-کے-لیے-","کاٹے-گا-تو"]
Exod 34:13, Lev 22:24, Num 13:23, Num 13:24, Deut 20:19, Deut 20:20, Deut 23:1, Judg 6:25, Judg 6:26, Judg 6:30, Judg 9:49, 1 Sam 17:51 (+23 more)
5. be cut off (Hofal / Qal passive) — Hofal causative passive and Qal passive: to have been cut off or cut down, emphasizing the completed state of severance or destruction. Only 3 occurrences — Judges 6:28 (the Asherah 'had been cut down'), Ezekiel 16:4 ('your navel cord was not cut'), and Joel 1:9 ('the grain offering is cut off from the house of the LORD'). Arabic 'inqataat' (Form VII perfect) and 'maqtuua' (passive participle) reflect the resultative, accomplished-state reading. These rare forms round out the full conjugational range of karat. 3×
AR["اِنْقَطَعَتِ","تُقْطَعْ","مَقْطوعَةٌ"]·ben["কাটা-হয়েছে","কাটা-হল","ছিন্ন-হয়েছে"]·DE["abschneiden","der-schnitt-ab","war-schnitt-hinab"]·EN["is-cut-off","was-cut","was-cut-down"]·FR["il-a-retranché","le-il-a-retranché","était-couper-en-bas"]·heb["הוכרתה","כורתה","כרת"]·HI["काट-दिया-गया","काटा-गया","काटी-गई"]·ID["Terputus","dipotong","tertebanglah"]·IT["fu-tagliare-giù","tagliare"]·jav["dipun-keroki","dipun-tegor","dipunpedhot"]·KO["끊어졌다","끊어졌으니라","켐다"]·PT["Foi-cortada","cortada","foi-cortado"]·RU["Отрезано","обрезана","срублена"]·ES["Fue-cortada","cortada","fue-cortado"]·SW["Imekatwa","imekatwa","katwa"]·TR["kesildi","nasıl-ki"]·urd["کاٹ-دی-گئی","کاٹی-گئی","کاٹی-گئی-تھی"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)H7665 1. Qal: break, shatter (50×)H8628 1. blow a trumpet/horn (49×)H3615 2. consume, destroy (Piel) (47×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† כָּרַת291 vb. cut off, cut down (NH id.; Assyrian karâtu, ii. hew off Dl HWB 357);— Qal Pf. כ׳ Gn 15:18 + 19 times; 2 ms. כָּרָ֑תָּ Dt 20:20; 1 s. כָּרַתִּי Ex 34:27 + 15 times; + 8 times Pf.; Impf. יִכְרֹת Jb 40:28 + 21 times; 2 ms. תִּכְרָת־ Is 57:8; 1 s. אֶכְרוֹת Is 61:8; 1 S 11:2; אֶכְרְתָה Is 55:3; 3 mpl. יִכְרֹ֑תוּ Ho 12:2 ψ 83:6; 1 pl. נִכְרְתָה Gn 26:28; 31:44; sf. נִכְרְתֶנּוּ Je…