ba.tsa denotes cutting off or bringing something to an end, and in several verses pursuing or gaining profit.

The occurrences most often place the verb in clauses about a person pursuing gain or profit; other contexts show an ending or removal, while a smaller group concerns carrying out or completing what has been undertaken. The translation’s the verse is read as a whole, so the precise English contribution is clearest only in some clauses.

1. Pursuing or gaining profit · dominant

   Qal active participles occur in descriptions of people associated with unjust gain: in Jeremiah 6:13 the APB renders the clause "all of them pursue unjust gain," and in Jeremiah 8:10 it says that everyone is "greedy for unjust gain." Ezekiel 22:27 uses a Qal infinitive construct in a clause about rulers destroying lives "to gain dishonest profit," while Habakkuk 2:9 speaks of one who "gains evil profit for his house."

   Jeremiah 6:13Jeremiah 8:10Proverbs 1:19Proverbs 15:27Psalm 10:3Ezekiel 22:27
2. Cutting off or bringing to an end · common

   The imperative in Amos 9:1 stands in the command rendered "cut them off at the head of them all." In Isaiah 38:12 and Job 6:9, Piel imperfect forms occur where the APB renders "he cuts me off" and "cut me off"; Job 27:8 likewise places a Qal imperfect in the question about God taking away the profane person's soul.

   Amos 9:1Ezekiel 22:12Isaiah 38:12Job 27:8Job 6:9Joel 2:8
3. Carrying out or completing an undertaking · occasional

   Piel forms occur in statements of an action being brought through: Lamentations 2:17 says that the LORD "has carried out what he planned," and Zechariah 4:9 says that Zerubbabel's hands "will complete" the house. Isaiah 10:12 similarly places the imperfect in the statement that the Lord has finished his work before calling the king of Assyria to account.

   Isaiah 10:12Lamentations 2:17Zechariah 4:9

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the supplied verses, the APB variously presents the relevant clauses with "cut them off," "cut me off," gain-language, and completion-language such as "has carried out" and "will complete." Because the APB translates whole verses rather than aligning each word, these renderings indicate clause-level contexts rather than fixed translations.