Bible Dictionary
Jaw-bone
The jaw-bone of a donkey became Samson’s weapon when he defeated a thousand Philistines. The associated place, Lehi, may have been named for its jaw-like shape.
Definition
A jaw-bone is the bone of the jaw. In the biblical account, the jaw-bone of a donkey served Samson as a weapon against the Philistines.
Biblical Usage
Samson used a donkey’s jaw-bone to kill a thousand Philistines. The associated passage says that God opened the hollow place in Lehi, rather than a hollow place in the bone itself.
Historical Background
Lehi was the name of the hill where the conflict occurred and may have received its name because its shape resembled a jaw-bone.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Of an ass afforded Samson a weapon for the great slaughter of the Philistines (Judg. 15:15), in which he slew a thousand men. In verse 19 the Authorized Version reads, “God clave a hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout.” This is a mis-translation of the words. The rendering should be as in the Revised Version, “God clave the hollow place that is in Lehi,” etc., Lehi (q.v.) being the name of the hill where this conflict was waged, possibly so called because it was in shape like a jaw-bone.