Bible Dictionary
Knife
A knife was used in Scripture for circumcision, slaughter, sacrifice, cutting food, writing, and pruning. Early knives were commonly made from flint, with bronze and iron used later.
Definition
A knife was a cutting instrument used for circumcision, slaughter, sacrifice, preparing food, sharpening pens, and pruning. Biblical terms include large slaughter knives, table knives, penknives, and sacrificial knives.
Biblical Usage
Knives appear in accounts of circumcision, the binding of Isaac, slaughtering animals and sacrifices, cutting food, sharpening a writer’s pen, and pruning. Stone knives were also used in religious ceremonies.
Historical Background
Early knives were commonly made from sharp stones, especially flint; bronze and iron were used later. Meat was generally cut before being served, and knives were not ordinarily used at meals.
Scripture References
Joshua 5:2
Joshua 5:3
Exodus 4:25
Ezekiel 5:1
Exodus 20:25
Ezekiel 26:9
Genesis 22:6
Genesis 22:10
Proverbs 30:14
Proverbs 23:2
Ezra 1:9
Jeremiah 36:26
Isaiah 18:5
Leviticus 7:33
Leviticus 7:34
Leviticus 8:15
Leviticus 8:20
Leviticus 8:25
Leviticus 9:13
Numbers 18:18
1 Samuel 9:24
Jeremiah 36:23
Numbers 6:5
Numbers 6:9
Numbers 6:19
1 Kings 18:28
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) Heb. hereb, “the waster,” a sharp instrument for circumcision (Josh. 5:2, 3, lit. “knives of flint;” comp. Ex. 4:25); a razor (Ezek. 5:1); a graving tool (Ex. 20:25); an axe (Ezek. 26:9). (2.) Heb. maakeleth, a large knife for slaughtering and cutting up food (Gen. 22:6, 10; Prov. 30:14). (3.) Heb. sakkin, a knife for any purpose, a table knife (Prov. 23:2). (4.) Heb. mahalaph, a butcher’s knife for slaughtering the victims offered in sacrifice (Ezra 1:9). (5.) Smaller knives (Heb. ta’ar, Jer. 36:26) were used for sharpening pens. The pruning-knives mentioned in Isa. 18:5 (Heb. mizmaroth) were probably curved knives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>nif:</p><p>(1) ma'akheleth, literally, an instrument for eating; but used of large knives for slaying animals, cutting up a carcass or a sacrificial victim (Ge 22:6,10; Jud 19:29; Pr 30:14).</p><p>(2) cherebh, rendered generally "sword," but in Jos 5:2,3 of stone knives for circumcision (compare Ex 4:25), probably of similar knives in 1Ki 18:28, used by Baal prophets in gashing themselves. In Eze 5:12 the King James Version, "knife," probably better the Revised Version (British and American), "sword."</p><p>(3) ta`ar, usually rendered "razor," in combination with ha-copher, "knife of the writer," or "penknife" (Jer 36:23).</p><p>(4) machalaphim, "slaughter-knives" (Ezr 1:9).</p><p>(5) sakkin, Aramaic, "knife" (Pr 23:2). Early knives were commonly made of sharp stones, especially of flint, later of bronze and iron. The-former remained in use in religious ceremonies long after the latter were in common use.</p><p>Knives were not generally used at meals, meats being cut into bits before served, and bread being. broken into fragments. Herod used a knife for paring apples, and attempted suicide with the instrument (Josephus, Ant, XVII, vii, 1; BJ, I, xxxiii, 7).</p><p>Edward Bagby Pollard</p>