מַקֶּבֶת

properly, a perforator, i.e. a hammer (as piercing); also (intransitively) a perforation, i.e. a quarry

Definition

The Hebrew noun מַקֶּבֶת (maqqebeth) primarily means 'a hammer' or 'a perforator,' referring to a tool used for piercing or driving something in, like a tent peg. In Judges 4:21, it describes the hammer Jael used to drive a tent peg into Sisera's temple. A secondary, derived meaning is 'a quarry' or 'a hole,' as seen in Isaiah 51:1, where God calls Israel to 'look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.' This sense metaphorically extends the idea of a tool that cuts or perforates stone to the source place of that activity.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, each time with a distinct sense. In Judges 4:21, it is used literally for the 'hammer' in the dramatic story of Jael's defeat of the Canaanite commander Sisera. In Isaiah 51:1, it is used metaphorically as 'quarry' in a prophetic call to remember Israel's origins in God's creative, formative work, like stone hewn from a rock.

Etymology

Derived from the root נָקַב (nāqab, H5344), meaning 'to pierce, bore, or designate.' This root gives מַקֶּבֶת its core sense of a perforating instrument. The noun form specifically denotes the tool that performs the action of the verb, hence 'perforator' or 'hammer.'

Semantic Range

Though a simple tool, its use in Isaiah 51:1 elevates it theologically. The 'quarry' imagery is central to understanding Israel's identity as a people shaped and called by God. It reminds believers that their spiritual foundation is not self-made but is hewn from the 'rock' of God's faithfulness and promises. Understanding this Hebrew word enriches the metaphor, connecting the physical act of extraction with God's formative, sovereign work in history.

In ancient Israel, a hammer was a vital tool for construction, metalwork, and driving tent pegs—a common item in a nomadic and agrarian society. The hammer in Judges 4:21 was likely a handheld stone or metal tool, making Jael's use of a domestic implement as a weapon particularly striking. A 'quarry' represented a source of valuable building material, and the imagery would resonate with an audience familiar with stone construction.

פַּטִּישׁ (paṭṭîš, H6360) — a heavier, smashing hammer or mallet, often for metalwork. כִּיּוֹר (kiyyôr, H3595) — a basin or laver; not a synonym but sometimes contextually related to hollowed stone. חָצֵב (ḥāṣēb, H2672) — a hewer or cutter of stone, referring to the worker, not the tool.

Word Details

Scripture References