פֵּיָה
an edge
Definition
The Hebrew noun פֵּיָה (pêyâh) refers to an 'edge' or 'side', specifically denoting the sharpened border of a blade or weapon. It appears in the feminine form, derived from the more common word for 'mouth' (פֶּה, peh), which can also metaphorically mean 'edge' as in the 'mouth' of a sword. In its sole biblical occurrence, Judges 3:16, it describes the double-edged nature of Ehud's dagger, emphasizing its lethal cutting capacity on both sides. The word conveys the idea of a defined, sharp boundary designed for a specific, often violent, purpose.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Judges 3:16, where it modifies the word for 'sword' or 'dagger' (גַּלְד, gomed). The phrase 'a sword of two פֵּיָה' (חֶרֶב שְׁתֵּי־פֵיוֹת) explicitly describes the weapon crafted by Ehud for his assassination of King Eglon. Its usage is strictly martial, highlighting a key physical characteristic of a concealed weapon central to the narrative's plot.
Etymology
פֵּיָה is the feminine form of פֶּה (peh, H6310), meaning 'mouth'. This derivation reflects a common Semitic metaphor where the cutting edge of a tool or weapon is likened to a mouth. The word likely developed from the concept of an opening or an instrument's 'speaking' part (i.e., the part that does the work). The variant spelling פִּיָּה (piyyah) points to the same root and meaning.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a technical descriptor, its single use in Judges 3:16 is theologically significant within the narrative of God's deliverance. The 'double-edged' dagger is the instrument of God's judgment against the oppressive Moabite king, executed through the left-handed judge Ehud. This detail underscores the theme of God using unexpected means and flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes of liberation for Israel, adding a layer of divine irony and precision to the story.
In the ancient Near East, a double-edged sword or dagger was a superior and less common weapon compared to single-edged blades, often associated with skilled warriors or specific ceremonial uses. For Ehud to craft such a weapon secretly indicates planning and signifies a tool designed for a swift, fatal thrust from close quarters, which fits the story of a clandestine assassination in the king's private upper room.
פֶּה (peh, H6310) — The root word meaning 'mouth', often used metaphorically for the edge of a sword (e.g., Joshua 6:21). לַהַב (lahav, H3851) — A 'blade' or 'flame', focusing more on the sharp, flashing part of a weapon rather than its border. שָׂפָה (saphah, H8193) — 'Lip' or 'edge', used for the shore of a sea or the bank of a river, sharing the metaphorical sense of a boundary.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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