מָעֹט

מָעֹט

thinned (as to the edge), i.e. sharp

Definition

The Hebrew word מָעֹט (mâʻôṭ) is a passive adjective meaning 'made sharp' or 'thinned to an edge.' It describes something that has been finely honed or sharpened, specifically referring to the process of grinding down a blade to a keen edge. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 21:15, it is used metaphorically to describe a sword being sharpened for slaughter, emphasizing its lethal readiness. The term conveys a sense of purposeful preparation for a specific, often severe, action.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 21:15 (verse 20 in some English versions). It appears in a prophetic oracle of judgment against Jerusalem, where God describes a sharpened sword prepared for slaughter. The context is one of divine wrath and impending military destruction, where the sharpening of the sword symbolizes the finality and severity of the coming judgment.

Etymology

מָעֹט is the passive participle of the root verb מָעַט (mâʻaṭ, H4591), which fundamentally means 'to be or become small, few, or diminished.' From this root, the passive participle developed the specialized sense of something being 'made small' or 'thinned down' at its edge, hence 'sharpened.' This illustrates how a basic concept of reduction was applied to the craft of weapon-making.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, מָעֹט carries significant theological weight in its context. It vividly portrays God as the divine warrior who deliberately prepares instruments of judgment (Ezekiel 21:15). The sharpening is not random but a purposeful act preceding execution. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Ezekiel's prophecy by highlighting the intentionality and dreadful certainty of God's judicial actions against sin, moving the metaphor beyond a simple weapon to a symbol of ordained consequence. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the sharpening of swords and knives was a common, skilled task essential for warfare, hunting, and daily life. A 'sharpened' weapon was not merely functional but represented readiness, lethal efficiency, and often, the irreversible nature of the action it was about to perform. The metaphor would have been immediately and powerfully understood by Ezekiel's original audience, for whom a dull sword was useless and a sharp one was a tool of decisive action. חָדַד (ḥādad, H2300) — a more common verb meaning 'to be sharp' or 'to sharpen,' focusing on the state or action rather than the process of thinning. לָטַשׁ (lāṭash, H3913) — a verb meaning 'to sharpen' or 'to hammer,' often used for sharpening tools or weapons, emphasizing the forging or grinding action itself.

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