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חָטַב

𐤇𐤈𐤁

châṭab

H2404 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חטב to chop, to hew, to cut (wood)

Definition

To chop, hew, or cut (especially wood), typically with a tool such as an axe; by extension, to shape or fashion objects out of wood or sometimes stone. The verb denotes physical action involving the severing, splitting, or carving of wood for construction, fuel, or ritual purposes. In rare contexts, the emphasis may extend to the finishing or smoothing of the surface (i.e., polishing).

Semantic Range

chop down trees, cut or split wood, hew timber, shape or carve wood, polish wood (rare), act as a woodcutter

Root / Etymology

Root ח-ט-ב (חָטַב), whose primary sense relates to chopping, cutting, or hewing, especially of wood. This verbal root yields nouns related to woodcutters or hewers. While the overarching root connotation is 'to cut' with emphasis on the use of tools and creating a new shape or surface, the verb's specific application in biblical Hebrew is primarily connected to wood and woody materials.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָטַב occurs primarily in the context of woodcutting or preparation of timber, an essential task in agrarian and early urban societies. It frequently appears in lists of menial or servile activities, as in the description of the Gibeonites (Josh 9:21–27), who were made 'hewers of wood and drawers of water' for the Israelite community and cult. The role of חוטב עצים ('woodcutter') carried a social connotation of labor associated with servitude or the lower strata of society. The verb is rarely used outside the context of wood (e.g., trees, timber), which distinguishes it from other roots for cutting, such as כרת, which can refer more generally to cutting off, making a covenant, or excising. English versions sometimes translate with general terms like 'hew' or 'cut down,' but the Hebrew root most consistently focuses on the concrete task of obtaining usable wood or shaping objects through hewing or chopping. In post-biblical Hebrew, the usage becomes more limited and concrete, retaining the original sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to chop or carve wood; cut down, hew(-er), polish.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חטב (ḥ-ṭ-b) — to chop, to hew, to cut wood

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2405 חֲטֻבָה carved objects of

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2404-01 חֹטְבֵ֨י chotevey HVqrmpc cutters wood-hewers 2
H2404-02 כְּ/חֹטְבֵ֖י kechotevey HR/Vqrmpc like woodcutters like wood-hewers 1
H2404-05 מֵ/חֹטֵ֣ב mechotev HR/Vqrmsc from a woodcutter wood-chopper of 1
H2404-06 מְ֝חֻטָּב֗וֹת mechutavot HVPsfpa polished hewn 1
H2404-04 לַֽ/חֹטְבִ֣ים lachotevim HRd/Vqrmpa to the cutters to the wood-hewers 1
H2404-07 וְ/חֹטְבֵ֥י vechotevey HC/Vqrmpc hewers of and hewers of 1
H2404-03 לַ/חְטֹ֣ב lachetov HR/Vqc to cut to hew wood 1
H2404-08 יַחְטְבוּ֙ yachetevu HVqi3mp they-will-cut they will hew wood 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2404-03 Deuteronomy 19:5 לַ/חְטֹ֣ב lachetov HR/Vqc to cut to hew wood
H2404-05 Deuteronomy 29:10 מֵ/חֹטֵ֣ב mechotev HR/Vqrmsc from a woodcutter wood-chopper of
H2404-01 Joshua 9:21 חֹטְבֵ֨י chotevey HVqrmpc hewers wood-hewers
H2404-07 Joshua 9:23 וְ/חֹטְבֵ֥י vechotevey HC/Vqrmpc hewers of and hewers of
H2404-01 Joshua 9:27 חֹטְבֵ֥י chotevey HVqrmpc cutters wood-hewers
H2404-02 Jeremiah 46:22 כְּ/חֹטְבֵ֖י kechotevey HR/Vqrmpc like woodcutters like wood-hewers
H2404-08 Ezekiel 39:10 יַחְטְבוּ֙ yachetevu HVqi3mp they-will-cut they will hew wood
H2404-06 Psalms 144:12 מְ֝חֻטָּב֗וֹת mechutavot HVPsfpa polished hewn
H2404-04 2 Chronicles 2:9 לַֽ/חֹטְבִ֣ים lachotevim HRd/Vqrmpa to the cutters to the wood-hewers
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