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מַאֲכֶלֶת

𐤌𐤀𐤊𐤋𐤕

maʼăkeleth

H3979 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אכל to eat, consume, devour

Definition

A knife, particularly an implement used for slaughtering or sacrificial purposes. While literally denoting a cutting tool, the term is contextually associated with ritual slaughter or the preparation of food, rather than being a generic word for all knives.

Semantic Range

knife (especially for slaughter or sacrifice); tool for cutting during food preparation or ritual consumption; not a general-purpose knife

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root אָכַל (ʾ-k-l), meaning 'to eat' or 'consume'. The formation מַאֲכֶלֶת is a feminine noun likely derived through a tool- or instrument-forming pattern, i.e., 'instrument for eating' or 'associated with eating/consumption'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term מַאֲכֶלֶת appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 22:6, 10), both in the narrative of the binding of Isaac, describing the knife Abraham intended to use for the sacrificial act. This specificity suggests the word does not refer to common eating implements but rather to a knife with ritual, sacrificial, or slaughtering functions. Later Hebrew uses different terms for general knives (e.g., סכין). The emphasis on its relation to 'eating' in the root Affirms the knife's association with food preparation or animal slaughter for food. In English translation, 'knife' is accurate; however, the underlying nuance of ritual or sacrificial usage is less apparent in English renderings. There is no evidence for the later term 'sacrifice knife' used in Second Temple or rabbinic literature to be retrojected into this context, but the biblical usage is consistent with ritual slaughter. The English term 'knife' captures the tool but not the sacrificial context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָכַל; something to eat with,i.e. a knife; knife.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

אכל (ʾ-k-l) — to eat, consume, devour

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H396 אֲכִילָה the edible provision
H3978 מַאֲכָל for food
H398 אָכַל to eat
H3980 מַאֲכֹלֶת like an eating-implement of
H399 אֲכַל they ate

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3979-01 הַֽ/מַּאֲכֶ֑לֶת hamaakhelet HTd/Ncfsa the knife the slaughter-knife 3
H3979-02 וּֽ/מַאֲכָל֪וֹת umaakhalot HC/Ncfpa and whose molars and slaughter-knives 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3979-01 Genesis 22:6 הַֽ/מַּאֲכֶ֑לֶת hamaakhelet HTd/Ncfsa the knife the slaughter-knife
H3979-01 Genesis 22:10 הַֽ/מַּאֲכֶ֑לֶת hamaakhelet HTd/Ncfsa the knife the slaughter-knife
H3979-01 Judges 19:29 הַֽ/מַּאֲכֶ֨לֶת֙ hamaakhelet HTd/Ncfsa the knife the slaughter-knife
H3979-02 Proverbs 30:14 וּֽ/מַאֲכָל֪וֹת umaakhalot HC/Ncfpa and whose molars and slaughter-knives
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