חָטַב (H2404) — Hebrew Lexicon

חָטַב

𐤇𐤈𐤁

châṭab

H2404 verb

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "cut" 0 occurrences

“Cut” is the most natural, broadly applicable English verb that covers chopping, hewing, splitting, carving, and shaping wood (and occasionally stone). It is simple and contemporary (more natural than the somewhat archaic “hew”), yet precise enough to render the typical physical actions implied by חָטַב. Using “cut” allows consistent inflection for all forms (e.g., cutter, cut, cutting) across contexts while fitting the attested meanings in the SILEX range.

Alternatives (9 occurrences):

"hew wood" (2x) "cutters of wood" (2x) "woodcutter" (1x) "hewers of" (1x) "like wood-hewers" (1x) "polished" (1x) "wood-hewers" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

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

Bantu Hebrew

Language	Bantu Word	Meaning
Bemba	kata	to cut
Chichewa	kͻta	to cut
Herero	kata	to cut
Kikongo	kata	to cut
Kikongo	katuka	to cut

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Root Family

חטב (châṭab) — to chop, to hew, to cut (wood)

Root חטב 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	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H2404-01`	חֹטְבֵ֨י	chotevey	`HVqrmpc`	cutters	wood-hewers	cutters of wood	2
`H2404-02`	כְּ/חֹטְבֵ֖י	kechotevey	`HR/Vqrmpc`	like woodcutters	like wood-hewers	like wood-hewers	1
`H2404-03`	לַ/חְטֹ֣ב	lachetov	`HR/Vqc`	to cut	to hew wood	to hew wood	1
`H2404-04`	לַֽ/חֹטְבִ֣ים	lachotevim	`HRd/Vqrmpa`	to the cutters	to the wood-hewers	to the wood-hewers	1
`H2404-05`	מֵ/חֹטֵ֣ב	mechotev	`HR/Vqrmsc`	from a woodcutter	wood-chopper of	from a woodcutter	1
`H2404-06`	מְ֝חֻטָּב֗וֹת	mechutavot	`HVPsfpa`	polished	hewn	polished	1
`H2404-07`	וְ/חֹטְבֵ֥י	vechotevey	`HC/Vqrmpc`	hewers of	and hewers of	and hewers of	1
`H2404-08`	יַחְטְבוּ֙	yachetevu	`HVqi3mp`	they-will-cut	they will hew wood	they will hew wood	1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H2404-03`	Deuteronomy 19:5	לַ/חְטֹ֣ב	lachetov	`HR/Vqc`	to cut	to hew wood	to hew wood
`H2404-05`	Deuteronomy 29:10	מֵ/חֹטֵ֣ב	mechotev	`HR/Vqrmsc`	from a woodcutter	wood-chopper of	from a woodcutter
`H2404-01`	Joshua 9:21	חֹטְבֵ֨י	chotevey	`HVqrmpc`	hewers	wood-hewers	cutters of wood
`H2404-07`	Joshua 9:23	וְ/חֹטְבֵ֥י	vechotevey	`HC/Vqrmpc`	hewers of	and hewers of	and hewers of
`H2404-01`	Joshua 9:27	חֹטְבֵ֥י	chotevey	`HVqrmpc`	cutters	wood-hewers	cutters of wood
`H2404-02`	Jeremiah 46:22	כְּ/חֹטְבֵ֖י	kechotevey	`HR/Vqrmpc`	like woodcutters	like wood-hewers	like wood-hewers
`H2404-08`	Ezekiel 39:10	יַחְטְבוּ֙	yachetevu	`HVqi3mp`	they-will-cut	they will hew wood	they will hew wood
`H2404-06`	Psalms 144:12	מְ֝חֻטָּב֗וֹת	mechutavot	`HVPsfpa`	polished	hewn	polished
`H2404-04`	2 Chronicles 2:9	לַֽ/חֹטְבִ֣ים	lachotevim	`HRd/Vqrmpa`	to the cutters	to the wood-hewers	to the wood-hewers

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