כֵּילַף
𐤊𐤉𐤋𐤐
kêylaph
H3597 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Heavy tool or instrument used for striking, breaking, or pounding, especially in processes requiring significant force such as construction or demolition. The term primarily denotes a hammer, mallet, or club-like implement, generally made of metal or hard wood and utilized to deliver powerful blows. In most contexts, it refers to a substantial hammer used for working metal or stone.
Semantic Range
hammer, sledge-hammer, mallet, heavy club, striking tool
Root / Etymology
From root כ-ל-ף (the root is otherwise unused in Hebrew, etymology uncertain). The form and context suggest derivation from a root related to striking, smiting, or producing noise by impact—possibly analogous to roots in Semitic languages denoting strong, percussive action. The actual lexeme כֵּילַף, however, occurs only in the noun sense and not as a verb in the Hebrew Bible.
Historical & Contextual Notes
כֵּילַף appears in only one passage in the Hebrew Bible (Isaiah 41:7), in a context describing the metalworker and craftsman's activities: 'The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer (כֵּילַף) him who strikes the anvil.' Here, the כֵּילַף is depicted as a heavy hammering tool employed by the artisan. The usage belongs to a context of metalworking and idol manufacture during the monarchic or exilic periods, consistent with craft traditions of the ancient Near East. The term does not refer to a ritual implement, nor to weapons (for which other Hebrew terms such as מַקֵּל or מַפֵּץ are used). English translations (e.g., hammer, sledge, mallet) capture the basic sense but do not always convey the technical specificity or the association with skilled labor. The semantic range is not broad, as the word is hapax legomenon (used only once in the Hebrew Bible), and so contextual nuance is derived mainly from the single passage and by analogy with surrounding lexicon and ancient Near Eastern parallels.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to clap or strike with noise; a club or sledge-hammer; hammer.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כלף (k-l-p̄) — to strike, to beat, percussive impact
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3597-01 |
וְ֝/כֵֽילַפֹּ֗ת | vekheylapot | HC/Ncfpa |
and hammers | heavy hammers | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3597-01 |
Psalms 74:6 | וְ֝/כֵֽילַפֹּ֗ת | vekheylapot | HC/Ncfpa |
and hammers | heavy hammers |