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מַחֲלָף

𐤌𐤇𐤋𐤐

machălâph

H4252 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חָלַף to pass, to change, to glide, to replace

Definition

A knife, especially used for ritual or sacrificial purposes. The term denotes a sharp implement designed for cutting, particularly in the context of processing animals, often for purposes of sacrifice or ritual slaughter.

Semantic Range

knife, sacrificial knife, razor, implement for cutting, cutting tool used for hair or animal processing

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חָלַף (ḥ-l-p), which primarily means 'to pass, change, replace, glide.' The noun מַחֲלָף is formed with the prefix מַ– (ma–) and the pattern indicating an instrument, denoting something that 'passes through' or 'glides through,' i.e., a cutting tool.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַחֲלָף occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Judges 16:9 in Samson and Delilah's story), and its meaning is best understood as a specialized knife, distinct from general-purpose knives or swords. The term likely refers to a tool used in particular for severing or cutting, such as the implements employed in the act of shearing or ritual slaughter. In Judges 16:9, it refers to a knife used for cutting Samson's hair, aligning with the notion of 'gliding through'—the root sense of חָלַף—rather than stabbing or hacking. Later Jewish tradition associates related terminology with ritual slaughter, but this specialized sense is not clearly evident in the biblical usage, though the function as a tool for precise, smooth cutting is consistent. English translations typically render it 'knife' or occasionally 'razor,' but the Hebrew term indicates a purpose-built, sharp cutting instrument—distinguishing it from general weapons or household blades.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָלַף; a (sacrificial) knife (as gliding through the flesh); knife.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חלף (ḥ-l-p) — to pass, to change, to glide, to replace

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2475 חֲלוֹף survivor
H2487 חֲלִיפָה my change
H2498 חָלַף he passed
H2499 חֲלַף they will pass on
H2500 חֵלֶף in place of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4252-01 מַחֲלָפִ֖ים machalafim HNcmpa duplicates sacrificial knives 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4252-01 Ezra 1:9 מַחֲלָפִ֖ים machalafim HNcmpa duplicates sacrificial knives
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