מַחֲרֶשֶׁת
𐤌𐤇𐤓𐤔𐤕
machăresheth
H4282 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A tool or implement used for working the soil, specifically a plow or plowshare (the cutting or slicing blade of a plow). In most contexts, refers to the iron blade or main metal part of ancient plows, an essential instrument in agricultural society for tilling and turning the ground in preparation for planting.
Semantic Range
plowshare (metal blade), plow (as implement), blade of a plow, agricultural soil-cutting tool
Root / Etymology
From the root חרש (ḥ-r-sh), meaning 'to plow, to engrave, to cut.' The noun מַחֲרֶשֶׁת (machăresheth) is a derivative indicating an instrument or tool used for plowing or engraving—here specifically the plow or plowshare. Derived by suffixation from the root verb.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the biblical period, מַחֲרֶשֶׁת refers specifically to the metal implement fixed to a wooden plow, as evidenced in contexts such as 1 Samuel 13:20-21, where Israelites are described as sharpening their agricultural tools, including the machăresheth. The word is relatively rare, and its meaning is best understood against the backdrop of Iron Age agricultural practices. Some English translations use 'plowshare' or simply 'plow,' but these may miss the specific reference to the cutting blade rather than the entire wooden plow structure. The term carries no religious or cultic connotation and is strictly practical/agricultural. Later translations, including the KJV, sometimes introduce anachronistic or overly general terms like 'share' or 'hoe,' but the Hebrew context implies a more specific instrument essential to crop cultivation in Ancient Israelite society. Compared to other terms for agricultural tools (e.g., אֵת 'spade/hoe'), מַחֲרֶשֶׁת remains specialized. Use persisted into the post-exilic period, though the noun itself is not common outside biblical texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָרַשׁ; probably a hoe; share.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חרש (ḥ-r-sh) — to plow, engrave, cut
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2758 | חָרִישׁ | ploughing season |
| H2759 | חֲרִישִׁי | sultry-still |
| H2776 | חֶרֶס | pottery shard |
| H2789 | חֶרֶשׂ | her pottery-shards |
| H2790 | חָרַשׁ | I will silence |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4282-01 |
מַחֲרַשְׁתּ֤/וֹ | macharasheto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his plowshare | his plow-blade | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4282-01 |
1 Samuel 13:20 | מַחֲרַשְׁתּ֤/וֹ | macharasheto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his plowshare | his plow-blade |