מַעֲצָד
𐤌𐤏𐤑𐤃
maʻătsâd
H4621 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A tool used for cutting, particularly an axe or adze, but also a kind of implement or instrument, possibly including tongs, as indicated by context. Primarily refers to a wood- or stone-cutting implement in passages where tree felling or shaping of wood is described. In other texts, may refer to a metalworking implement.
Semantic Range
axe, adze, hewing tool, woodworking implement, stonecutting tool, metalworking tongs
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root עצד (ʿṣd), though this root is not directly attested in Biblical Hebrew. The root is presumed to carry the core idea of 'hewing' or 'cutting.' The form מַעֲצָד appears to be a nominal pattern indicating an instrument associated with this action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מַעֲצָד appears in contexts involving skilled labor, particularly in the construction of the Temple (1 Kings 6:7), where it refers to a tool for shaping stones. In Isaiah 44:12, where it is sometimes translated 'tongs,' the context is metalworking. Most modern lexicographers prefer 'adze' or 'axe' for passages related to woodworking or stone cutting. The precise identification of the tool remains debated, as ancient Hebrew had a limited technical vocabulary for tools, and some words generalized different kinds of implements. The later rabbinic tradition occasionally applies the term to metalworking tongs, likely by analogy. Standard English translations often use 'axe,' 'adze,' or 'tongs' depending on the context, but this may obscure the overlap in ancient tool usage. The term is not directly related to the common Hebrew word for axe (גַּרְזֶן, garzen), suggesting a more specialized or technical implement.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to hew; an axe; ax, tongs.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עצד (ʿ-ṣ-d) — to hew, to cut, to chop
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4621-02 |
מַֽעֲצָ֔ד | maatsad | HNcmsa |
a-tool | hewing tool | 1 |
H4621-01 |
בַּֽ/מַּעֲצָֽד | bamaatsad | HRd/Ncmsa |
with the axe | hewing tool | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4621-02 |
Isaiah 44:12 | מַֽעֲצָ֔ד | maatsad | HNcmsa |
a-tool | hewing tool |
H4621-01 |
Jeremiah 10:3 | בַּֽ/מַּעֲצָֽד | bamaatsad | HRd/Ncmsa |
with the axe | hewing tool |