Knife

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KNIFE.—Of the various sorts of knives noticed in the OT mention may be made of the flint knives used for the rite of circumcision (Jos_5:2 f., cf. Exo_4:25)—an instance of conservatism in ritual, to which parallels may be found in all religions. The knives for ordinary purposes under the monarchy were mostly of bronze, of which, as of the earlier flint knives, the recent excavations have furnished many varieties. We also read of sacrificial knives (Gen_22:6; Gen_22:10, Ezr_1:9), of ‘a barber’s knife’ or razor (Eze_5:1), and of a scribe’s knife (Jer_36:23 EV [Note: English Version.] ‘penknife,’), used for sharpening his reed-pen and making the necessary erasures. Cf. House, § 9.
A. R. S. Kennedy.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909

Originally of flakes of stone or flint, which was retained for sacred purposes as circumcision, even after the introduction of bronze, iron, and steel (Exo_4:25; Jos_5:2, margin). The Egyptians never used bronze or steel in preparing the mummies, stone being regarded as purer and more sacred. Used little at meals, but for slaughtering animals and cutting up carcass (Gen_22:6; Lev_7:33-34). Also by scribes for making and mending the reed pen (Jer_36:23, "penknife"; see also 1Ki_18:28). (See CIVILIZATION; JOSHUA.)
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
By Andrew Robert Fausset, co-Author of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's 1888.

Knife.
1. The knives of the Egyptians, and of other nations in early times, were probably only of hard stone, and the use of the flint or stone knife was sometimes retained for sacred purposes after the introduction of iron and steel.
2. In their meals, the Jews, like other Orientals, made little use of knives, but they were required both for slaughtering animals, either for food or sacrifice, and for cutting up the carcass. Lev_7:33-34; Lev_8:15; Lev_8:20; Lev_8:25; Lev_9:13; Num_18:18; 1Sa_9:24 etc.
3. Smaller knives were in use for paring fruit (Josephus) and for sharpening pens. Jer_36:23.
4. The razor was often used for Nazarite purposes, for which a special chamber was reserved in the Temple. Num_6:5; Num_6:9; Num_6:19; Eze_5:1, etc.
5. The pruning-hooks of Isa_18:5 were probably curved knives.
6. The lancets of the priests of Baal were doubtless pointed knives. 1Ki_18:28.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863

nı̄f: (1) מאכלת, ma'ăkheleth, literally, an instrument for eating; but used of large knives for slaying animals, cutting up a carcass or a sacrificial victim (Gen_22:6, Gen_22:10; Jdg_19:29; Pro_30:14). (2) חרב, ḥerebh, rendered generally ?sword,? but in Jos_5:2, Jos_5:3 of stone knives for circumcision (compare Exo_4:25), probably of similar knives in 1Ki_18:28, used by Baal prophets in gashing themselves. In Eze_5:12 the King James Version, ?knife,? probably better the Revised Version (British and American), ?sword.? (3) תּער, ta‛ar, usually rendered ?razor,? in combination with הסּפר, ha-ṣōphēr, ?knife of the writer,? or ?penknife? (Jer_36:23). (4) מחלפים, maḥălāphı̄m, ?slaughter-knives? (Ezr_1:9). (5) שׂכּין, sakkı̄n, Aramaic, ?knife? (Pro_23:2). Early knives were commonly made of sharp stones, especially of flint, later of bronze and iron. The-former remained in use in religious ceremonies long after the latter were in common use. Knives were not generally used at meals, meats being cut into bits before served, and bread being. broken into fragments. Herod used a knife for paring apples, and attempted suicide with the instrument (Josephus, Ant., XVII, vii, 1; BJ, I, xxxiii, 7).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.

Pro_23:2 (b) Type of self-restraint and the crucifixion of fleshly desires.
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types
press 1957.

Knife
is the representative in the Auth. Version of several Heb. terms: הֶרֶב(che'reb, from its laying waste), a sharp instrument, e.g. for circumcising (Jos_5:2-3) a razor (Eze_5:1); a graving-tool or chisel (Exo_20:25); an axe (Eze_26:9); poet. of the curved tusks of the hippopotamus (Job_40:19); elsewhere usually a "sword." מִאֲכֶלֶת(nzaake'leth, so called from its use in eating), a large knife for slaughtering and cutting up food (Gen_22:6; Gen_22:10; Jdg_19:29; Pro_30:14). שִׂכַּין(sakkin', so called from separating parts to the view), a knife for any purpose, perhaps a table-knife (Pro_23:2). מִחֲלָŠ(mnachalaph', so called from gliding through the flesh), a butcher's knife for slaughtering the victims in sacrifice (Ezr_1:9). SEE SWORD.
"The probable form of the knives of the Hebrews will be best gathered from a comparison of those of other ancient nations, both Eastern and Western, which have come down to us. No. 1 represents the Roman culter, used in sacrificing, which may be compared with No. 2, an Egyptian sacrificial knife. Nos. 3, 4, and 5 are also Egyptian knives, of which the most remarkable, No. 3, is from the Louvre collection; the others are from the Monumenti Reali of Rosellini. Nos. 6-9 are Roman, from Barthelemy. In No. 7 we have probably the form of the pruning-hook of the Jews (מזְמַרָה, Isa_18:5), though some rather assimilate this to the sickle (מִגָּל). It was probably with some such instrument as No. 9 that the priests of Baal cut themselves." SEE ARMOR. The knife used by the fisherman for splitting his fish (q.v.) was of a circular form, with a handle, as likewise that used by the currier for cutting leather (q.v.), only larger and heavier. In the British Museum various specimens of ancient Egyptian knives may be seen. There are some small knives, the blades of bronze, the handles composed of agate or hematite. There is likewise a species of bronze knife with lunated blade; also the blade of a knife composed of steatite, inscribed on one side with hieroglyphics. There is also an iron knife of a late period and peculiar construction: it consists of a broad cutting-blade, moving on a pivot at the end, and working in a groove by means of a handle. The following summary comparison of the Biblical instruments of cutlery with those used at various times in the East, as to materials and application, is well illustrated from the Egyptian monuments.
1. The knives of the Egyptians, and of other nations in early times, were probably only of hard stone, and the use of the flint or stone knife was sometimes retained for sacred purposes after the introduction of iron and steel (Pliny, Hist. Nat. 35:12, § 165). Herodotus (ii, 86) mentions knives both of iron and of stone in different stages of the same process of embalming (see Wilkinson, Anc. Egypt. ii, 163). The same may perhaps be said, to some extent, of the Hebrews (compare Exo_4:25).
2. In their meals the Jews, like other Orientals, made little use of knives, but they were required for slaughtering animals either for food or sacrifice, as well as for cutting up the carcase (Lev_7:33-34; Lev_8:15; Lev_8:20; Lev_8:25; Lev_9:13; Num_18:18; 1Sa_9:24; Eze_24:4; Ezr_1:9; Mat_26:23; Russell, Aleppo, i, 172; Wilkinson, i, 169; Mishna, Tanid, 4:3). SEE EATING.
Asiatics usually carry about with them a knife or dagger, often with a highly-ornamented handle, which may be used when required for eating purposes (Jdg_3:21; Layard, Nin. ii, 342. 299; Wilkinson, i, 358, 360; Chardin, Voyage, 4:18; Niebuhr, Voyage, i, 340, pi. 71). SEE GIRDLE.
3. Smaller knives were in use for paring fruit (Josephus, Ant. 17:7; War i, 33, 7) and for sharpening pens (Jer_36:23). SEE PENKNIFE.
4. The razor was often used for Nazaritish purposes, for which a special chamber was reserved in the Temple (Num_6:5; Num_6:9; Num_6:19; Eze_5:1; Isa_7:20; Jer_36:23; Act_18:18; Act_21:24; Mishna, Midd. ii, 5). SEE RAZOR.
5. The pruning-hooks of Isa_18:5 were probably curved knives. SEE PRUNING-HOOK.
6. The lancets of the priests of Baal were doubtless pointed knives (1Ki_18:28). SEE LANCET.

CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.

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