Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:The term "hew" refers to the act of cutting, chopping, or shaping something with a tool such as an axe or a chisel. In biblical contexts, it often describes the process of cutting down trees, shaping stones, or carving idols. The word is used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures.
Biblical References:1.
Literal Usage:·
Deuteronomy 19:5 : "For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his axe to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor, killing him. Then the man may flee to one of these cities to save his life." This passage illustrates the literal act of hewing wood, highlighting the potential dangers involved in such labor.
·
1 Kings 5:15-18 : These verses describe the labor force King Solomon assembled to hew stones and timber for the construction of the temple. "Solomon had seventy thousand porters and eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountains, as well as 3,300 foremen to supervise the workers. And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones."
2.
Metaphorical Usage:·
Jeremiah 2:13 : "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water." While the term "hew" is not directly used here, the concept of creating or carving out something that ultimately proves futile is akin to the metaphorical use of hewing in the Bible.
·
Hosea 6:5 : "Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning." Here, "hewn" is used metaphorically to describe the cutting or shaping influence of God's prophetic word on the people of Israel.
Theological Significance:The act of hewing in the Bible often carries a deeper spiritual significance. It can symbolize the shaping and refining process that God performs on His people, as seen in
Hosea 6:5. The prophets, through their messages, act as instruments in God's hands, cutting away sin and idolatry to bring about repentance and renewal.
In the context of idol worship, hewing is associated with the creation of idols, which is condemned throughout Scripture. For example, in
Isaiah 44:12-17, the futility of crafting idols from wood is highlighted, emphasizing the foolishness of worshiping something made by human hands.
Cultural and Historical Context:In ancient Israel, hewing was a common and necessary task for building and crafting. The construction of the temple, as described in 1 Kings, required skilled laborers to hew stones and timber, reflecting the importance of craftsmanship in worship and community life. The process of hewing was labor-intensive and required precision, symbolizing the dedication and effort involved in creating something of lasting value.
Overall, the concept of hewing in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for God's transformative work in the lives of His people, as well as a reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the importance of true worship.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To cut with an ax; to fell with a sharp instrument; -- often with down, or off.
2. (v. t.) To form or shape with a sharp instrument; to cut; hence, to form laboriously; -- often with out; as, to hew out a sepulcher.
3. (v. t.) To cut in pieces; to chop; to hack.
4. (n.) Destruction by cutting down.
5. (n.) Hue; color.
6. (n.) Shape; form.
Greek
2998. latomeo -- tohew out (stones)... to
hew out (stones). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: latomeo Phonetic Spelling:
(lat-om-eh'-o) Short Definition: I
hew stones Definition: I
hew stones
...1581. ekkopto -- to cut off, cut down, cut out, fig. to frustrate
... cut down, cut out,hew down, hinder. From ek and kopto; to exscind; figuratively,
to frustrate -- cut down (off, out),hew down, hinder. see GREEK ek....
Strong's Hebrew
2672. chatsab -- tohew,hew out, cleave... 2671, 2672. chatsab or chatseb. 2673 . to
hew,
hew out, cleave. Transliteration:
chatsab or chatseb Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-tsab') Short Definition: hewn.
...1438. gada -- tohew,hew down or off
... 1437, 1438. gada. 1439 . tohew,hew down or off. Transliteration: gada Phonetic
Spelling: (gaw-dah') Short Definition: down. Word Origin a prim....
6458. pasal -- tohew,hew into shape
... 6457, 6458. pasal. 6459 . tohew,hew into shape. Transliteration: pasal Phonetic
Spelling: (paw-sal') Short Definition: cut. Word Origin a prim....
1414. gedad -- tohew down
... 1413, 1414. gedad. 1415 . tohew down. Transliteration: gedad Phonetic
Spelling: (ghed-ad') Short Definition: down. Word... 2).hew down....
8158. shasaph -- tohew in pieces
... shasaph. 8159 . tohew in pieces. Transliteration: shasaph Phonetic Spelling:
(shaw-saf') Short Definition: pieces. Word Origin a prim....hew in pieces....
3564b. kur -- perhaps to bore, dig orhew
... kur. 3565 . perhaps to bore, dig orhew. Transliteration: kur Short Definition:
pierced.... root Definition perhaps to bore, dig orhew NASB Word Usage pierced (1...
7060. qamel -- to be decayed
... root Definition to be decayed NASB Word Usage rot away (1), withers (1).hew down,
wither. A primitive root; to wither --hew down, wither. 7059, 7060....
5408. nathach -- to cut up, cut in pieces, divide by joints
... cut in pieces, divide,hew in pieces. A primitive root; to dismember -- cut (in
pieces), divide,hew in pieces. 5407, 5408. nathach. 5409 . Strong's Numbers
2404. chatab -- to cut or gather wood
... cut down, hewer, polish. A primitive root; to chop or carve wood -- cut down,
hew(-er), polish. 2403b, 2404. chatab. 2405 . Strong's Numbers.
4621. maatsad -- an axe
... cutting tool (2). ax, tongs. From an usused root meaning tohew; an axe --
ax, tongs. 4620, 4621. maatsad. 4622 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Psalm CXXIX.
... 7. "The righteous Lord shallhew the necks of the sinners" (ver.4)....Which of us
doth not fix his eyes upon the earth, like the Publican, and say, "Lord, be...
Great Preparations for a Great Work
... father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build
an house unto My name.6. Now therefore command thou that theyhew me cedar...
"Now the End of the Commandment is Charity Out of a Pure Heart...
... The qlk daye Mr.Hew Binnen made his popular sermon 1 Timothy 1.ver.5 'The end of
ye commandment is charity.'"Ordaines Mr.Hew Binnen to handle his...
The Dream of the Tree Cut Down
... He cried aloud, and said thus: "Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake
off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it...
True Greatness
... As the king gazed upon the lofty tree, he beheld "a Watcher," even "an Holy One,"
who approached the tree and in a loud voice cried: "Hew down the tree, and...
What the Ruler's Discrimination Should be Between Correction and...
... This is what the Lord in a figure enjoins through Moses, saying, If a man go in
simplicity of heart with his friend into the wood tohew wood, and the wood of...
The Great Mysteries in the Building of the Militant and Triumphant...
... were hewn, and put in place of those that were taken away; but the rounded stones
were not put into the building, because they were hard tohew, and appeared...
Sermon for Septuagesima Sunday
... So it is with those who do not understand this spiritual art; they leave the roots
of vice and evil dispositions alive in the heart, andhew and lop at poor...
The Political Constitution of Egypt
... The art that could conceive andhew this gigantic statue out of the mountain-side,
was an art in its maturity, master of itself and sure of its effects....
Synopsis of the Music in Order of Date
... JSBACH, eight settings, mostly of earlier melodies, Nos.13.57.62.80.83.85.
90.97. Seven new tunes byHEW, Nos.4.11.17.18.22.46.96....
Thesaurus
Hew (17 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) To form or shape with a sharp instrument; to cut; hence, to form laboriously; --
often with out; as, to
hew out a sepulcher.
...Hew (17 Occurrences).
...Asherahs (23 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Asherahs (23 Occurrences). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish
their altars, shatter their statues, andhew down their Asherahs. (DBY)....
Shatter (26 Occurrences)
... statues. (DBY). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish their altars, shatter
their statues, andhew down their Asherahs. (DBY). Numbers...
Statues (7 Occurrences)
... statues. (DBY). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish their altars, shatter their
statues, andhew down their Asherahs. (DBY). Deuteronomy...
Asherah (40 Occurrences)
... Asherah (40 Occurrences). Exodus 34:13 but ye shall demolish their altars, shatter
their statues, andhew down their Asherahs. (Root in DBY NIV)....
Cut (616 Occurrences)
... to sever; to divide. 3. (vt) To sever and cause to fall for the purpose
of gathering; tohew; to mow or reap. 4. (vt) To sever and...
Ashe'rim (19 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 7:5 But thus shall ye deal with them: ye shall break down their altars,
and dash in pieces their pillars, andhew down their Asherim, and burn...
Hewed (22 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp.) ofHew. 2. (pp) ofHew. Multi-Version
Concordance Hewed (22 Occurrences). Matthew 27:60 and laid...
Hewing (6 Occurrences)
... n.) ofHew.... 1 Kings 5:18 and the builders of Solomon, and the builders of Hiram,
and the Gibliteshew, and prepare the wood and the stones to build the house....
Hethlon (2 Occurrences)
Resources
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