Topical Encyclopedia
The term "maul" appears in the context of biblical literature as a tool or weapon, often associated with destruction or severe impact. In the Berean Standard Bible, the word "maul" is used to describe an instrument of force, typically a heavy hammer or club, designed to deliver powerful blows.
Biblical References:1.
Proverbs 25:18 : "Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor." In this verse, the term "club" is synonymous with "maul," illustrating the destructive power of false testimony. The comparison underscores the severe damage that deceitful words can inflict, akin to the physical harm caused by a maul.
2.
Judges 5:26 : While the term "maul" is not directly used, the imagery of a heavy, forceful weapon is present in the account of Jael, who uses a tent peg and hammer to kill Sisera. This narrative highlights the decisive and crushing impact of such tools in achieving victory and deliverance for Israel.
Symbolism and Interpretation:In biblical symbolism, the maul represents the concept of judgment and the execution of justice. It is a tool that delivers decisive and often irreversible outcomes. The use of a maul or similar instrument in Scripture often signifies the power and authority of God to enact His will, whether through direct intervention or through human agents.
The maul's association with false witness in
Proverbs 25:18 serves as a moral lesson on the weight of words and the ethical responsibility to uphold truth. Just as a maul can cause physical destruction, so can lies and deceit cause relational and communal harm.
Cultural and Historical Context:In ancient times, the maul was a common tool used in construction and warfare. Its primary function was to break through obstacles, whether in building projects or in battle. The maul's heavy, blunt force made it an effective instrument for both creation and destruction, reflecting the dual nature of its symbolic use in Scripture.
The biblical portrayal of the maul aligns with the broader ancient Near Eastern understanding of tools and weapons as extensions of divine power and authority. The ability to wield such instruments was often seen as a sign of strength and capability, both in human and divine contexts.
Theological Implications:Theologically, the maul can be seen as a metaphor for God's righteous judgment. Just as a maul delivers a powerful blow, God's justice is portrayed as swift and decisive. This imagery serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the inevitable consequences of turning away from divine truth.
In the broader narrative of Scripture, the maul's destructive potential is counterbalanced by the redemptive power of God's grace. While judgment is a necessary aspect of divine justice, it is always accompanied by the opportunity for repentance and restoration through faith in God's promises.
Overall, the concept of the maul in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of words and actions, the authority of divine judgment, and the hope of redemption through adherence to God's truth.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
An old name for a mallet, the rendering of the Hebrew mephits (
Proverbs 25:18), properly a war-club.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A heavy wooden hammer or beetle.
2. (v. t.) To beat and bruise with a heavy stick or cudgel; to wound in a coarse manner.
3. (v. t.) To injure greatly; to do much harm to.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MAULmol (mephits, literally, "a breaker," "a club," "mace," "mattock"): A smashing weapon like the oriental war-club or the clubs always carried by the shepherds of Lebanon (Proverbs 25:18; compareJeremiah 51:20 margin).
Strong's Hebrew
4650. mephits -- scatterer, disperser... who scatters (1).
maul. From puwts; a breaker, ie Mallet --
maul. see HEBREW
puwts. 4649, 4650. mephits. 4651 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
The Testament of Levi Concerning the Priesthood and Arrogance.
... And when we were feeding our flocks in Abel-Maul, a spirit of understanding of the
Lord came upon me, [61] and I saw all men corrupting their way, and that...
The Folly of Slander. Part 2.
... Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue:" and, "A man," saith the
wise man, "that beareth false witness against his neighbour is amaul, and a...
Given to Abstraction of Thought. Cases in Point. Opinion of...
... the same disease. From morning till night, between the plow-handles or swinging
themaul, I was absorbed in reflection. My reading...
Virtue must Never be Given up for the Sake of a Friend. ...
... 126. And Scripture also says: "Amaul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, so is a man
that beareth false witness against his friend." [756] But note what it adds....
Truth the Defence of Thrones.
... been struck by a stone, applies to a physician; but sharper than a stone are the
strokes of calumny; for as Solomon has said, A false witness is amaul, and a...
The Ninth Commandment
... false witness. Solomon says, A man that beareth false witness against
his neighbour, is amaul and a sword.' Proverbs 25:18. In...
A Discourse of Mercifulness
... The party forsworn wounds another's name and his own soul. A false witness
is compared to amaul or hammer (Proverbs 25:18). It...
The Decalogue: ii. --Man and Man
... much animated talk! 'A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour
is amaul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.'. But deed...
Micah's Message for To-Day
... Do let me read the text to you, "Walk humbly with God." No, no, we must notmaul
the passage that way, "Walk humbly with thy God." Do not think that it is...
Temptations.
... I say, this is hismaul, his club, his masterpiece; he does with this, as some
do by their most enchanting songs, singing them everywhere....
Thesaurus
Maul (3 Occurrences)... 3. (vt) To injure greatly; to do much harm to. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
MAUL.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Maul (3 Occurrences).
...Mall (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A large heavy wooden beetle; a mallet for
driving anything with force; amaul. 2. (n.) A heavy blow....
Maturity (5 Occurrences)
Mauled (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofMaul. Multi-Version Concordance
Mauled (3 Occurrences). 1 Kings 13:26 When the prophet who...
Armour (32 Occurrences)
... The "maul" (Proverbs 25:18; cognate Hebrew word rendered "battle-axe" in Jeremiah
51:20, and "slaughter weapon" in Ezek. 9:2) was a war-hammer or martel....
Axe (19 Occurrences)
... axe." The "battle-axe" (army of Medes and Persians) mentioned in Jeremiah 51:20
was probably, as noted in the margin of the Revised Version, a "maul" or heavy...
Armor (53 Occurrences)
... They may have been the original of themaul or hammer (mephits, Proverbs 25:18 Jeremiah
51:20, where Cyrus, as God's battle-axe, is to shatter Babylon and its...
Arms (166 Occurrences)
... They may have been the original of themaul or hammer (mephits, Proverbs 25:18 Jeremiah
51:20, where Cyrus, as God's battle-axe, is to shatter Babylon and its...
Testifying (35 Occurrences)
... YLT). Proverbs 25:18 Amaul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, 'Is' the man
testifying against his neighbour a false testimony. (YLT)....
Bears (62 Occurrences)
... Selah. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs 25:18 As amaul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow,
so is a man that beareth false witness against his neighbour. (See NAS RSV)....
Resources
What is The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did the Prophet Elisha curse the “youths” for making fun of his baldness (2 Kings 2:23-24)? | GotQuestions.orgMaul: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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