Word Study for H3979 (מַאֲכֶלֶת)

maʼăkeleth /mah-ak-eh'-leth/ Ask about this word

Meaningsomething to eat with,i.e. a knife

KJV usageknife.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of maʼăkeleth — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word maʼăkeleth, represented by H3979, translates to knife. It is derived from the root word ʼâkal H398, which means "to eat," suggesting an instrument used for preparing or consuming food. This term appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the scriptures, highlighting its specific and often dramatic usage.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The word H3979 is used in several intense and significant biblical scenes. It appears twice in the account of Abraham H85 and Isaac, first when Abraham took H3947 the wood and the knife for the offering Genesis 22:6, and again when he took H3947 the knife to slay H7819 his son Genesis 22:10. In a grim narrative in Judges, a man took H3947 a knife and divided H5408 his concubine into pieces Judges 19:29. The term is also used metaphorically in Proverbs, where the teeth of a wicked generation are described as knives used to devour H398 the poor Proverbs 30:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller understanding of the context surrounding H3979:

H398 ʼâkal (to eat): As the root word, it establishes the primary, and perhaps original, purpose of a knife as a tool for preparing or consuming food. This connection is seen figuratively when the wicked devour H398 the poor Proverbs 30:14.
H2719 chereb (sword): This word for a cutting instrument is used in parallel with H3979 in Proverbs, where the teeth of the wicked are described as swords H2719 and knives Proverbs 30:14. It often signifies conflict or judgment.
H7819 shâchaṭ (to slaughter): This verb is directly linked to the use of the knife in the account of Abraham, who took the knife to slay H7819 his son, often used in contexts of sacrifice or massacre Genesis 22:10.

Theological Significance

The theological and moral weight of H3979 is conveyed through its stark and powerful contexts:

The Test of Faith: The knife is central to the testing of Abraham H85. His act of taking the knife to slay H7819 his son represents the pinnacle of obedient faith, a willingness to surrender what is most precious to God Genesis 22:10.
An Instrument of Depravity: In Judges, the knife becomes a tool for a brutal and shocking act, used to divide H5408 a concubine. This event highlights a period of profound lawlessness and moral decay within Israel Judges 19:29.
A Metaphor for Injustice: Proverbs 30:14 uses knives figuratively to describe the destructive power of a wicked generation H1755. Their words and actions are weapons that devour H398 the poor and needy, portraying oppression as a violent act.

Summary

In summary, H3979 maʼăkeleth is more than a simple word for a knife. Though appearing only four times, its contexts are unforgettable. From its role as the potential instrument of sacrifice in Abraham's ultimate test of faith Genesis 22:10 to its use in a shocking act of violence signaling societal collapse Judges 19:29, the word carries immense weight. Its metaphorical use in Proverbs 30:14 further extends its meaning to represent the cruel injustice that can devour the vulnerable. Thus, a common tool is elevated to symbolize moments of extreme faith, depravity, and oppression.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מַּאֲכֶלֶת
מַאֲכָלוֹת

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

Genesis

Judges

Proverbs

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.