intensively from an unused root meaning to pound; a hammer; hammer.
Transliteration:paṭṭîysh
Pronunciation:pat-teesh'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term paṭṭîysh (`{{H6360}}`) denotes a "hammer" or "mallet." Its etymology points to an unused root implying intense pounding or forceful striking. This foundational meaning underscores the instrument's primary function: to deliver powerful, percussive blows. Semantically, paṭṭîysh carries connotations of forceful impact, whether for shaping, constructing, breaking, or destroying. Unlike some other terms for tools, paṭṭîysh often emphasizes the *force* and *shattering* capability inherent in its use, rather than delicate craftsmanship.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word paṭṭîysh appears four times in the Hebrew Bible, each instance revealing distinct facets of its meaning:
1. **Judges 4:21**: "But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer [paṭṭîysh] in her hand. Then she went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died." Here, paṭṭîysh is a literal tool used by Jael as an instrument of execution, delivering a fatal blow. Its context is one of decisive, violent action leading to the demise of an enemy.
2. **Isaiah 41:7**: "So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; he who smooths with the hammer [paṭṭîysh] encouraged him who strikes the anvil, saying, 'It is ready for the soldering'; and he fastened it with nails, that it might not totter." In this passage, the hammer is depicted as a tool in the hands of idol makers. It is used for shaping and smoothing, illustrating its role in human craftsmanship, albeit in the service of creating false gods. This highlights the inherent power of the tool, which can be applied to both constructive (in a human sense) and idolatrous purposes.
3. **Jeremiah 23:29**: "'Is not My word like a fire?' says the LORD, 'And like a hammer [paṭṭîysh] that breaks the rock in pieces?'" This is the most profound metaphorical use of paṭṭîysh. God's divine word is likened to a hammer, emphasizing its immense power to break down hardness, shatter resistance, and dismantle stubborn hearts or false ideologies. It speaks to the transformative, often forceful, impact of divine truth.
4. **Jeremiah 50:23**: "How the hammer [paṭṭîysh] of the whole earth has been cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!" Here, Babylon, a mighty empire and instrument of God's judgment, is itself called "the hammer of the whole earth." This metaphor underscores Babylon's destructive power and its role in shattering other nations. However, the verse immediately declares its own destruction, illustrating that even powerful instruments of divine wrath are ultimately subject to God's sovereign will and judgment.
Across these occurrences, paṭṭîysh functions as a literal tool, an instrument of human craft (even idolatry), a metaphor for the transformative power of God's word, and a symbol for a nation's destructive might, ultimately subject to divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of a "hammer" is intrinsically linked to actions of striking, breaking, and shaping. Related Hebrew terms and concepts include:
* maqqeḇeth (`{{H4746}}`): Another term for a hammer or mallet, often associated with more deliberate, precise work, as seen in the construction of the Temple (e.g., [[1 Kings 6:7]]). While both are hammers, paṭṭîysh seems to carry a stronger emphasis on forceful, even shattering, impact.
* nakah (`{{H5210}}`): A common verb meaning "to strike," "smite," or "hit," which describes the action performed with a hammer.
* shabar (`{{H7665}}`): The verb "to break" or "shatter," directly describing the effect often produced by a paṭṭîysh, particularly in its metaphorical uses (e.g., [[Jeremiah 23:29]]).
* Concepts of divine judgment, destruction, and the irresistible power of God's word are intimately connected to the metaphorical uses of paṭṭîysh.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of paṭṭîysh is most powerfully articulated in its metaphorical applications. In [[Jeremiah 23:29]], God's word being a "hammer that breaks the rock in pieces" is a profound declaration of its nature. This signifies:
* **Irresistible Power**: The divine word is not merely persuasive but possesses an inherent, active power to confront and overcome the hardest resistance.
* **Transformative Impact**: It can break down the stubbornness of the human heart, dismantle false beliefs, and shatter the foundations of sin and rebellion. This breaking is often a prelude to rebuilding and spiritual renewal.
* **Judgment and Revelation**: The word's hammer-like quality reveals truth by shattering deception, bringing judgment upon unrighteousness, and exposing hidden motives.
Furthermore, Babylon being "the hammer of the whole earth" (`{{H6360}}` in [[Jeremiah 50:23]]) illustrates God's sovereignty over nations. Even seemingly unstoppable powers are instruments in His hand, used for His purposes of judgment against other nations, yet they too are ultimately accountable and subject to His ultimate judgment. This highlights the paradox that instruments of divine wrath can themselves be broken. The literal use in [[Judges 4:21]] also underscores the idea of a decisive, divinely-ordained end to an enemy, even through an unconventional instrument.
### Summary
The Hebrew word paṭṭîysh (`{{H6360}}`) fundamentally denotes a "hammer," emphasizing its capacity for forceful, percussive impact. While literally used as a tool for both destruction (Jael's act in [[Judges 4:21]]) and craftsmanship (idol-making in [[Isaiah 41:7]]), its profound theological significance emerges in its metaphorical applications. Most notably, it describes the irresistible, shattering power of God's word to break hardened hearts and dismantle resistance (as in [[Jeremiah 23:29]]). It also symbolizes mighty nations, like Babylon, as instruments of divine judgment that wield destructive power over others, yet are ultimately subject to God's sovereign will and eventual demise (as in [[Jeremiah 50:23]]). Thus, paṭṭîysh powerfully conveys the concept of decisive, often destructive, force, primarily in the context of divine action, judgment, and the transformative power of God's truth.
TRV