### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **sakkîyn**, represented by `{{H7915}}`, is a specific term for a **knife**. As an intensive word, it suggests a knife that is particularly pointed or edged. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible, highlighting its focused and impactful usage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single appearance of `{{H7915}}` is found in a powerful proverbial instruction. The verse uses the word to create a vivid illustration of the need for self-restraint, commanding one to "put a **knife** to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite" [[Proverbs 23:2]]. In this context, the **knife** is not a tool for violence against another, but a symbol of the radical self-discipline required to govern one's own desires.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its sole context help illuminate the meaning of `{{H7915}}`:
* `{{H7760}}` **sûwm** (to put): This primitive root verb is used for the action taken with the knife. The command is to **put** the knife to the throat, framing `{{H7915}}` as an instrument of decisive action and control [[Proverbs 23:2]].
* `{{H3930}}` **lôaʻ** (throat): This word identifies the location where the knife is to be placed, signifying the life-or-death gravity of unchecked desire. The **throat** is the passage for sustenance, and the knife acts as its guard [[Proverbs 23:2]].
* `{{H5315}}` **nephesh** (appetite, soul): This word describes the very thing that must be controlled. The instruction is given to one who has a strong **appetite**, showing that the knife symbolizes control over the deepest cravings of the **soul** or self [[Proverbs 23:2]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7915}}` is concentrated in its single, metaphorical use.
* **Radical Self-Control:** The image of a **knife** at the throat is a stark metaphor for the extreme measures necessary to govern one's fleshly desires. It teaches that wisdom requires a decisive and sharp check on one's appetite `{{H5315}}`.
* **The Danger of Appetite:** By associating unrestrained appetite with a life-threatening situation, the proverb elevates the struggle for self-discipline to a matter of spiritual survival. The **knife** represents the tool needed to avert the destruction that comes from being ruled by one's desires [[Proverbs 23:2]].
* **Wisdom in Action:** Its placement in Proverbs firmly connects `{{H7915}}` to the practical application of wisdom. Wisdom is not merely knowledge, but the ability to **put** principles into practice, even when it requires sharp and uncomfortable discipline.
### Summary
In summary, while `{{H7915}}` **sakkîyn** is one of the rarest words in the biblical text, its single use is unforgettable. It transforms the common object of a **knife** into a profound symbol of radical self-control. Appearing in [[Proverbs 23:2]], it serves as a powerful and visceral warning against the dangers of unchecked appetite, illustrating that true wisdom demands the decisive discipline to govern one's own soul.
TRV