Strong's Lexicon machaira: Sword Original Word: μάχαιρα Word Origin: Derived from μάχη (machē), meaning "battle" or "fight." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H2719 (חֶרֶב, chereb): Often translated as "sword," used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament to denote a weapon of war or judgment. Usage: The term "machaira" refers to a short sword or dagger, commonly used in the ancient world for both military and domestic purposes. In the New Testament, it is often used metaphorically to represent conflict, division, or the Word of God as a tool for spiritual warfare. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the machaira was a versatile weapon, favored for its effectiveness in close combat. It was a symbol of authority and power, often carried by soldiers and officials. The machaira was also used in sacrificial rituals, highlighting its dual role in both life-taking and life-giving contexts. HELPS Word-studies 3162 má NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originperhaps from machomai Definition a short sword or dagger NASB Translation sword (23), swords (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3162: μάχαιραμάχαιρα, genitive μαχαίρας (so (with R G) Lachmann in Luke 21:24) and μαχαίρης, dative μάχαιρα. (so (with R G) Lachmann in Luke 22:49; Acts 12:2) and μαχαίρῃ (between which forms the manuscripts vary, cf. (Scrivener, Collation, etc., p. lvi.; Tdf. Proleg., p. 117; WHs Appendix, p. 156a); Winers Grammar, 62 (61); Buttmann, 11; Delitzsch on Hebrews 11:34, p. 584 note), ἡ, (akin to μάχη and Latinmactare); 1. a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh: Homer, Pindar, Herodotus, at.; hence, Genesis 22:6, 10; Judges 19:29 Alex., for מַאֲכֶלֶת. 2. a small sword, distinguished from the large sword, the ῤομφαία (Josephus, Antiquities 6, 9, 5 ἀποτεμνει τήν κεφαλήν τῇ ῤομφαία τῇ ἐκείνου (Goliath's), μάχαιραν, οὐκ ἔχων αὐτός), and curred, for a cutting stroke; distinct also from ξίφος, a straight sword, for thrusting, Xenophon, r. eq. 12, 11, cf. Hell. 3, 3, 7; but the words are frequently used interchangeably. In the N. T. universally, a sword (the Sept. often for חֶרֶב): as a weapon for making or repelling an attack, Matthew 26:47, 51, 52,(55); Mark 14:43, 47; Luke 22:36, 38, 49, 52; John 18:10; Acts 16:27; Hebrews 11:37; Revelation 6:4; Revelation 13:10,(14); by a Hebraism, στόμα μαχαίρας, the edge of the sword (חֶרֶב פִּי, Genesis 34:26; Joshua 8:24; 1 Samuel 13:22; Judges 3:16, etc. (but in the Sept. the rendering στόμα ξίφους or στόμα ῤομφαίας is more common)): Luke 21:24; Hebrews 11:34; μάχαιρα δίστομος (see δίστομος), Hebrews 4:12. of the sword as the instrument of a magistrate or judge: death by the sword, Romans 8:35; ἀναιρεῖν τινα μάχαιρα, Acts 12:2; τήν μαχαίρας φόρειν, to bear the sword, is used of him to whom the sword has been committed, viz. to use when a malefactor is to he punished; hence, equivalent to to have the power of life and death, Romans 13:4 (so ξίφος, ξιφη ἔχειν, Philostr. vit. Apoll. 7, 16; vit. sophist. 1, 25, 2 (3), cf. Dion Cass. 42, 27; and in the Talmud the king who bears the sword, of the Hebrew king). Metaphorically, μάχαιρα, a weapon of war, is used for war, or for quarrels and dissensions that destroy peace; so in the phrase βαλεῖν μάχαιραν ἐπί τήν τήν, to send war on earth, Matthew 10:34 (for which Luke 12:51 says διαμερισμόν); ἡ μάχαιρα τοῦ πνεύματος, the sword with which the Spirit subdues the impulses to sin and proves its own power and efficacy (which sword is said to be ῤῆμα Θεοῦ (cf. Buttmann, 128 (112))), Ephesians 6:17 (on the genitive in this passage cf. Ellicott or Meyer). Probably feminine of a presumed derivative of mache; a knife, i.e. Dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment -- sword. see GREEK mache Englishman's Concordance Matthew 10:34 N-AFSGRK: εἰρήνην ἀλλὰ μάχαιραν NAS: to bring peace, but a sword. KJV: peace, but a sword. INT: peace but a sword Matthew 26:47 N-GFP Matthew 26:51 N-AFS Matthew 26:52 N-AFS Matthew 26:52 N-AFS Matthew 26:52 N-DFS Matthew 26:55 N-GFP Mark 14:43 N-GFP Mark 14:47 N-AFS Mark 14:48 N-GFP Luke 21:24 N-GFS Luke 22:36 N-AFS Luke 22:38 N-NFP Luke 22:49 N-DFS Luke 22:52 N-GFP John 18:10 N-AFS John 18:11 N-AFS Acts 12:2 N-DFS Acts 16:27 N-AFS Romans 8:35 N-NFS Romans 13:4 N-AFS Ephesians 6:17 N-AFS Hebrews 4:12 N-AFS Hebrews 11:34 N-GFS Hebrews 11:37 N-GFS Strong's Greek 3162 |