Lexical Summary azen: tools Original Word: אָזֵן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance weapon From 'azan; a spade or paddle (as having a broad end) -- weapon. see HEBREW 'azan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as ozen Definition implements, tools NASB Translation tools (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אָזֵן] noun [masculine] collective implements, tools (from sharpness ? Aramaic אֲזֵנִין,  weapons אֲזֵנֶ֑ךָ Deuteronomy 23:14 (Manuscripts אזניך ᵐ5 ᵑ9 אֵזֹר compare Di). Topical Lexicon Definition and Scriptural Setting Strong’s Hebrew 240, ʾāzēn, designates a small digging implement—often rendered “paddle,” “spade,” or “digging tool.” It appears only once, in Deuteronomy 23:13, within a section of military and camp regulations given to Israel while journeying toward the Promised Land. Sanitation and Holiness in the Camp Deuteronomy 23:12-14 instructs every soldier to carry such a tool so that, when nature called, he could “dig a hole with it and cover up your excrement” (Deuteronomy 23:13). The requirement is immediately grounded in theology: “For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp… therefore your camp must be holy, so that He will not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you” (verse 14). Physical cleanliness safeguarded the symbolic holiness of the covenant community. Historical Background 1. Military Encampments. Ancient Near-Eastern armies commonly fouled their camps, breeding disease that could decimate forces before battle. Israel’s God-given sanitary code placed the nation in sharp contrast to surrounding peoples and protected it from preventable illness. Theological Themes • God’s Immanence. The command assumes the LORD “walks” among His people. Fellowship with a holy God touches the most mundane aspects of life. Broader Scriptural Connections • Leviticus 11:44 – “Be holy, for I am holy.” Holiness encompasses habit, hygiene, and heart. Practical Wisdom for Community Life The ʾāzēn embodies stewardship of creation and neighbor-love. By burying waste, an Israelite protected water sources and avoided offensive odors, honoring the second great commandment (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39). Modern equivalents—proper sanitation systems, environmental care, and respectful use of shared spaces—remain expressions of obedience and love. Foreshadowing Gospel Realities Just as waste had to be removed from sight so God could remain among His people, so sin must be dealt with for communion with God to continue. The paddling spade anticipates the fuller cleansing accomplished by Christ, “who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession” (Titus 2:14). Applications for Ministry Today 1. Teach Holiness Holistically. Congregations often separate “spiritual” from “practical.” Deuteronomy 23:13 reminds us that faith addresses daily habits, public health, and environmental stewardship. Summary Though mentioned only once, ʾāzēn powerfully illustrates the unity of worship and daily conduct. By ordering Israel to carry a simple shovel, the LORD linked bodily functions to spiritual purity, public health to covenant holiness, and individual obedience to communal blessing. The principle endures: God’s people, knowing that He dwells among them, pursue cleanliness of body and soul so that nothing hinders His abiding presence. Forms and Transliterations אֲזֵנֶ֑ךָ אזנך ’ă·zê·ne·ḵā ’ăzêneḵā azeNechaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 23:13 HEB: לְךָ֖ עַל־ אֲזֵנֶ֑ךָ וְהָיָה֙ בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֣ NAS: among your tools, and it shall be when you sit down KJV: And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease INT: shall have among your tools shall have sit 1 Occurrence |
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