Lexical Summary chatab: To hew, cut, or chop Original Word: חַָטַב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cut down, hewer, polish A primitive root; to chop or carve wood -- cut down, hew(-er), polish. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to cut or gather wood NASB Translation chops your wood (1), cut (1), fashioned (1), gather firewood (1), hewers of wood (3), woodcutters (1), woodsmen (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [חָטַב] verb cut or gather wood, usually firewood (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic  firewood,  collect firewood (see Wetzst in DePs 144:12); Ethiopic  cut (or gather) firewood) — Qal Imperfect יַחְטְבוּ Ezekiel 39:10; Infinitive לַחְטֹב Deuteronomy 19:5; Participle חֹטֵב Deuteronomy 29:10; plural חֹטְבִים2Chron 2:9; construct חֹטְבֵי Joshua 9:21 3t.; passive plural feminine חֲטֻבוֺת Proverbs 7:16 — cut or gather wood, followed by accusative Deuteronomy 19:5; Deuteronomy 29:10 ("" שׁאב מים); compare Ezekiel 39:10 מןהֿיערים (object in preceding clause); 2 Chron 2:9 ("" כֹּרְתֵי הָעֵצִים); Participle construct עצים ׳ח Jeremiah 46:22, and ("" שֹׁאֲבֵי מַיִם) Joshua 9:21,23,27. Pu`al Participle מְחֻטָּבוֺת Psalm 144:12 meaning dubious; perhaps hewn (so, in substance, Thes MV SS Ew Che Bae; see however II. חטב), of corner-pillars (זָוִיּוֺת see זָוִית above), simile of beautiful, stately daughters. II. חטב (√of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Everyday Labor in the Ancient EconomyThe verb חָטַב describes the common yet demanding task of cutting or carving timber. Timber was vital for fuel, tools, fortifications, and construction throughout Israel’s history. The woodcutter stands alongside the farmer and shepherd as one of Scripture’s representative laborers, reminding modern readers that God’s Word speaks to ordinary vocations as well as extraordinary callings. Accidental Death and the Cities of Refuge Deuteronomy 19:5 places the wood-hewer at the heart of Israel’s jurisprudence on manslaughter: “as he swings the axe to cut the tree, the iron head slips…and strikes his neighbor, so that he dies.” The scene illustrates how Torah compassionately distinguishes unintentional bloodshed from murder. Mishaps among woodcutters therefore provided a real-life test case for the merciful protection God built into His legal system. Inclusiveness within the Covenant Community At the covenant renewal on the plains of Moab, Moses declared that all Israel stood before the Lord, “including… the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and draw your water” (Deuteronomy 29:11). Even the lowest servants were consciously gathered under Yahweh’s oath. The entire nation—leaders and laborers alike—was bound to the same commandments and the same hope. The Gibeonites—Servants of the Sanctuary The treaty with Gibeon sealed their perpetual role as “woodcutters and water carriers” (Joshua 9:21, 23, 27). Though discipline for their deception, this role also granted continual proximity to the altar. In a striking irony, outsiders barred from Israel’s civic leadership were nevertheless assigned an indispensable place in Israel’s worship, daily preparing fuel and water for sacrifice. Their humble duty underscored that God’s house requires both conspicuous and unseen service. Temple Construction and International Cooperation Solomon promised Hiram generous provisions for “your servants, the woodcutters who cut timber” (2 Chronicles 2:10). Skilled lumbermen from Lebanon joined Israelites in gathering cedar for the first temple. The verse displays the intersection of royal diplomacy, human expertise, and divine purpose—woodcutters contributing materially to the dwelling place of God’s glory. Artistry and Blessing Psalm 144 envisions a peaceful kingdom where “our daughters [are] like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace” (Psalm 144:12). The same verb that denotes rough hewing also depicts refined craftsmanship. Under God’s blessing, the tool of the laborer becomes an instrument of beauty. Redemption elevates raw material into ornament, paralleling how grace shapes character within God’s people. Prophetic Imagery of Judgment Jeremiah likens invading Babylonian armies to woodsmen: “the enemy will come with axes like those who cut down trees” (Jeremiah 46:22). Ezekiel foresees the reverse, when Israel will “not need to gather wood…or cut down trees…for they will burn the weapons of war” (Ezekiel 39:10). The former image signals devastation; the latter, victory so complete that weapons replace firewood. Both employ the woodcutter’s craft to dramatize divine sovereignty over nations. Theological and Ministry Reflections 1. Dignity of Work: Scripture’s integration of woodcutters into legal, covenantal, liturgical, and prophetic contexts affirms that no task is insignificant before God. Thus חָטַב traces a path from mundane labor to covenant grace, temple glory, prophetic warning, and eschatological hope, testifying throughout to the wisdom and coherence of God’s revelation. Forms and Transliterations וְחֹטְבֵ֥י וחטבי חֹטְבֵ֥י חֹטְבֵ֨י חטבי יַחְטְבוּ֙ יחטבו כְּחֹטְבֵ֖י כחטבי לַֽחֹטְבִ֣ים ׀ לַחְטֹ֣ב לחטב לחטבים מְ֝חֻטָּב֗וֹת מֵחֹטֵ֣ב מחטב מחטבות choteVei ḥō·ṭə·ḇê ḥōṭəḇê kə·ḥō·ṭə·ḇê kechoteVei kəḥōṭəḇê la·ḥō·ṭə·ḇîm lachoteVim lachTo laḥ·ṭōḇ laḥōṭəḇîm laḥṭōḇ mê·ḥō·ṭêḇ mə·ḥuṭ·ṭā·ḇō·wṯ mechoTev mechuttaVot mêḥōṭêḇ məḥuṭṭāḇōwṯ vechoteVei wə·ḥō·ṭə·ḇê wəḥōṭəḇê yachteVu yaḥ·ṭə·ḇū yaḥṭəḇūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 19:5 HEB: רֵעֵ֥הוּ בַיַּעַר֮ לַחְטֹ֣ב עֵצִים֒ וְנִדְּחָ֨ה NAS: with his friend to cut wood, KJV: with his neighbour to hew wood, INT: his friend the forest to cut wood swings Deuteronomy 29:11 Joshua 9:21 Joshua 9:23 Joshua 9:27 2 Chronicles 2:10 Psalm 144:12 Jeremiah 46:22 Ezekiel 39:10 9 Occurrences |
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be of the colour 
, i.e. turbid, dusky, mixed with yellowish red, etc.; Aramaic Participle 
variegated ᵑ6