Lexical Summary qahah: To be blunt, to grow dull Original Word: קָהָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be set on edge, be blunt A primitive root; to be dull -- be set on edge, be blunt. Brown-Driver-Briggs [קָהָה] verb be blunt, dull (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic קְהָא,  ); — Qal Imperfect3feminine plural תִּקְהֶינָה Jeremiah 31:29: Jeremiah 30 Ezekiel 18:2 (all of teeth). Pi`el in sense of Qal: Perfect3masculine singular קֵהָה Ecclesiastes 10:10 if the iron be blunt. Topical Lexicon Overviewקָהָה appears only four times in the Hebrew canon, always describing a loss of sharpness—whether of metal or of human sensation. Each setting leverages the image of bluntness to expose spiritual, moral, or social dullness, urging renewed acuity in covenant life. Semantic and Figurative Nuance The verb portrays a process, not a sudden event: an edge that has gradually lost bite, teeth that ache after sour grapes, an axe requiring extra exertion. Scripture uses the word both literally (a tool’s edge) and metaphorically (diminished moral sensitivity). In every case dullness signals misalignment with God’s intended order and calls for corrective action or divine intervention. Canonical Distribution and Context A wisdom maxim contrasts a “dull” axe with the advantage of “skill.” The imagery presses readers to pursue wisdom’s sharpening effect rather than expend futile energy. The verse anticipates the New Testament emphasis on rightly handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Within the New Covenant prophecy, the proverb “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” employs קָהָה to challenge inherited blame. By abolishing communal excuses for sin, the oracle heightens individual accountability as God prepares to write His law on hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). The dulling of teeth symbolizes the numbing effects of generational sin that the coming covenant will reverse. Ezekiel quotes the same proverb to correct Israel’s fatalism during exile. Here dull teeth represent the nation’s resignation under perceived unjust suffering. Yahweh repudiates this cynicism by stressing personal responsibility—“The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Ezekiel 18:4)—and invites repentance that restores spiritual sharpness. Theological Trajectories 1. Personal Responsibility: Both prophets use קָהָה to dismantle the notion that covenant members are helpless victims of ancestral choices. The word underlines God’s just character and the directness of His dealings with every soul. 2. Wisdom and Effectiveness: Ecclesiastes links sharpness with success, foreshadowing Kingdom ethics where internal transformation equips believers for fruitful labor (John 15:5). 3. Covenant Renewal: The dulling of moral perception is reversible. In Jeremiah it yields to the Spirit-empowered New Covenant; in Ezekiel it yields to repentance and new life, pointing forward to Pentecost when hearts are sharpened by the indwelling Spirit. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient agrarian societies depended on sharp tools for survival. A blunt axe wasted time and strength, mirroring the exhaustion of a people laboring in sin. The sour-grapes proverb likely arose in communal marketplaces where unripe fruit produced immediate dental discomfort. Both images were vivid, everyday reminders of the cost of negligence—whether physical or spiritual. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications • Self-examination: Believers are urged to keep their spiritual “edge” through Scripture, prayer, and fellowship, avoiding the gradual dulling that accompanies compromise (Hebrews 3:13). Christological Reflection Jesus embodies perfect sharpness—His words “cut” to the heart (Hebrews 4:12). At Calvary He bore the dullness of humanity, tasting the ultimate sourness of sin (John 19:29), so that by His resurrection believers might receive sharpened consciences and live responsively to God. Personal Application • Sharpen daily through meditation on the whole counsel of God. In sum, קָהָה warns against drift into spiritual bluntness and beckons God’s people toward vigilant, Spirit-filled acuity that honors the Lord and advances His purposes. Forms and Transliterations קֵהָ֣ה קהה תִּקְהֶ֥ינָה תִּקְהֶֽינָה׃ תקהינה תקהינה׃ keHah qê·hāh qêhāh tikHeinah tiq·he·nāh tiqhenāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ecclesiastes 10:10 HEB: אִם־ קֵהָ֣ה הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל וְהוּא֙ NAS: the axe is dull and he does not sharpen KJV: If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet INT: If is dull the axe he Jeremiah 31:29 Jeremiah 31:30 Ezekiel 18:2 4 Occurrences |
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