Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage: The term "hewed" refers to the act of cutting, chopping, or shaping something with a tool such as an axe or a chisel. In biblical contexts, it often describes the process of cutting down trees or shaping stones and wood for construction or idol-making. The word is used to convey both physical and metaphorical actions in the Scriptures.
Biblical References:1.
Physical Hewing:·
Construction and Craftsmanship: In the construction of the Temple and other significant structures, hewing was a critical process. Stones and timber were hewed to precise specifications. For example, in the building of Solomon's Temple, the stones were hewed at the quarry to ensure they fit perfectly without the sound of tools at the construction site (
1 Kings 6:7). This meticulous preparation underscores the sacredness and reverence associated with the Temple's construction.
·
Idolatry: Hewing is also associated with the creation of idols. In
Isaiah 44:12-13, the prophet describes the process of crafting idols, where a craftsman hews wood to form a god, highlighting the futility and folly of idol worship.
2.
Metaphorical Hewing:·
Judgment and Correction: The prophets often used the imagery of hewing to describe God's judgment and correction of His people. In
Hosea 6:5, God declares, "Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth," illustrating how His words and judgments are like a sharp tool, cutting through the people's disobedience and sin.
·
Spiritual Formation: The process of hewing can also symbolize spiritual formation and discipline. Just as a craftsman hews a stone or piece of wood to achieve a desired shape, God shapes and molds His people through trials and teachings to conform them to His will.
Theological Significance:The act of hewing in the Bible often carries a dual significance. On one hand, it represents human effort and craftsmanship, whether in building sacred spaces or creating idols. On the other hand, it serves as a powerful metaphor for divine intervention and transformation. God's use of hewing imagery through the prophets emphasizes His active role in shaping the moral and spiritual character of His people. The process of hewing, whether physical or metaphorical, underscores themes of creation, destruction, judgment, and renewal throughout the biblical narrative.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
imp.) of Hew.
2. (p. p.) of Hew.
Strong's Hebrew
1496. gazith -- a cutting, hewing... hewed, hewn stone, wrought. From gazah; something cut, ie Dressed stone --
hewed,
hewn stone, wrought. see HEBREW gazah. 1495, 1496. gazith. 1497 .
... /hebrew/1496.htm - 6k 2672. chatsab -- to hew, hew out, cleave
... root Definition to hew, hew out, cleave NASB Word Usage chops (1), cut in pieces
(1), dig (2), engraved (1), hew (2), hewed (2), hewers (1), hewn (5), hewn ...
/hebrew/2672.htm - 6k
4274. machtseb -- a hewing
... hewedn. From chatsab; properly, a hewing; concretely, a quarry -- hewed(-n). see
HEBREW chatsab. 4273, 4274. machtseb. 4275 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4274.htm - 6k
8158. shasaph -- to hew in pieces
... Definition: pieces. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to hew in pieces NASB
Word Usage hewed to pieces (1). hew in pieces. A primitive ...
/hebrew/8158.htm - 5k
Library
The Letter of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Concerning the ...
... For as is written in the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah "they have forsaken me the
fountain of living waters and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that ...
/.../chapter xviii the letter of athanasius.htm
Backsliding.
... For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living
waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no ...
/.../moody/the way to god and how to find it/chapter ix backsliding.htm
To the Bishops of Africa.
... For just as they left the one well of the living water, and hewed for themselves
broken cisterns, which cannot hold water, as the prophet Jeremiah has it [3718 ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/to the bishops of africa.htm
The Great Mysteries in the Building of the Militant and Triumphant ...
... Next he examined those that had scabs; and he took and hewed many of these, and
commanded the virgins to take them up and cast them into the building. ...
/.../the pastor books first second third/similitude ninth the great mysteries.htm
Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
... Two: Wind (air, spirit?) from (out of) Spirit - thereby ordered and hewed He the
twenty-two letters of foundation, three mothers, and 7 duplicate, and 12 ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix v rabbinic theology and.htm
The Saviour's Many Crowns
... He died, and in that dreadful hour he overcame death, rifled the sepulcher, split
the stone which guarded the mouth of the grave, hewed death in pieces and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the saviours many crowns.htm
Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... But as the trees and stones of which the temple was built, were first hewed and
squared before they were fit to be laid in that house, so sinners, of which the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm
The Release of Saint George.
... she having disappeared, he and De Fistycuff set to work so manfully, although not
accustomed to handle such tools, that in a few days they hewed themselves a ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter eleven the release of.htm
Our Miseries, Messengers of Mercy
... not move them, because their sin was written as with an iron pen, and graven upon
the very horns of their altars, then he tried harsher means; he hewed them by ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/our miseries messengers of mercy.htm
Concerning Persecution
... cross from us. Those stones which are cut out for a building are first under
the saw and hammer to be hewed and squared. The godly ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/21 concerning persecution.htm
Thesaurus
Hewed (22 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp.) of Hew. 2. (pp) of Hew. Multi-Version
Concordance
Hewed (22 Occurrences). Matthew 27:60 and laid
.../h/hewed.htm - 14kAshe'rim (19 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 2 Chronicles 14:3 for he took away the strange altars, and the high places,
and broke down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim; (See RSV). ...
/a/ashe'rim.htm - 12k
Hew (17 Occurrences)
... and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that
heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for ...
/h/hew.htm - 12k
Rows (29 Occurrences)
... (YLT). 1 Kings 6:36 And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed
stone, and a row of cedar beams. (KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT NAS). ...
/r/rows.htm - 15k
Row (26 Occurrences)
... (See JPS). 1 Kings 6:36 And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone,
and a row of cedar beams. (Root in KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT NAS). ...
/r/row.htm - 14k
Measures (50 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:9 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed
stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the ...
/m/measures.htm - 35k
Quarried (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 5:17 And the king commanded, and they hewed out great stones, costly stones,
to lay the foundation of the house with wrought stone. (See JPS NAS RSV). ...
/q/quarried.htm - 7k
Gilgal (39 Occurrences)
... The place continued as one of special resort for sacrifices (1 Samuel 10:8; 1 Samuel
13:8, 9, 10; 15:21), while it was here that Samuel hewed Agag to pieces ...
/g/gilgal.htm - 27k
Graveth (1 Occurrence)
... and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that
heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for ...
/g/graveth.htm - 6k
Giblites (2 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY WBS). 1 Kings 5:18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the
Giblites hewed them, and prepared timber and stones to build the house. ...
/g/giblites.htm - 7k
Resources
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