In biblical literature, the term "jaw teeth" refers to the teeth located in the jaw, often highlighting their strength and function in the context of consuming food or as a metaphor for power and destruction. The term is used in various passages to convey different symbolic meanings, often associated with strength, ferocity, or divine judgment.

Scriptural References:

1. Deuteronomy 32:24 · In the Song of Moses, God warns of the consequences of Israel's disobedience, stating, "They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the teeth of beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that glide in the dust." Here, the "teeth of beasts" metaphorically represent the destructive forces that God will unleash as a form of judgment.

2. Joel 1:6 · The prophet Joel describes a devastating locust plague, saying, "For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and it has the fangs of a lioness." The "teeth of a lion" symbolize the overwhelming and destructive power of the locusts, likening them to a fierce predator.

3. Proverbs 30:14 · This verse describes a generation characterized by its oppressive nature: "There is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men." The imagery of teeth as swords and jaws as knives underscores the violent and exploitative behavior of this group.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In these passages, "jaw teeth" are often used metaphorically to represent strength, aggression, and the capacity to cause harm. The imagery of teeth, particularly those of powerful animals like lions, conveys a sense of fearsome capability and the potential for destruction. This symbolism is consistent with the broader biblical theme of divine retribution and the consequences of sin and disobedience.

The use of "jaw teeth" in these contexts serves to illustrate the severity of God's judgment and the formidable nature of the forces He may employ to execute His will. It also reflects the biblical understanding of the natural world as a reflection of divine power and authority, where even the most fearsome creatures are under God's control and serve His purposes.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, teeth were often associated with strength and vitality. Predatory animals, such as lions, were revered for their power and ferocity, making their teeth a fitting symbol for destructive forces. The biblical authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit, employed this imagery to communicate profound spiritual truths to their audience, using familiar symbols to convey the seriousness of divine judgment and the need for repentance.

Overall, the concept of "jaw teeth" in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for the might and authority of God, as well as the potential for destruction inherent in His creation when it is used as an instrument of His will.Jaw Teeth

JAW; JAWBONE; JAW TEETH

jo, jo'-bon (lechi, "cheek (bone)," "jaw (bone)"): In Job 41:2, the Revised Version (British and American) gives "pierce his jaw through with a hook" for the King James Version "bore his jaw through with a thorn" (see HOOK; LEVIATHAN). Psalm 22:15, "My tongue cleaveth to my jaws (malqoach)," is descriptive of the effect of a fever or physical torture, a dryness and a horrible clamminess. Malqochayim is an ancient dual form meaning the two jaws, and, metaphorically, malqoach indicates that which is caught between the jaws, booty, prey, including captives (Numbers 31:11, 26, 32 Isaiah 49:24 f).

Figurative:

(1) Of the power of the wicked, with a reference to Divine restraint and discipline: "I brake the jaws (Hebrew "great teeth") of the unrighteous" (Job 29:17 Proverbs 30:14); compare Psalm 58:6, "Break out the great teeth (malta`oth, "jaw teeth") of the young lions, O Yahweh." Let the wicked be deprived of their ability for evil; let them at least be disabled from mischief. Septuagint reads "God shall break," etc. (Compare Edmund Prys's Metrical Paraphrase of the Psalms, in the place cited.) "A bridle. in the jaws of the peoples" (Isaiah 30:28; compare 2 Kings 19:28) is descriptive of the ultimate check of the Assyrian power at Jerusalem, "as when a bridle or lasso is thrown upon the jaws of a wild animal when you wish to catch and tame him" (G.A. Smith Isaiah, I, 235). Compare Ezekiel 29:4 (concerning Pharaoh); 38:4 (concerning Gog), "I will put hooks in (into) thy jaws."

(2) Of human labor and trials, with a reference to the Divine gentleness: "I was to them as they that lift up the yoke on their jaws" (Hosea 11:4), or `take the yoke off their jaws,' as the humane driver eased the yoke with his hands or `lifted it forward from neck to the jaws'; or it may perhaps refer to the removal of the yoke in the evening, when work is over.

Jawbone (Judges 15:15).

See RAMATH-LEHI.

M. O. Evans

4973. methalleoth -- teeth
... Word Origin from the same as tola Definition teeth NASB Word Usage fangs
(2), jaw teeth (1), jaws (1). cheek jaw tooth, jaw. Contr. ...
/hebrew/4973.htm - 6k

Joel's Rhapsody of the Locust Plague
... For a nation is come up upon my land, Strong, and without number; His teeth are
the teeth of a lion, And he hath the jaw teeth of a great lion. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/joels rhapsody of the locust.htm

The Simple Nature of the Soul is Asserted with Plato. The Identity ...
... show me their pupils. Moths also gnaw and eat: demonstrate to me their
mandibles, reveal their jaw-teeth. Then, again, gnats hum ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter x the simple nature of.htm

Change not Always Improvement.
... The yawning mouth stuffed with hair, the jaw-teeth overshadowed amid the forelocks,
the whole outraged visage, would have roared had it been able. ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter iv change not always improvement.htm

Why Man is Destitute of Natural Weapons and Covering
... because we needed teeth and biting power to subdue some of the other animals by
grip of teeth, the dog gave, together with his swiftness, his own jaw to supply ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/vii why man is destitute.htm

Given to Abstraction of Thought. Cases in Point. Opinion of ...
... The teeth became very sore from pressure, and the muscles of the jaw very tired
from the unnatural strain, but in about ten days it was all over, and the job ...
/.../chapter v given to abstraction.htm

Psalm LVIII.
... the teeth of them in their own mouth. Afterwards they cried out, "Crucify, Crucify."
[2191] Now is there no tongue of asp, but roar of lion. But also "the jaw- ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lviii.htm

The one Purpose of Prayer.
... Not to grit your teeth and lock your jaw and pray for grace to say, "Thy will be
endured: it is bitter, but I must be resigned; that is a Christian grace; Thy ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on prayer/the one purpose of prayer.htm

Whether Fear Makes one Tremble?
... The lower lip, too, and the lower jaw tremble, through their connection
with the heart; which explains the chattering of the teeth. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether fear makes one tremble.htm

Full Redemption
... fiend; I think I see thee now, with thy head all broken, and thy jaw-teeth smashed,
and thy venom-bags all emptied, and thou thyself a weary length of agony ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/full redemption.htm

The Arrest of the Body
... Owing to the use of viands cooked, the muscles of the jaw are rapidly losing strength.
The teeth, partly for a similar reason, are undergoing marked ...
/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter iii the arrest of.htm

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