μάχαιρ-α G3162
A sword or large knife; used literally of a weapon and figuratively of divine judgment, persecution, or conflict
Originally denoting a large knife or short sword (distinct from the longer xiphos), machaira became the standard NT term for the sword in all its dimensions -- literal, judicial, and metaphorical. Jesus tells Peter to put his machaira back in its place at Gethsemane (Matt 26:52), and warns that 'all who take the sword will perish by the sword.' Yet he also declared 'I did not come to bring peace but a sword' (Matt 10:34), using it figuratively for the division his message would cause. Paul speaks of the governing authority bearing 'the sword' as God's instrument of justice (Rom 13:4), and Hebrews describes God's word as 'sharper than any two-edged sword' (Heb 4:12). Spanish 'espada,' French 'epee,' and German 'Schwert' all render the word consistently.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A sword as a physical weapon -- the short sword, dagger, or blade carried by soldiers, guards, or individuals. This is the machaira Peter draws at Gethsemane (Matt 26:51), the weapon Herod uses to execute James (Acts 12:2), and the instrument of martyrdom listed among trials of faith (Rom 8:35, Heb 11:37). Jesus' warning 'all who take the sword will perish by the sword' (Matt 26:52) underscores the literal, lethal reality of this weapon. All target languages render uniformly: Spanish 'espada,' French 'epee,' German 'Schwert.' 22×
AR["-السَّيْفَ", "بِ-سَيْفٍ", "سَيفًا", "سَيفٌ", "سَيفٍ", "سَيفَ", "سَيْف", "سَيْفًا", "سَيْفٌ", "سَيْفٍ", "سَيْفَ", "سَيْفَكَ", "سَيْفَهُ"]·ben["খড়গ", "খড়্গ-কে", "তরবারি", "তরবারি,", "তরবারিকে", "তরবারিতে", "তরবারির", "তরোয়াল", "তলওয়ার", "তলোয়ার"]·DE["Schwert"]·EN["a-sword", "of-sword", "sword"]·FR["épée"]·heb["חֶרֶב", "חַרְבּוֹ"]·HI["तलवअर", "तलवार", "तलवार,", "तलवार-की"]·ID["pedang", "pedang,", "pedang?"]·IT["spada"]·jav["pedhang", "pedhang,", "pedhang.", "pedhang;", "pedhang?"]·KO["검-을", "검-이", "검으로", "검을", "검이냐", "칼", "칼-로", "칼-을", "칼을", "칼의"]·PT["da-espada", "de-espada", "espada", "espada,", "espada?"]·RU["ведь", "меч", "меч,", "меча", "мечом"]·ES["de-espada", "espada"]·SW["kwa-upanga", "upanga", "upanga.", "ya-upanga"]·TR["-nin-", "kılıcı", "kılıcın", "kılıcını", "kılıç", "kılıç-mı", "kılıçla", "kılıçtan"]·urd["تلوار", "تلوار-سے", "تلوار-کی", "تلوار-کے", "تلوار؟"]
Matt 10:34, Matt 26:51, Matt 26:52, Matt 26:52, Matt 26:52, Mark 14:47, Luke 21:24, Luke 22:36, Luke 22:49, John 18:10, John 18:11, Acts 16:27 (+10 more)
2. sense 2 — Swords in the plural, referring to armed groups, military force, or the collective threat of violence. The crowd that arrests Jesus comes 'with swords and clubs' (Matt 26:47, Mark 14:43), and Jesus rebukes them: 'Have you come out with swords and clubs to capture me?' (Matt 26:55). When the disciples say 'Lord, here are two swords' (Luke 22:38), the plural signals readiness for conflict. This sense extends to persecution lists where 'sword' represents violent death as a category (Rom 8:35). 6×
AR["سَيْفانِ", "سُيوفٍ", "سُيُوفٍ"]·ben["তরবারি", "তরবারির", "তরোয়ালের"]·DE["Schwert"]·EN["swords"]·FR["épée"]·heb["חֲרָבוֹת"]·HI["तलवारें", "तलवारों"]·ID["pedang", "pedang-pedang"]·IT["spada"]·jav["pedhang"]·KO["검들과", "검이", "칼들", "칼들과"]·PT["espadas"]·RU["мечами", "мечи"]·ES["espadas"]·SW["mapanga", "panga"]·TR["kılıçlar", "kılıçlarla"]·urd["تلواروں", "تلواروں-کے", "تلواریں"]
3. sense 3 — The sword as an instrument of judicial or divinely authorized power, wielded by governing authorities or by God himself. Paul declares that the ruler 'does not bear the sword in vain' (Rom 13:4), pointing to the state's God-given authority to execute justice. This judicial sense bridges the literal weapon and its metaphorical extensions, showing the sword as a symbol of authorized lethal power rather than mere violence. 1×
AR["بِـ-سَيْفٍ"]·ben["তরবারি-দিয়ে"]·DE["Schwert"]·EN["with-sword"]·FR["épée"]·heb["בְּחֶרֶב"]·HI["तलवार-से"]·ID["dengan-pedang"]·IT["spada"]·jav["pedhang."]·KO["칼로"]·RU["мечом"]·ES["con-espada"]·SW["kwa-upanga."]·TR["kılıçla"]·urd["تلوار-سے"]
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μάχαιρ-α [μᾰ], ας (later -ης, dative -ῃ, NT+2nd c.BC+, ἡ, large knife or dirk, Refs 8th c.BC+; carving-knife, Refs 5th c.BC+; sacrificial knife, Refs 5th c.BC+ —ἡ Δελφικὴ μ. a knife adapted to various purposes, Refs 4th c.BC+ see at {Δελφικὴ μ}.; proverbial, of greedy persons, because Delphian sacrificers claimed a share for the knife, Refs __2 as a weapon, short sword, dagger, Refs 5th c.BC+;…