H2303 H2303
sharp potsherds, pointed fragments (superlative form: 'sharpest of potsherds')
An intensive plural adjective meaning 'sharpest things' or 'pointed fragments,' appearing in God's description of Leviathan. Under the creature are 'the sharpest of potsherds'—the scales on its underside are like jagged pottery shards. The construct form creates a superlative: not just sharp, but the sharpest possible potsherds. This vivid image conveys both the creature's armor-like protection and the dangerous, cutting nature of its very underside.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The sharpest of potsherds or pointed fragments. Job 41:30 describes Leviathan's underside as having 'sharp potsherds'—its scales are like jagged pottery shards, making even the belly dangerous and impenetrable. The plural intensive form with construct ('sharpest of') creates superlative force. The image turns defensive scales into offensive weapons: even lying down, this creature is armed with cutting edges. 1×
AR["شُظَيَا"]·ben["তীক্ষ্ণ-টুকরোগুলি"]·DE["[חדודי]"]·EN["are-sharp-potsherds"]·FR["חדודי"]·heb["חדודי"]·HI["धारदार-हैं"]·ID["pecahan-pecahan"]·IT["are-sharp-potsherds"]·jav["pecahan-pecahan-landhep"]·KO["날카로운-것들이"]·PT["pontas-de-"]·RU["острые"]·ES["tiestos-de"]·SW["vipande-vikali"]·TR["sivri-parçaları"]·urd["نوکیلے-ٹکڑے"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [חַדּוּד] adj. sharpened, sharp, pointed, only cstr., with superlat. sense = subst.: תַּחְתָּיו חַדּוּדֵי חָ֑רֶשׁ Jb 41:22 beneath him the sharpest of potsherds, of scales of crocodile, cf. Di VB.