H3597 H3597
hammers, tools for striking; plural of axe-like implement
This noun appears in Psalm 74:6, lamenting the desecration of the temple: 'And now they break down all its carved work with axe and hammers.' The word is a loan from Assyrian kalappatu (axe/hammer), reflecting cultural vocabulary exchange. The psalm describes Babylonian soldiers smashing the temple's ornate woodwork—an act of both military vandalism and theological desecration. The plural 'hammers' paired with 'axe' emphasizes the violence and thoroughness of destruction. The image is of sacred space violated by crude implements of war.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Psalm 74:6 uses this plural noun for the implements used to destroy temple carvings, parallel to 'axe' (compare v. 5's 'axes'). Borrowed from Assyrian kalappatu, indicating cultural-linguistic exchange. Multilingual versions: English 'hammers,' Spanish 'martillos,' French 'massue' (club/mace). The conjunction 'and' links this to other destructive tools. Archaeological and textual evidence supports understanding these as heavy striking implements used to smash carved wood. The lament emphasizes the sacrilege of using crude tools on sacred artistry. 1×
AR["وَ-المِعْوَلِ"]·ben["ও-কুঠারে"]·DE["und-hammers"]·EN["and-hammers"]·FR["et-massue"]·heb["ו-כילפות"]·ID["dan-palu"]·IT["[וכילפת]"]·jav["saha-palu"]·KO["쇠봉들-로"]·PT["e-martelos"]·RU["и-молотами"]·ES["y-martillos"]·SW["na-shoka"]·TR["ve-çekiçlerle"]·urd["وَ-ہتھوڑوں-سے"]
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
† כֵּילַפּוֹת n.[f.] axe (loan-word (cf. Frä74) from Assyrian kalappatu v. DlHWB 333)—בְּכַשִּׁיל וְכ׳ יַהֲלֹמ֑וּן ψ 74:6 (‖ קַרְדֻּמּוֹת v 5).