H4282 H4282
Plowshare, the cutting blade of a plow; brought to Philistines for sharpening during their metal monopoly
This agricultural term appears in 1 Samuel 13:20-21, describing Philistine economic control: Israelites had to go to Philistines to sharpen their plowshares. The plowshare was the critical metal blade that cut through soil, requiring periodic sharpening to remain effective. Philistine monopoly on metalworking forced Israelite farmers into dependency for basic agricultural maintenance. The text's detailed listing of farming implements (plowshares, axes, mattocks) emphasizes how Philistine control of metal technology extended into every aspect of Israelite economic life. Even plowing required Philistine permission.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The metal cutting blade of a plow, appearing in the account of Philistine metalworking monopoly. Israelite farmers had to travel to Philistine smiths to sharpen these essential agricultural tools. The plowshare represents how Philistine control of metallurgy created economic dependency—even basic farming required Philistine services. The term appears in a list of farming implements that together show comprehensive Philistine technological advantage over Israel. 1×
AR["سِكَّتَهُ"]·ben["তার-লাঙলের-ফলা"]·DE["sein-plowshare"]·EN["his-plowshare"]·FR["son-plowshare"]·heb["מחרשתו"]·HI["अपना-हल"]·ID["mata-bajaknya"]·IT["suo-plowshare"]·jav["luku-ipun"]·KO["그의-보습을"]·PT["sua-relha"]·RU["лемех-свой"]·ES["reja-de-él"]·SW["jembe-lake"]·TR["sabanını"]·urd["اپنا-ہل"]
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
† [מַחֲרֵשָׁה, מַחֲרֶ֫שֶׁת] n.f. ploughshare—sg. sf. לִלְטוֹשׁ אִישׁ מַחֲרַשְׁתּוֹ v 20 to sharpen each man his ploughshare 1 S 13:20 (+ אֵתוֹ, קַרְדֻּמּוֹ) + מַחֲרֵשָׁתוֹ v 20, read prob. דָּרְבָּנוֹ his goad (so 𝔊 𝔖 We Dr, see v 21); pl. abs. מַחֲרֵשֹׁת v 21 (+ similar list; on text of both vv. see Dr).