H4457 H4457
Tongs or snuffers: dual-form noun for temple implements used to trim lamp wicks or handle altar coals.
A dual-form noun referring to tongs or snuffers used in Israel's sacred worship. These implements served two related but distinct purposes: lifting hot coals from the altar, as in Isaiah's dramatic temple vision where a seraph takes a burning coal with tongs (Isa 6:6), and trimming the wicks of the golden lampstand in the tabernacle and temple (Exod 25:38; 37:23; Num 4:9; 1 Kgs 7:49; 2 Chr 4:21). The dual form (melqachayim) reflects the paired arms of the tool, much like modern tongs or tweezers.
Senses
1. tongs, snuffers — Temple implements in dual form — tongs for handling hot coals and snuffers for trimming lampstand wicks. In Isaiah 6:6 a seraph uses tongs to take a live coal from the altar; in the Pentateuchal tabernacle texts (Exod 25:38; 37:23; Num 4:9) and Solomon's temple inventory (1 Kgs 7:49; 2 Chr 4:21) they appear among the lampstand accessories. Spanish renders both 'tenazas' (tongs) and 'despabiladeras' (snuffers), capturing the functional range. The dual morphology (melqachayim) mirrors the two-armed design of the tool itself. 6×
AR["بِمِلقَطٍ", "مَلاَقِطَهَا", "وَ-الـ-مَلَاقِطُ", "وَ-الْمَلَاقِطُ", "وَ-مَلاقِطَها", "وَ-مَلاقِطُها"]·ben["-চিমটায়", "আর-চিমটা", "এবং-চিমটাগুলি", "এবং-চিমটাগুলি-তার", "এবং-তার-সাঁড়াশিগুলি", "তার-চিমটা"]·DE["[במלקחים]", "[והמלקחים]", "sein-snuffers", "und-der-tongs", "und-sein-Dochtscheren", "und-sein-Zangen"]·EN["and-its-snuffers", "and-its-tongs", "and-the-tongs", "its-snuffers", "with-tongs"]·FR["[במלקחים]", "[והמלקחים]", "et-le-tongs", "et-son-pinces", "et-son-snuffers", "son-snuffers"]·heb["ב-מלקחיים", "ו-ה-מלקחיים", "ו-ה-מלקחים", "ו-מלקחיה", "מלקחיה"]·HI["उसकी-चिमटी", "और-उसकी-चिमटियाँ", "और-उसके-चिमटे", "और-चिमटे", "चिमटे-से"]·ID["Dan-sepitnya", "dan-penyepit-penyepit", "dan-sepit-sepit", "dan-sepit-sepitnya", "dengan-sepit", "sepit-sepitnya"]·IT["[במלקחים]", "[והמלקחים]", "e-il-tongs", "e-suo-molle", "e-suo-smoccolatoi", "suo-snuffers"]·jav["Lan-supit-supit-ipun", "kaliyan-supit", "lan-sepit", "lan-sepit-sepitipun", "lan-supit", "sepet-sepet-ipun"]·KO["그것의-불집게들", "그리고-그-불집게들", "그리고-그-불집게와", "그리고-그것의-부젓가락들을", "그리고-집게들은", "불집게로"]·PT["E-tenazes-dela", "com-tenázes", "e-as-espevitadeiras", "e-as-tenazes", "e-suas-tenazes", "espevitadeiras-dele"]·RU["И-щипцы-его", "и-щипцы", "и-щипцы-её", "щипцами", "щипцы-его"]·ES["Y-sus-despabiladeras", "con-tenazas", "despabiladeras-de-él", "y-las-tenazas", "y-sus-despabiladeras"]·SW["dhahabu", "kwa-koleo", "mikasi-yake", "na-koleo-zake", "na-mikasi", "na-mikasi-yake"]·TR["Ve-makası", "makasını", "masayla", "ve-makasını", "ve-masaşları", "ve-maşalar"]·urd["اس-کے-گلگیروں", "اور-اُس-کی-قینچیاں", "اور-اُس-کے-کینچیوں", "اور-چمٹے", "اور-چمٹے-", "چمٹے-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
† מֶלְקָחַ֫יִם [מַלְקָחַיִם] n.[m.]du. tongs, snuffers;— 1. tongs used at altar of temple, for lifting coal, in Is.’s vision, Is 6:6. 2. lamp-snuffers, in temple 1 K 7:49 = 2 Ch 4:21; in tabern. sf. (ref. to lamp-stand, מְנוֹרָה) מַלְקָחֶיהָ Ex 25:38; 37:23 Nu 4:9 (all P).