H6864 H6864
flint; a hard, sharp-edged stone used for cutting implements and symbolizing hardness
This noun denotes flint rock prized in the ancient world for its sharp edges and durability. It appears in Exodus where Moses' wife uses a flint knife for circumcision, and in Ezekiel where God makes the prophet's forehead harder than flint, symbolizing unyielding resolve against rebellious Israel. The term emphasizes flint's qualities: extremely hard, capable of holding a keen edge, and superior to softer stones. Flint knives remained in ritual use even after bronze and iron became common, preserving ancient practices. The metaphorical usage builds on flint's legendary hardness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Exodus 4:25 employs the construct form 'flint of' (flint knife), while Ezekiel 3:9 uses the comparative 'harder than flint' (than rock). Spanish distinguishes 'pedernal' (the stone itself) from the comparative construction. The Exodus passage preserves archaic ritual practice where Zipporah performs emergency circumcision with a stone blade, reflecting flint's enduring role in sacred procedures. Ezekiel's metaphor requires flint's proverbial hardness as the standard exceeded by divine empowerment. BDB notes flint's use in compound constructions like 'swords of flint' (Joshua 5:2-3), emphasizing its essential role in ancient tool-making before metal working advanced. 2×
AR["صَوَّانًا", "مِنَ-الصَّوّانِ"]·ben["-পাথরের-চেয়ে", "পাথর"]·DE["[מצר]", "flint"]·EN["flint", "than-rock"]·FR["de-Tyr", "flint"]·heb["מ-צור", "צור"]·HI["पतथर", "से-चकमक"]·ID["batu-tajam", "dari-batu-api"]·IT["[מצר]", "flint"]·jav["langkung-saking-séla", "watu-landhep"]·KO["보다-부싯돌", "부싯돌을"]·PT["mais-que-pederneira", "pederneira"]·RU["кремень", "кремня"]·ES["más-que-pedernal", "pedernal"]·SW["jiwe-kali", "kuliko-jiwe-gumu"]·TR["güçlü", "çakmak-taşı"]·urd["سے-چقماق", "چقماک"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. צֹר n.[m.] id.;—צ׳ used as knife Ex 4:25; in comp., כְּשָׁמִיר חָזָק מִצּ׳ Ez 3:9; pl. חַרְבוֹת צֻרִים Jos 5:2, 3 knives of flint.—צוּר חַרְבּוֹ ψ 89:44 is dub., צ׳ usually taken as = צֹר, and then either flint of his sword (i.e. sword sharp as flint, Bae), or edge (like flint) of his sword (most); We leaves untransl. 2 S 2:16 חֶלְקַת הַצֻּרִים v. i. חֶלְקָה.—Jb 22:24 v. i. צוּר sub V. צור. i. צֹר v. p. 862.