Hebrew word · H19
אִבְחָה
'ivchat-
slaughter
It occurs only here, so its meaning has to be inferred. Suggestions include "slaughter" (the most common), "threatening," "point/edge," and "glitter/flash."
Appears once in the Hebrew Old Testament. ·
What it means
slaughter, flesh, meat, slaughtered meat
Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
From the study of Ezekiel 21:15
- Range of meaning
It occurs only here, so its meaning has to be inferred. Suggestions include "slaughter" (the most common), "threatening," "point/edge," and "glitter/flash."
- Against the English
KJV "the point of the sword"; WEB "the threatening sword"; BSB "a sword for slaughter"; other modern versions, "slaughter" or "glittering". The variety shows how uncertain the word is, not a real difference of interpretation.
- How it drifted
KJV's "point" follows a medieval Jewish guess. Modern versions rely on comparison with related words and with the ancient translations.
- Used elsewhere in the period
The Greek Septuagint seems to have read a word for slaughter or victims here. Many commentators (e.g., Zimmerli, Greenberg, Block) note that changing one letter gives טִבְחַת (tivchat, "slaughter of"), from the same root as the verse's last word לְטָבַח ("for slaughter"). Some compare an Akkadian root meaning "to turn/swing."
Where it appears
Ezekiel · 1
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Ezekiel 21:15 אִבְחַת־ a slaughter of
So that their hearts may melt and many may stumble, I have appointed at all their gates a sword for slaughter. Yes, it is ready to flash like lightning; it is drawn for slaughter.
Here: A word found only here, and its meaning is uncertain. Most take it as "the slaughter of" (perhaps a copying slip for tivchat). Older guesses were "point", "threat" or "glitter."
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.