Original Word: מַשּׂוֹר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: massowr
Pronunciation: mas-sore'
Phonetic Spelling: (mas-sore')
KJV: saw
NASB: saw
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to rasp]

1. a saw

saw

From an unused root meaning to rasp; a saw -- saw.

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a saw
NASB Translation
saw (1).

מַשּׂוֺר noun masculine saw; — absolute Isaiah 10:15.

Physical Setting and Function

In ancient Near Eastern workshops the saw was an iron or bronze blade with serrated teeth, indispensable to carpenters and builders. Its value lay solely in the hand that drew it; when set down it was inert. This dependence makes it a perfect metaphor for human agency under divine sovereignty in its sole biblical occurrence.

Biblical Context

“Does the saw magnify itself against the one who wields it?” (Isaiah 10:15). The question appears in a taunt oracle against Assyria, framed alongside the axe, rod, and staff. The prophet exposes the absurdity of an instrument boasting over its craftsman, rebuking imperial pride and reminding Judah that the LORD alone directs the course of nations (Isaiah 10:5–7).

Historical Background: Assyria as the Saw

Eighth-century Assyria excelled at siegecraft, cutting through timber and stone to breach city walls. Isaiah’s audience, threatened by these campaigns, would immediately grasp the image: a feared empire reduced to a mere tool. The LORD used Assyria to chastise His people, yet planned to judge the empire for exalting itself (Isaiah 10:12). The saw thus becomes both symbol of divine instrumentality and impending accountability.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty

Nations, kings, and individuals accomplish nothing apart from God’s will (Proverbs 19:21).

2. Human Accountability

Instruments remain responsible for the pride or cruelty with which they serve (Habakkuk 2:4–8).

3. Humility

Recognition of one’s “saw-like” status curbs ministerial pride and fosters dependence on the Master Craftsman (1 Corinthians 4:7).

Ministry Significance

• Preaching: The verse illustrates that gifting and success originate with God, not the servant.
• Leadership: It warns against organizational hubris—ministries must not glory in their own effectiveness.
• Pastoral Care: Believers battling inadequacy gain confidence knowing their worth lies in being chosen and directed by the LORD.

Related Metaphors

Isaiah’s saw stands with the axe (Isaiah 10:15), hammer (Jeremiah 23:29), and potter’s wheel (Jeremiah 18:6) to emphasize God’s mastery over human tools, each reinforcing the principle that the Creator governs creation for His purposes.

Christological Perspective

The incarnate Son, Himself a carpenter (Mark 6:3), later claims, “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Just as the saw relied on the craftsman, so disciples rely on Christ, who fashions believers into “instruments for special purposes” (2 Timothy 2:21).

Practical Application

1. Submit plans to God; He wields the tool.
2. Guard against self-exaltation; pride invites discipline.
3. Rejoice in usefulness; the value of a saw is proven in the Builder’s hand.

Summary

Though מַשּׂוֹר appears only once, its imagery resounds through Scripture: God alone wields power, humans are His instruments, and true wisdom lies in humble cooperation with His sovereign purposes.

הַמַּשּׂוֹר֙ המשור ham·maś·śō·wr hammassOr hammaśśōwrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts