Lexical Summary peh: Mouth Original Word: פֵיה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance two-edged Or piyah {pee-yaw'}; feminine of peh; an edge -- (two-)edge(-d). see HEBREW peh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as peh, q.v. Topical Lexicon Occurrence and narrative context The only appearance of the noun פֵיה (Strong’s Hebrew 6366) is in Judges 3:16, where it describes the two “edges” of the dagger Ehud fashions to strike down Eglon of Moab. “Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing” (Judges 3:16). The word pictures the sharp “mouth” of a blade, underscoring the lethal precision of the deliverer’s weapon. symbolic linkage of “mouth” and “edge” Hebrew frequently transfers the idea of a “mouth” (the opening that consumes or speaks) to the cutting lip of a weapon. In Judges 3:16 the image heightens the clandestine nature of Ehud’s dagger: its two “mouths” silently “devour” the oppressor. This association sets the stage for later biblical metaphors in which the spoken word itself becomes a sword (Psalm 149:6; Proverbs 5:4; Isaiah 49:2; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16). divine deliverance through unconventional means The single use of פֵיה is situated in a account that emphasizes God’s sovereignty in employing unexpected instruments—here, a left-handed Benjamite armed with a home-made, double-edged dagger. Ehud’s victory inaugurates eighty years of peace (Judges 3:30) and demonstrates that salvation is secured not by military might alone but by obedience, courage, and the Lord’s enabling. foreshadowing the double-edged Word The physical sword with two edges finds its ultimate theological counterpart in Scripture’s presentation of God’s Word. “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). Just as Ehud’s blade penetrated Eglon without resistance, so the Word pierces soul and spirit, judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Revelation 1:16 completes the progression: out of the glorified Christ’s mouth goes a sharp two-edged sword, portraying His authoritative, decisive speech in judgment and redemption. historical and archaeological perspective Bronze and early iron daggers from the Late Bronze Age (fifteenth–thirteenth centuries BC) often measured about one cubit (eighteen inches) and could be double-edged. The text’s technical term for “edges” confirms the smithing skill required to fashion symmetrical cutting surfaces—a rarity among shorter blades, which were commonly single-edged. Ehud’s craftsmanship signals careful planning and resourcefulness during a period when Israel possessed limited metallurgy (cf. 1 Samuel 13:19-22). ministry and pastoral application 1. Spiritual warfare: As Ehud concealed his weapon for a decisive strike, so believers “take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) and apply it with prayerful precision against spiritual strongholds. related Old Testament echoes of the “two-edged” motif Psalm 149:6: “May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a double-edged sword in their hands.” Proverbs 5:4: “In the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.” These passages reinforce the duality of blessing and judgment issuing from lips and blades alike, weaving together praise, warning, and warfare. new testament culmination Hebrews and Revelation draw the “mouth-edge” concept to its climax: the incarnate Word whose speech carries ultimate authority. The single Old Testament occurrence in Judges therefore stands as the seed of a theme that blossoms into the eschatological vision of Christ, whose spoken judgment is final and whose redeeming word is unfailingly effectual. Forms and Transliterations פֵי֖וֹת פיות feYot p̄ê·yō·wṯ p̄êyōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 3:16 HEB: וְלָ֛הּ שְׁנֵ֥י פֵי֖וֹת גֹּ֣מֶד אָרְכָּ֑הּ KJV: which had two edges, of a cubit INT: A sword had two edges A cubit length 1 Occurrence |
    |