מַחְצֵב (mach.tsev)
mach.tsev
hewing
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun mach.tsev refers specifically to hewn or dressed stone. It describes rock that has been cut and shaped by human hands rather than left in its natural, rough state. This term appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in historical accounts of temple construction.
Its presence in 2 Kings 5:10 and 2 Chronicles 3:9 highlights the precision required for sacred spaces. In these passages, the word underscores that the materials used were prepared with care, distinguishing finished building blocks from raw quarry stone. The focus remains on the physical preparation of the stone itself.
Unlike words for general construction or rough masonry, mach.tsev points to the specific act of hewing. It serves as a technical term for dressed stone, marking the transition from natural geology to crafted architecture in biblical narratives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mach.tsev describes stone that has been carefully shaped by human hands, moving from a rough quarry block into a precise building material. In the biblical accounts of temple repairs, this term highlights the deliberate effort required to prepare materials for sacred spaces. It reminds us that God’s house is built with intention and care, not just with whatever stones are lying around.
When we look at our own lives, this concept invites reflection on how we present ourselves to God. Just as stone must be hewn and dressed to fit properly in a wall, our hearts often require the careful work of grace to become what they are meant to be. This process is not about perfection but about preparation for a holy purpose.
Knowing that God values such precision in His temple encourages us to trust His shaping in our own lives. Even when we feel like rough stones, we can rest in the knowledge that He is preparing us for something meaningful and enduring.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hewing2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַחְצֵ֔ב2×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 22:6
to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and cut stone to repair the house.
This verse lists cut stone alongside timber as essential materials for repairing the temple, showing it was a standard, valued component of sacred construction.
-
II Chronicles 34:11
They gave it to the carpenters and to the builders to buy cut stone and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
Here the term appears in the context of restoring houses destroyed by kings, emphasizing its role in rebuilding what had been lost or damaged.