פִּתּוּחַ (pit.tu.ach)
pit.tu.ach
engraving
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pit.tuach describes the careful act of engraving, a permanent mark cut into hard stone or metal. In the ancient world, this was not merely decoration; it was a way to make something last forever. When God instructed the Israelites to engrave the names of the tribes on the high priest’s breastplate, He showed that He remembers each person by name. This detail reminds us that our identities are secure in His care, not lost or forgotten.
We see this same theme in Zechariah 3:9, where God promises to engrave an inscription on a stone before Joshua. Here, the engraving symbolizes the removal of iniquity and the establishment of a lasting covenant. For you, this offers comfort. Your life is not written on sand that washes away with time. Instead, your name is held securely by the Creator who values precision and permanence.
This image invites you to rest in the knowledge that God’s promises are fixed. Just as an engraver works with steady hands to ensure every letter is clear, God ensures His word stands firm. You can trust that what He has marked on your heart will remain through every season of change.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] engravings of5×
- engravings/ its1×
- engravings of1×
- engraving/ its1×
- [was the] engravings of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פִּתּוּחֵ֣י4×
- פִּתּוּחֵ֤י2×
- פִּתּוּחֶ֣י/הָ1×
- פִּתּוּחֵי֙1×
- פִּתֻּחָ֗/הּ1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 28:11
With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children of Israel. You shall make them to be enclosed in settings of gold.
This verse establishes the personal nature of God’s memory, as the priest bears the engraved names of the tribes on his heart before the Lord.
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Exodus 28:36
“You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO YAHWEH.’
The engraving on the gold plate declares 'HOLY TO YAHWEH,' marking the priesthood’s set-apart status with permanent, unbreakable clarity.
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Zechariah 3:9
For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua: on one stone are seven eyes; behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
God uses this term to describe His promise to remove iniquity, linking the permanence of engraving with the finality of forgiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does pit.tuach mean in the Bible?
Why are engravings important in the Old Testament?
How is pit.tuach used in Zechariah 3:9?
Every Occurrence (9 verses across 4 books)
Exodus 6 verses
With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones, according to…
Exodus 28:21The stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the…
Exodus 28:36“You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO YAHWEH.’
Exodus 39:6They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the…
Exodus 39:14The stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings…
Exodus 39:30They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engravings of a signet:…