In biblical times, the term "blade" often refers to the cutting edge of a weapon or tool, such as a sword, knife, or sickle. The blade is a symbol of power, judgment, and sometimes divine intervention. It is frequently mentioned in the context of warfare, sacrifice, and agricultural practices.

Sword Blades

The sword is one of the most prominent weapons mentioned in the Bible, symbolizing both physical and spiritual warfare. In the Old Testament, the sword is often associated with God's judgment and the execution of His will. For instance, in Genesis 3:24 , after Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, God placed cherubim and a "flaming sword that turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life." This imagery underscores the sword's role as a divine instrument of protection and judgment.

In the New Testament, the sword takes on a more metaphorical meaning. Ephesians 6:17 describes the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," highlighting the power of Scripture in spiritual battles. The blade of the sword, therefore, represents the penetrating and discerning nature of God's Word.

Agricultural Blades

Blades are also significant in the context of agriculture, particularly in the form of sickles used for harvesting. The sickle is a symbol of reaping and judgment. In Joel 3:13 , the prophet declares, "Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the vats overflow, because their wickedness is great." This passage uses the imagery of a sickle to convey the impending judgment and the gathering of nations for divine retribution.

Symbolism and Imagery

The blade, whether of a sword or a sickle, often carries a dual symbolism of destruction and purification. In Hebrews 4:12 , the Word of God is described as "sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." This passage emphasizes the blade's ability to penetrate deeply, symbolizing the thorough and discerning nature of divine truth.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, blades were crafted from materials such as bronze and iron, reflecting the technological advancements of the time. The quality and craftsmanship of a blade were crucial for its effectiveness in battle and agriculture. The Israelites, like their neighboring cultures, would have relied on skilled artisans to produce these essential tools and weapons.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, the blade serves as a powerful symbol of God's authority, judgment, and the transformative power of His Word. Whether in the form of a sword or a sickle, the blade represents both the destructive and redemptive aspects of divine intervention in the world.Applied to the glittering point of a spear (Job 39:23) or sword (Nahum 3:3), the blade of a dagger (Judges 3:22); the "shoulder blade" (Job 31:22); the "blade" of cereals (Matthew 13:26). 1. (n.) Properly, the leaf, or flat part of the leaf, of any plant, especially of gramineous plants. The term is sometimes applied to the spire of grasses.

2. (n.) The cutting part of an instrument; as, the blade of a knife or a sword.

3. (n.) The broad part of an oar; also, one of the projecting arms of a screw propeller.

4. (n.) The scapula or shoulder blade.

5. (n.) The principal rafters of a roof.

6. (n.) The four large shell plates on the sides, and the five large ones of the middle, of the carapace of the sea turtle, which yield the best tortoise shell.

7. (n.) A sharp-witted, dashing, wild, or reckless, fellow; -- a word of somewhat indefinite meaning.

8. (v. t.) To furnish with a blade.

9. (v. i.) To put forth or have a blade.

4079. pedalion -- a rudder
... Word Origin from pedon (the blade of an oar) Definition a rudder NASB Word
Usage rudder (1), rudders (1). rudder. Neuter of a (presumed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4079.htm - 6k

5528. chortos -- a feeding place, food, grass
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition a feeding place, food, grass NASB Word
Usage blade (1), grass (12), hay (1), wheat (1). grass, hay. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5528.htm - 6k

1366. distomos -- double-mouthed, two-edged
... 1366 -- properly, two-mouthed (having two edges), like a "two-edged" sword with
both sides of the blade sharpened to an edge; (figuratively) what penetrates at ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1366.htm - 7k

3851. lahab -- flame, blade
... 3850b, 3851. lahab. 3852 . flame, blade. Transliteration: lahab Phonetic Spelling:
(lah'-hab) Short Definition: flame. ... blade, bright, flame, glittering. ...
/hebrew/3851.htm - 6k

7929. shikmah -- shoulder blade
... shikmah. 7930 . shoulder blade. Transliteration: shikmah Phonetic Spelling:
(shik-maw') Short Definition: blade. Word Origin fem. of shekem, qv. shoulder blade ...
/hebrew/7929.htm - 5k

3852. lehabah -- flame, blade
... lehabah or lahebeth. 3853 . flame, blade. Transliteration: lehabah or lahebeth
Phonetic Spelling: (leh-aw-baw') Short Definition: flame. Word Origin fem. ...
/hebrew/3852.htm - 6k

3802. katheph -- shoulder, shoulder blade, side
... 3801, 3802. katheph. 3803 . shoulder, shoulder blade, side. Transliteration:
katheph Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-thafe') Short Definition: side. ...
/hebrew/3802.htm - 6k

4037. magzerah -- a cutting instrument, axe
... Word Origin from gazar Definition a cutting instrument, axe NASB Word Usage axes
(1). blade, axe. From gazar; a cutting implement, ie A blade -- axe. ...
/hebrew/4037.htm - 6k

Now God Differs from God in no Respect for There Cannot Lie Divine ...
... of abstract, but not when it is a question of concrete things, as, for example,
if I say of one and the same thing, "one sword, one brand, one blade." [16] It ...
/.../boethius/the trinity is one god not three gods/iii now god differs from.htm

The Patience of Faith
... is gradual and evolutionary: the seed is sown and slowly comes to fruitage; the
leaven silently penetrates the lump; the grain grows, first the blade, then the ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/xviii the patience of faith.htm

The Seed Growing Secretly
... The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full
corn in the ear. ... The blade and the ear in turn are innovations. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 4 26-29 the seed growing.htm

The Circumcision of Jesus
... The cover was removed from the stone to disclose the three boxes with healing ointments
and lotions. The handle and the blade of the knife were both of stone. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xii the circumcision of jesus.htm

The Trinity is one God
... of abstract, but not when it is a question of concrete things, as, for example,
if I say of one and the same thing, "one sword, one brand, one blade." [14] It ...
/.../boethius/the theological tractates/the trinity is one god.htm

Letter i. To Innocent.
... But though the headsman summoned all his strength into his bared arm, the moment
it touched her flesh the fatal blade stopped short, and, lightly glancing over ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter i to innocent.htm

The Paradoxes of Christianity
... A blade of grass is called after the blade of a sword, because it comes to a point;
but it doesn't. Everywhere in things there is this element of the quiet and ...
/.../chesterton/orthodoxy/vi the paradoxes of christianity.htm

Growth
... magnificent. In this world only the cornless ear is seen; sometimes only the small
yet still prophetic blade. ... judged. A blade is a small thing. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/growth.htm

The Work of God in Our Work.
... Sanctification is the kernel from which the blade and full ear of good works shall
spring; but this does not identify the kernel with the blade. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xiii the work of god.htm

Matt. xiii. 24-30.
... wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought
forth fruit, then appeared the tares. So the servants of ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xlvi matt xiii 24-30.htm

Blade (23 Occurrences)
... Applied to the glittering point of a spear (Job 39:23) or sword (Nahum 3:3), the
blade of a dagger (Judges 3:22); the "shoulder blade" (Job 31:22); the "blade...
/b/blade.htm - 14k

Shoulder-blade (1 Occurrence)
Shoulder-blade. Shoulderblade, Shoulder-blade. Shoulderpiece . Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia SHOULDER-BLADE. shol'der ...
/s/shoulder-blade.htm - 7k

Guiding-blade (1 Occurrence)
Guiding-blade. Guiding, Guiding-blade. Guiding-blades .
Multi-Version Concordance Guiding-blade (1 Occurrence). James ...
/g/guiding-blade.htm - 6k

Curved (10 Occurrences)
... 14:14 And I saw a white cloud, and on the cloud I saw one seated, like a son of
man, having on his head a crown of gold, and in his hand a sharp curved blade. ...
/c/curved.htm - 9k

Axe (19 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A tool or instrument of steel, or of iron with a steel edge or blade, for
felling trees, chopping and splitting wood, hewing timber, etc. ...
/a/axe.htm - 18k

Shoulderblade
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SHOULDER-BLADE. shol'der-blad (shikhmah):
"Then let my shoulder (kathephi) fall from the shoulder ...
/s/shoulderblade.htm - 6k

Grain (413 Occurrences)
... 24. (n.) A blade of a sword, knife, etc. 25. ... (BBE). Matthew 13:26 But when the blade
shoots up and the grain is formed, then appears the darnel also. ...
/g/grain.htm - 39k

Using (88 Occurrences)
... James 3:4 And again ships, though they are so great and are moved by violent winds,
are turned by a very small guiding-blade, at the impulse of the man who is ...
/u/using.htm - 31k

Armor (53 Occurrences)
... (1) The chanith had a wooden staff or shaft of varying size and length with a head,
or blade, of bronze, or ... The blade was of iron (1 Samuel 13:19 Joel 3:10). ...
/a/armor.htm - 41k

Arms (166 Occurrences)
... (1) The chanith had a wooden staff or shaft of varying size and length with a head,
or blade, of bronze, or ... The blade was of iron (1 Samuel 13:19 Joel 3:10). ...
/a/arms.htm - 56k

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