In biblical terminology, the term "shaft" can refer to various objects, primarily those that are long and cylindrical in shape. The word is often used in the context of weaponry, architecture, and agriculture within the biblical narrative.

1. Weaponry: The most common use of the term "shaft" in the Bible is in reference to arrows. In ancient warfare, arrows were a primary weapon, and the shaft was the long, straight part of the arrow that provided stability and direction. In Job 41:29 , the formidable nature of the Leviathan is described, stating, "A club is regarded as straw, and he laughs at the rattling of the lance." Here, the shaft of the lance is implied as part of the weaponry that is ineffective against such a creature. Similarly, in Psalm 7:13 , it is written, "He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire." The shaft of the arrow is an integral part of this imagery of divine judgment and warfare.

2. Architecture: In the context of architecture, a shaft can refer to the main part of a column. Columns were significant in ancient structures, including the temples and palaces mentioned in the Bible. While the Bible does not explicitly use the term "shaft" for columns, the concept is inherent in the descriptions of temple architecture, such as in the construction of Solomon's Temple. In 1 Kings 7:15 , it describes the two pillars made by Hiram: "He cast two bronze pillars, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference." The shaft of these pillars would have been the central, cylindrical part that provided support and aesthetic grandeur.

3. Agriculture: In agricultural terms, the shaft can refer to the stalk of grain. While the Bible does not directly use the term "shaft" for grain stalks, the imagery of grain and its processing is prevalent. For example, in Isaiah 17:5 , it states, "It will be as when a reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the ears with his arm, as when one gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim." The shaft, or stalk, is implied as part of the harvest process, where the grain is separated from the chaff.

4. Symbolism: The shaft, particularly in the form of arrows, is often used symbolically in the Bible to represent God's judgment or the swift execution of His will. In Habakkuk 3:11 , it is written, "Sun and moon stood still in their places at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the brightness of Your shining spear." Here, the shaft of the arrow is part of the imagery depicting God's powerful intervention in the world.

In summary, the term "shaft" in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing elements of warfare, architecture, and agriculture, each carrying its own symbolic and practical significance within the biblical narrative.1. (n.) The slender, smooth stem of an arrow; hence, an arrow.

2. (n.) The long handle of a spear or similar weapon; hence, the weapon itself; (Fig.) anything regarded as a shaft to be thrown or darted; as, shafts of light.

3. (n.) That which resembles in some degree the stem or handle of an arrow or a spear; a long, slender part, especially when cylindrical.

4. (n.) The trunk, stem, or stalk of a plant.

5. (n.) The stem or midrib of a feather.

6. (n.) The pole, or tongue, of a vehicle; also, a thill.

7. (n.) The part of a candlestick which supports its branches.

8. (n.) The handle or helve of certain tools, instruments, etc., as a hammer, a whip, etc.

9. (n.) A pole, especially a Maypole.

10. (n.) The body of a column; the cylindrical pillar between the capital and base (see Illust. of Column). Also, the part of a chimney above the roof. Also, the spire of a steeple.

11. (n.) A column, an obelisk, or other spire-shaped or columnar monument.

12. (n.) A rod at the end of a heddle.

13. (n.) A solid or hollow cylinder or bar, having one or more journals on which it rests and revolves, and intended to carry one or more wheels or other revolving parts and to transmit power or motion; as, the shaft of a steam engine.

14. (n.) A humming bird (Thaumastura cora) having two of the tail feathers next to the middle ones very long in the male; -- called also cora humming bird.

15. (n.) A well-like excavation in the earth, perpendicular or nearly so, made for reaching and raising ore, for raising water, etc.

16. (n.) A long passage for the admission or outlet of air; an air shaft.

17. (n.) The chamber of a blast furnace.

SHAFT

shaft: Isaiah 49:2 for chets, "an arrow"; also Exodus 25:31; Exodus 37:17 Numbers 8:4 the King James Version for a part of the candlestick of the tabernacle somewhat vaguely designated by the word yarekh, "thigh." The context in the first 2 verses shows that the upright stem or "shaft" is intended, but in Numbers 8:4 a different context has caused the Revised Version (British and American) to substitute "base."

See also ARCHERY; ARMOR, ARMS.

4294. matteh -- a staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe
... matteh or mattah. 4295 . a staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe. Transliteration:
matteh or mattah Phonetic Spelling: (mat-teh') Short Definition: tribe. ...
/hebrew/4294.htm - 6k

3883. lul -- a shaft or enclosed space with steps or ladder
... 3882, 3883. lul. 3884 . a shaft or enclosed space with steps or ladder.
Transliteration: lul Phonetic Spelling: (lool) Short Definition: stairs. ...
/hebrew/3883.htm - 6k

2671. chets -- arrow
... Word Origin from chatsats Definition arrow NASB Word Usage archers* (1),
arrow (14), arrows (36), shaft (1), wound (1). archer, arrow ...
/hebrew/2671.htm - 6k

3409. yarek -- thigh, loin, side, base
... body, loins, shaft, side, thigh. ... The generative parts; figuratively, a shank, flank,
side -- X body, loins, shaft, side, thigh. 3408, 3409. yarek. 3410 . ...
/hebrew/3409.htm - 6k

7070. qaneh -- a stalk, reed
... calamus (1), cane (2), elbow (1), reed (5), reed...reeds (1), reeds (4), reeds by
the reed (2), reeds with the reed (2), rod (11), scale (1), shaft (2), stalk ...
/hebrew/7070.htm - 6k

5158. nachal -- torrent, torrent-valley, wadi
... aw'}; from nachal in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent;
(by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a ...
/hebrew/5158.htm - 5k

6086. ets -- tree, trees, wood
... Origin from an unused word Definition tree, trees, wood NASB Word Usage carpenters*
(4), framework (1), gallows (9), handle (1), logs (1), shaft (3), stalks (1 ...
/hebrew/6086.htm - 6k

5158a. nachal -- torrent, torrent-valley, wadi
... torrent, torrent-valley, wadi NASB Word Usage brook (44), brooks (5), flowing (1),
ravine (2), ravines (2), river (13), rivers (5), shaft (1), stream (5 ...
/hebrew/5158a.htm - 5k

2975. yeor -- stream (of the Nile), stream, canal
... Of Egyptian origin; a channel, eg A fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the Nile,
as the one river of Egypt, including its collateral trenches; also the Tigris ...
/hebrew/2975.htm - 6k

The Burial and Assumption of the Blessed virgin
... It was as if a shaft of light descended from heaven towards the tomb, and in this
shaft was a lovely form like the soul of the Blessed Virgin, accompanied by ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xix the burial and assumption.htm

Useless Doctors
... When a coalpit runs far under the ground it is customary here to build a partition
wall, nearly from the shaft to within three or four yards of the end, in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/wesley/the journal of john wesley/useless doctors.htm

The Faculty of Faith.
... In sinless Adam this wheel stood squarely upon its shaft, turning with equal ease
to the right and to the left"ie, it moved as freely toward God as toward ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxxviii the faculty of faith.htm

Christ as a Sword.
... 4621] that His mouth had been set by His Father as a sharp sword, and that He was
hidden under the shadow of His hand, made like to a chosen shaft and kept ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/36 christ as a sword.htm

The Rewards of the Trading Servants
... The smallest wheel upon one end of a shaft may cause another ten times its diameter
to revolve, at the other end of the shaft through the wall there. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the rewards of the trading.htm

The General Service to the Venerated and vivifying Cross.
... Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shaft consume the riches of kings;
and thou shaft know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter iii the general service.htm

The Service Common to the Holy Angels and Other Bodiless Ones.
... father's house. And the Lord said unto him: Surely I will be with thee,
and thou shaft smite the Midianites as one man. And Gideon ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter iv the service common.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... had their tombs cut out of the mountain-side; but the majority preferred an isolated
tomb, a "mastaba,"* comprising a chapel above ground, a shaft, and some ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

A Persuasive to Steadfastness
... I have heard that some years ago there was a coal-pit in work, the shaft of which
by some means got blocked up, and the men could not get out of it. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/a persuasive to steadfastness.htm

Order and Argument in Prayer
... He did not take the arrow and put it on the bowstring and shoot, and shoot, and
shoot anywhere; but after he had taken out the chosen shaft, and fitted it to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/order and argument in prayer.htm

Shaft (13 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The long handle of a spear or similar weapon; hence, the weapon itself;
(Fig.) anything regarded as a shaft to be thrown or darted; as, shafts of light ...
/s/shaft.htm - 13k

Collar (6 Occurrences)
... for restraining motion within given limits, or for holding something to its place,
or for hiding an opening around an object; as, a collar on a shaft, used to ...
/c/collar.htm - 11k

Potter (14 Occurrences)
... house visited by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 18:1-6). The wheel or, to be more exact, wheels
(compare Jeremiah 18:3) are fitted on a square wooden or iron shaft about 3 ...
/p/potter.htm - 28k

Pottery (11 Occurrences)
... house visited by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 18:1-6). The wheel or, to be more exact, wheels
(compare Jeremiah 18:3) are fitted on a square wooden or iron shaft about 3 ...
/p/pottery.htm - 27k

Key (8 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) A bar, pin or wedge, to secure a crank, pulley, coupling, etc., upon a
shaft, and prevent relative turning; sometimes holding by friction alone, but ...
/k/key.htm - 14k

Knobs (9 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:31 And thou shalt make a lamp-stand of pure gold; of beaten work shall
the lamp-stand be made: its base and its shaft, its cups, its knobs, and its ...
/k/knobs.htm - 8k

Knops (8 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall
the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops ...
/k/knops.htm - 8k

Neck (97 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) A reduction in size near the end of an object, formed by a groove
around it; as, a neck forming the journal of a shaft. ...
/n/neck.htm - 45k

Well (2882 Occurrences)
... A "beer" was a deep shaft, bored far under the rocky surface by the art of man,
which contained water which percolated through the strata in its sides. ...
/w/well.htm - 39k

Web (5 Occurrences)
... 15. (n.) The arm of a crank between the shaft and the wrist. 16. (n.) The part
of a blacksmith's anvil between the face and the foot. 17. ...
/w/web.htm - 9k

Who killed Goliath, David or Elhanan? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the lampstand in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Is carbon dating a reliable method for determining the age of things? | GotQuestions.org

Shaft: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus