In biblical times, the shovel was a practical tool used for various purposes, primarily in agricultural and religious contexts. The Hebrew word often translated as "shovel" is "yâʿâh" or "maʿădâh," which refers to an implement used for digging or scooping.

Agricultural Use:

The shovel was an essential tool in the agrarian society of ancient Israel. It was used for tasks such as digging soil, planting seeds, and harvesting crops. The importance of agriculture in biblical times cannot be overstated, as it was the backbone of the economy and daily sustenance. The shovel, therefore, played a crucial role in the daily life of the Israelites, aiding them in their God-given task to "work the ground" (Genesis 3:23).

Religious Use:

In addition to its agricultural applications, the shovel had significant religious uses, particularly in the context of the tabernacle and temple worship. In the construction and maintenance of the altar, shovels were used to handle ashes and coals. This is evident in the instructions given for the tabernacle: "Make all its utensils of bronze: its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans" (Exodus 27:3). The use of bronze for these utensils highlights the importance and sacredness of the tasks they were used for.

The shovel's role in the sacrificial system underscores the meticulous care and reverence required in worship practices. The removal of ashes from the altar was a necessary task to maintain the purity and functionality of the altar, ensuring that offerings to the Lord were made in accordance with His commands.

Symbolic Meaning:

While the shovel is primarily a practical tool, its use in religious contexts can also carry symbolic meaning. The act of removing ashes from the altar can be seen as a representation of purification and renewal, reflecting the broader biblical theme of cleansing from sin and the renewal of one's relationship with God. This aligns with the biblical emphasis on holiness and the need for believers to be set apart for God's purposes.

Cultural Context:

Understanding the cultural and historical context of the shovel in biblical times enriches our comprehension of its significance. The Israelites, living in a predominantly agrarian society, would have been intimately familiar with the shovel's uses and importance. Its mention in Scripture serves as a reminder of the everyday tools that God used to accomplish His purposes, both in the mundane and the sacred aspects of life.

In summary, the shovel in biblical times was a versatile tool with both practical and religious applications. Its presence in Scripture highlights the integration of daily life and worship in the lives of the Israelites, serving as a reminder of the importance of diligence and reverence in all aspects of life.1. (n.) An implement consisting of a broad scoop, or more or less hollow blade, with a handle, used for lifting and throwing earth, coal, grain, or other loose substances.

2. (v. t.) To take up and throw with a shovel; as, to shovel earth into a heap, or into a cart, or out of a pit.

3. (v. t.) To gather up as with a shovel.

SHOVEL

shuv'-l:

(1) rachath, is a wooden shovel used on the threshing-floor for winnowing the grain (Isaiah 30:24).

(2) ya`, is used in various passages to indicate some instrument employed to carry away ashes from the altar (Exodus 27:3; Exodus 38:3 Numbers 4:14 1 Kings 7:40, 45 2 Kings 25:14 2 Chronicles 4:11, 16 Jeremiah 52:18). It was very likely a small shovel like those used in connection with modern fireplaces for cleaning away the ashes (compare Hebrew ya`ah, "to sweep away") or for carrying live coals to start a new fire.

(3) yathedh (Deuteronomy 23:13 the Revised Version margin)

James A. Patch

4425. ptuon -- a winnowing shovel
... a winnowing shovel. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: ptuon Phonetic
Spelling: (ptoo'-on) Short Definition: a simple wooden pitchfork Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4425.htm - 6k

2369. thumiaterion -- altar of incense, a censer
... thoo-mee-as-tay'-ree-on) Short Definition: altar of incense Definition: (ordinarily:
censer, but) either the altar of incense, or the shovel, on which the high ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2369.htm - 6k

7371. rachath -- winnowing shovel
... 7370, 7371. rachath. 7372 . winnowing shovel. Transliteration: rachath
Phonetic Spelling: (rakh'-ath) Short Definition: shovel. ...
/hebrew/7371.htm - 6k

3257. ya -- a shovel
... a shovel. Transliteration: ya Phonetic Spelling: (yaw) Short Definition: shovels.
Word Origin from yaah Definition a shovel NASB Word Usage shovels (9). shovel. ...
/hebrew/3257.htm - 6k

4053. megraphah -- a shovel
... 4052, 4053. megraphah. 4054 . a shovel. Transliteration: megraphah Phonetic
Spelling: (mig-raw-faw') Short Definition: clods. Word ...
/hebrew/4053.htm - 6k

4214. mizreh -- a pitchfork
... Word Origin from zarah Definition a pitchfork NASB Word Usage fork (2). fan. From
zarah; a winnowing shovel (as scattering the chaff) -- fan. see HEBREW zarah. ...
/hebrew/4214.htm - 6k

The Treasure Cave
... The light, dry sand he pitched with his wooden shovel against the great cube until
it all lay where the wind would have piled it had no second wall stood in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xx the treasure cave.htm

Athor, the Golden
... His sense of security had been strengthened by the renewed activities in Masaarah.
With a shovel of tamarisk he cleared the slab of its drift of sand. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter vii athor the golden.htm

"There, Baby!" Said Diamond; "I'M So Happy that I Can Only Sing ...
... earth. Now one would sorrowfully shovel the earth into the hole again, trample
it down with his little bare white feet, and walk on. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 25 there baby said.htm

Sacrifice Renewed
... in the hearts of the men of Judah was more 'rank, and smelt to heaven' more offensively,
than that in the Temple, which took sixteen days to shovel into Kidron ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/sacrifice renewed.htm

A Path in the Sea
... No wind that ever blew would blow water in two opposite directions at once, as a
man might shovel snow to right and left, and heap it in mounds by the sides of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a path in the sea.htm

The Chaff Driven Away
... They cast up the wheat before the wind with the winnowing shovel, that the breath
of the air may blow away the chaff, and leave the wheat pure. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the chaff driven away.htm

The Preacher as a Man of the Word.
... the cedar; the builder among his bricks and stones; and the farmer, on the exposed
height of the threshing-floor, winnowing his corn with the shovel and the fan ...
/.../stalker/the preacher and his models/lecture iv the preacher as.htm

The Northern Iron and the Steel
... A very massive piece of masonry had to be broken down, and the task, by pick and
shovel, would have been a very tedious one, so the great architect prepared a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the northern iron and the.htm

New York to California
... manure. There, he says, you just shovel that out of the window, and handing
to me a big fork, for the operation, he disappeared. ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter vii new york to.htm

Christianity
... You can hear the gravel rattling out of the grave digger's shovel with a thud upon
the coffin lid; or, you can hear the crunching, jarring sound as the casket ...
/.../haldeman/christ christianity and the bible/christianity.htm

Shovel (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To take up and throw with a shovel; as, to shovel earth into a heap, or
into a cart, or out of a pit. 3. (vt) To gather up as with a shovel. ...SHOVEL. ...
/s/shovel.htm - 8k

Winnowing-shovel (2 Occurrences)
Winnowing-shovel. Winnowing-fan, Winnowing-shovel. Winnows .
Multi-Version Concordance Winnowing-shovel (2 Occurrences). ...
/w/winnowing-shovel.htm - 7k

Threshing-floor (36 Occurrences)
... or sledge, charuts or moragh, Arabic lauch eddiras; (2) the fan (fork), mizreh,
Arabic midra, for separating straw from wheat; (3) shovel, meghraphah, Arabic ...
/t/threshing-floor.htm - 21k

Winnowing (7 Occurrences)
... Luke 3:17 His winnowing-shovel is in His hand to clear out His threshing-floor,
and to gather the wheat into His storehouse; but the chaff He will burn up in ...
/w/winnowing.htm - 9k

Fan (8 Occurrences)
... A winnowing shovel by which grain was thrown up against the wind that it might be
cleansed from broken straw and chaff (Isaiah 30:24; Jeremiah 15:7; Matthew 3 ...
/f/fan.htm - 12k

Store (134 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:12 His winnowing-shovel is in His hand, and He will make a thorough clearance
of His threshing-floor, gathering His wheat into the storehouse, but ...
/s/store.htm - 39k

Storehouse (12 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:12 His winnowing-shovel is in His hand, and He will make a thorough clearance
of His threshing-floor, gathering His wheat into the storehouse, but ...
/s/storehouse.htm - 10k

Shovels (9 Occurrences)

/s/shovels.htm - 9k

Clear (641 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:12 His winnowing-shovel is in His hand, and He will make a thorough clearance
of His threshing-floor, gathering His wheat into the storehouse, but ...
/c/clear.htm - 39k

Shouts (34 Occurrences)

/s/shouts.htm - 15k

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