Knife: (1.) Heb. hereb, "the waster," a sharp instrument for
circumcision (Josh. 5:2, 3, lit. "knives of flint;" compare Ex.
4:25); a razor (Ezek. 5:1); a graving tool (Ex. 20:25); an axe
(Ezek. 26:9).
(2.) Heb. maakeleth, a large knife for slaughtering and
cutting up food (Gen. 22:6, 10; Prov. 30:14).
(3.) Heb. sakkin, a knife for any purpose, a table knife
(Prov. 23:2).
(4.) Heb. mahalaph, a butcher's knife for slaughtering the
victims offered in sacrifice (Ezra 1:9).
(5.) Smaller knives (Heb. ta'ar, Jer. 36:26) were used for
sharpening pens. The pruning-knives mentioned in Isa. 18:5 (Heb.
mizmaroth) were probably curved knives.