ma.a.khe.let denotes a cutting instrument held for slaughter or dismemberment, and figuratively describes devouring jaws.

The term most often identifies a physical cutting instrument: Abraham carries it for the offering and takes it to slaughter his son, while a man takes it before cutting his concubine into pieces. Its plural form also occurs figuratively in a saying where jaws are described as knives that devour the poor and needy.

1. Physical cutting instrument · dominant

   The singular noun occurs with Abraham's taking the fire and the instrument in his hand in Genesis 22:6; in Genesis 22:10 the APB renders the action as taking it "to slaughter his son." In Judges 19:29, the same singular form is taken before the concubine is cut into twelve pieces.

   Genesis 22:6Genesis 22:10Judges 19:29
2. Figurative cutting jaws · occasional

   In Proverbs 30:14, the plural noun is used in the comparison that a generation's jaws are knives; the APB renders the clause as jaws "devouring the poor from the land and the needy from among humankind."

   Proverbs 30:14

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the physical occurrences with "knife" in Genesis 22:6, Genesis 22:10, and Judges 19:29, and presents the figurative comparison as jaws being "knives" in Proverbs 30:14. These renderings reflect the verse contexts.