Knife (1.) Heb. hereb, "the waster," a sharp instrument for circumcision (Joshua 5:2, Joshua 1:5, lit. "knives of flint;" comp. Exodus 4:25); a razor (Ezekiel 5:1); a graving tool (Exodus 20:25); an axe (Ezekiel 26:9).
(2.) Heb. maakeleth, a large knife for slaughtering and cutting up food (Genesis 22:6, Genesis 1:22; Proverbs 30:14).
(3.) Heb. sakkin, a knife for any purpose, a table knife (Proverbs 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, Jeremiah 36:26) were used for sharpening pens. The pruning-knives mentioned in Isaiah 18:5 (Heb. mizmaroth) were probably curved knives.