4274. machtseb
Lexical Summary
machtseb: Quarry, place of hewing

Original Word: מַחְצֵב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: machtseb
Pronunciation: makh-tseb'
Phonetic Spelling: (makh-tsabe')
KJV: hewed(-n)
NASB: hewn, quarried
Word Origin: [from H2672 (חָצַב חָצֵב - hewn)]

1. (properly) a hewing
2. (concretely) a quarry

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
hewedn

From chatsab; properly, a hewing; concretely, a quarry -- hewed(-n).

see HEBREW chatsab

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from chatsab
Definition
a hewing
NASB Translation
hewn (2), quarried (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מַחְצֵב noun [masculine] hewing, always ׳אַבְנֵי מ = hewn stones 2 Kings 12:13; 2 Kings 22:6 2Chronicles 34:11 (in all "" עֵצִים).

Topical Lexicon
Overview of מַחְצֵב in Scripture

The word designates the finished stonework or masonry used in sacred construction. Each occurrence is tied to the upkeep or renewal of the temple in Jerusalem, underscoring how physical craftsmanship served the spiritual life of the nation.

Occurrences and Narrative Setting

2 Kings 12:12 records the allocation of funds in the reign of King Joash “to the masons and stonecutters—to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the damage to the house of the LORD—and for all the expenses of restoring the temple.”
2 Kings 22:6 describes a similar disbursement under King Josiah “to the carpenters, builders, and masons to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the temple.”
2 Chronicles 34:11 parallels the Josianic account: “They paid it out to the craftsmen and builders to buy quarried stone and timber for joists and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into ruin.”

In both reigns the use of מַחְצֵב marks decisive moments of reform after periods of neglect or apostasy. The narrative links careful stone preparation with national repentance and renewed covenant obedience.

Architectural and Practical Function

Hewn or quarried stone provided durable, load-bearing material capable of supporting the temple’s superstructure, resisting weather, and conveying beauty befitting the Lord’s dwelling. That the royal treasuries paid directly for such workmanship shows the high value placed on excellence in worship infrastructure (compare 1 Kings 5:17–18 and 1 Kings 6:7, where similarly prepared stones were used for Solomon’s temple). The mention of both timber and quarried stone indicates a coordinated building strategy: timber framed ceilings and floors; the stone stabilized foundations and walls. Skilled masons shaped each block off-site, minimizing noise on the sacred grounds (cf. 1 Kings 6:7) and ensuring a seamless assembly.

Symbolic and Theological Dimensions

1. Permanence and Holiness. Stone evokes endurance (Job 14:18; Matthew 16:18). Employing dressed stone in temple repair signals a quest for lasting holiness, contrasting with idols often fashioned from perishable wood.
2. Devotion Expressed Tangibly. The reforms of Joash and Josiah demonstrate that true worship involves both heart and hands. Investing in מַחְצֵב materialized repentance; it turned confession into visible restoration (see Isaiah 58:12).
3. Anticipation of the Living Stone. While the temple stones were lifeless, they pointed forward to the “living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God” (1 Peter 2:4) and to the believers who become “living stones…built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). The precision lavished on physical stones foreshadows the Spirit’s shaping work in Christ’s people.

Connection to Covenant Faithfulness

Neglect of the temple corresponded with covenant breach (2 Chronicles 24:17–18). Conversely, commissioning מַחְצֵב signaled renewed fidelity. Joash acted after the high priest Jehoiada restored proper worship; Josiah did so after discovering the Book of the Law. Both episodes illustrate Deuteronomy’s pattern: obedience brings blessing and restoration; disobedience brings decay (Deuteronomy 30:1–10). Thus the stonework is not incidental architecture but a barometer of Israel’s relationship with the Lord.

Implications for Modern Ministry

1. Stewardship of Resources. Just as kings redirected offerings toward quarried stone, churches today steward finances to maintain worship spaces and support gospel work. Excellence in physical facilities can honor God and serve people without becoming ostentation.
2. Craftsmanship as Worship. Skilled labor—whether masonry, music, or teaching—can glorify God when offered in faith (Colossians 3:23). The masons of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles remind believers that vocation and worship intersect.
3. Spiritual Renovation. Physical repairs mirrored spiritual reforms. Modern believers are urged to examine and “repair” the temples of their hearts (2 Corinthians 7:1), allowing the Word to expose decay and the Spirit to rebuild with enduring materials (1 Corinthians 3:11–15).

Summary

מַחְצֵב, though appearing only three times, illuminates a larger biblical theme: God’s people honor Him by dedicating the finest resources to His dwelling, whether stone in ancient Jerusalem or obedient lives in the church today. The carefully quarried stones testify that authentic renewal is both inward and outward, rooted in covenant loyalty and expressed through diligent, God-glorifying work.

Forms and Transliterations
מַחְצֵ֔ב מחצב machTzev maḥ·ṣêḇ maḥṣêḇ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Kings 12:12
HEB: עֵצִים֙ וְאַבְנֵ֣י מַחְצֵ֔ב לְחַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־
NAS: timber and hewn stone
KJV: timber and hewed stone
INT: timber stone and hewn to repair the damages

2 Kings 22:6
HEB: עֵצִים֙ וְאַבְנֵ֣י מַחְצֵ֔ב לְחַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־
NAS: timber and hewn stone
KJV: timber and hewn stone
INT: timber stone and hewn to repair the house

2 Chronicles 34:11
HEB: לִקְנוֹת֙ אַבְנֵ֣י מַחְצֵ֔ב וְעֵצִ֖ים לַֽמְחַבְּר֑וֹת
NAS: to buy quarried stone
KJV: they [it], to buy hewn stone,
INT: to buy stone quarried and timber couplings

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4274
3 Occurrences


maḥ·ṣêḇ — 3 Occ.

4273
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