The term "hews" in the Bible generally refers to the act of cutting, shaping, or carving, often with tools such as an axe or chisel. This action is frequently associated with the preparation of wood or stone for construction or idol-making. The concept of hewing is rich with symbolic and literal significance throughout the Scriptures.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, hewing is often mentioned in the context of preparing materials for building. For example, in the construction of the Temple, Solomon employed skilled laborers to hew stones and timber. 1 Kings 5:17 states, "And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones." This passage highlights the importance of hewing in creating a place of worship, emphasizing the care and precision required in the service of God.

Hewing is also used metaphorically to describe the shaping or judgment of people. In Hosea 6:5 , God declares, "Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning." Here, the act of hewing symbolizes the cutting and shaping influence of prophetic words and divine judgment on the people of Israel.

Idolatry and Hewing

The Bible frequently associates hewing with the creation of idols, which is condemned as a form of false worship. In Isaiah 44:12-13 , the prophet describes the process of crafting an idol: "The craftsman stretches out a line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and marks it with a compass. He hews it into the form of a man, like a man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine." This passage underscores the futility and folly of idolatry, contrasting the lifelessness of carved images with the living God.

Symbolic and Spiritual Implications

Hewing carries significant symbolic weight in the spiritual life of believers. It represents the transformative process by which God shapes and refines His people. Just as a craftsman hews stone or wood to create something useful and beautiful, God works in the lives of His followers to mold them into His image. This process, though sometimes painful, is essential for spiritual growth and maturity.

Moreover, the act of hewing can serve as a reminder of the need for discernment and the rejection of false teachings and idols. Believers are called to "hew down" anything that stands in opposition to the truth of God's Word, ensuring that their worship and devotion remain pure and undivided.

Conclusion

The concept of hewing in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing both the literal and metaphorical. It serves as a powerful image of creation, judgment, and transformation, reminding believers of the ongoing work of God in their lives and the importance of maintaining fidelity to Him.2672. chatsab -- to hew, hew out, cleave
... cleave NASB Word Usage chops (1), cut in pieces (1), dig (2), engraved (1), hew
(2), hewed (2), hewers (1), hewn (5), hewn them in pieces (1), hews (1), masons ...
/hebrew/2672.htm - 6k

1234. baqa -- to cleave, break open or through
... broke through (2), broken (3), burst (2), burst open (1), cleaved (1), dashed to
pieces (1), divide (1), divided (4), forth (1), hatch (2), hews (1), invaded (1 ...
/hebrew/1234.htm - 6k

Effectual Calling
... call. If he say, Go, he goes: the deluded sinner is like the slave that
digs in the mine, hews in the quarry, or tugs at the oar. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/effectual calling.htm

On the Notion that Matter is Ungenerated.
... But it would be absurd to suppose that God works in gold, as men are wont to do,
or hews or polishes stone, or puts His hand to any of the other arts by which ...
/.../dionysius/the works of dionysius/on the notion that matter.htm

Lord, Speak to Me, that I May Speak
... Lord, speak to me, that I may speak. LM [1928]Holley: George Hews, 1835. Frances
R. Havergal, 1872. Lord, speak to me, that I may speak. ...
/.../brotherhood and service 502 lord.htm

'Thy Kingdom Come'
... sitteth in the heavens laughs at princes' and rulers' counsel, speaking to the tyrant
as the rod of His anger, using men as the axe with which He hews, and the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/thy kingdom come.htm

Repentance and Restitution.
... of God in the soul. When God works He hews down the whole tree. He wants
to have a man turn from every sin. Supposing I am in a ...
/.../the way to god and how to find it/chapter vi repentance and restitution.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass till heaven and earth pass; or as it
is expressed immediately after, hews an panta genetai, till all ( or rather ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 25 upon our lords.htm

The Fall of Judah
... to him, as to us, if we are wise, 'the history of the world is the judgment of the
world.' The Nebuchadnezzars are God's axes with which He hews down fruitless ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the fall of judah.htm

Index of Names.
... Reginald, 4, 50, 51, 178, 179, 318 HEDGE, Frederick H., 71 HEMANS, Felicia, 196,
359, 323, 324, 333 HENRY vii, (King), 18 HEWS, George, 407, 483, 484 HICKS ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/index of names.htm

Hymns, Festival and Occasional.
... Possibly its frequent association with "Holley," composed by George Hews, may influence
a hearer's judgement of other melodies but there is something in that ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter xiii hymns festival and.htm

The Poor in Spirit are Enriched with a Kingdom
... Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood
upon the earth' (Psalm 141:7). When a man hews and cuts a tree the chips ...
/.../watson/the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/5 the poor in spirit.htm

Hews (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Hews (4 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 29:11 your little
ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in the midst ...
/h/hews.htm - 7k

Sitting (201 Occurrences)
... of work. "The carpenter saws, planes, and hews with his hand-adze, sitting on
the ground or upon the plank he is planning. The washerwoman ...
/s/sitting.htm - 40k

Hexateuch

/h/hexateuch.htm - 8k

Hewn-stones (1 Occurrence)
Hewn-stones. Hewn, Hewn-stones. Hews . Multi-Version Concordance Hewn-stones
(1 Occurrence). ... (YLT). Hewn, Hewn-stones. Hews . Reference Bible.
/h/hewn-stones.htm - 6k

Hewer (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who hews. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
HEWER. hu'-er (choTebh): Applies especially to a wood ...
/h/hewer.htm - 8k

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