What does לָטַשׁ mean in the Bible?
e. to sharpen".
Hebrew · H3913
לָטַשׁ
Properly, to hammer out (an edge), i.e. to sharpen
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
לָטַשׁ H3913
What does לָטַשׁ mean in the Bible?
לָטַשׁ is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to hammer out (an edge), i.e. to sharpen".
Full entry for לָטַשׁ (H3913) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3913?
The BSB source-word alignment has 5 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include a forger (1), God will sharpen (1), like a sharpened (1), pierces (1), to sharpen (1).
Where does לָטַשׁ appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 4:22. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (2), 1 Samuel (1), Genesis (1), Job (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It a forger 1× Genesis 4:22
God will sharpen 1× Psalms 7:12
like a sharpened 1× Psalms 52:2
pierces 1× Job 16:9
to sharpen 1× 1 Samuel 13:20
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 4:22 לֹטֵ֕שׁ to a forger Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct 1 Samuel 13:20 לִ֠לְטוֹשׁ to to sharpen Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Job 16:9 יִלְט֖וֹשׁ to pierces Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 7:12 יִלְט֑וֹשׁ to God will sharpen Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 52:2 מְ֝לֻטָּ֗שׁ to like a sharpened Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 4:22
Aligned rows 5
Books represented 4
Genesis 1 1 Samuel 1 Job 1 Psalms 2
Source forms
יִלְט֖וֹשׁ 1x yil·ṭō·wōš Job 16:9
יִלְט֑וֹשׁ 1x yil·ṭō·wōš Psalms 7:12
לֹטֵ֕שׁ 1x lō·ṭêš Genesis 4:22
לִ֠לְטוֹשׁ 1x lil·ṭō·wōš 1 Samuel 13:20
מְ֝לֻטָּ֗שׁ 1x mə·luṭ·ṭāš Psalms 52:2
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Job 16:9, Psalms 7:12
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct 1x 1 Samuel 13:20
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular 1x Psalms 52:2
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct 1x Genesis 4:22
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. properly, to hammer out (an edge), i.e. to sharpen
Source Gloss
properly, to hammer out (an edge), i.e. to sharpen
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
properly, to hammer out (an edge), i.e. to sharpen BDB: hammer Usage: instructer, sharp(-en), whet.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 2 Aligned forms 4
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 3×
Imperfect Job 16:9 · Ps 7:13 2×
Participle active Gen 4:22 1×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 1×
Participle passive Ps 52:4 1×
Word Origins
לָטַשׁ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain