Maul
Summary
A maul was a type of war club or heavy hammer used as a weapon, mentioned in Proverbs as an image of the damage caused by a false witness.
☩Biblical Usage
The maul appears in Scripture as a metaphor for destructive force: 'A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.' The Hebrew word 'mephits' means 'a breaker' or 'smasher,' referring to a club designed to crush or batter. A related term describes Babylon as 'the hammer of the whole earth'—an instrument of divine judgment against the nations.
☩Historical Context
The war club or mace was widely used in ancient warfare, often with a ball or weighted end to increase the force of the blow. Various forms of mace were used by Egyptians, Assyrians, and other ancient peoples, and remained in use through the Middle Ages—remembered today in the ceremonial mace carried as a sign of authority.
Related Verses1 mention
Proverbs· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Maul Or Mall," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Maul," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).