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# hew

verb (hews, hewing, hewed, hewn or hewed)

«hew» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To cut or chop wood or stone with a sharp tool or axe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hew/#m1)
2. (old use) To cut down or chop through with a sword or axe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hew/#m2)

### In the lessons

in tales, workers or knights cut down trees or chop through a bridge or gate

### Examples

- The woodcutter hews the logs for the fire. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hew/#x1)
- They hewed away at the bridge beams. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hew/#x2)
- Hew down the bridge quickly! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hew/#x3)

### Note

nothing for maths

## In Jewish tradition

God commands that Moses hew a second pair of stone tablets, and that idols and pillars of other nations be cut down. It can also mean to cut to pieces with a sword, as Samuel did to Agag, and the prophet uses it for God cutting down the sea monster Rahab.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis note that Moses cut the second tablets himself, while God made the first. This is read as a sign that human effort is needed to make a covenant last. Isaiah's Rahab is read as a picture of Egypt, defeated at the sea.

### Examples

- So I made an ark of acacia-wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in my hand. (Torah DEU.10.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hew/#x1)
- But thus shall ye deal with them: ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire. (Torah DEU.7.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hew/#x2)
- At that time the LORD said unto me: 'Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto Me into the mount; and make thee an ark of wood. (Torah DEU.10.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hew/#x3)
- And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. (Prophets 1SA.15.33, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hew/#x4)
- Art thou not it that hewed Rahab in pieces, that pierced the dragon? (Prophets ISA.51.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hew/#x5)
- for he took away the strange altars, and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim; (Writings 2CH.14.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hew/#x6)

### Note

nothing for maths

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «hew» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hew/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«hew» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hew.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «hew» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hew/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«hew» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/hew.html) on Mova free.