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Dagger

Artifacts

âš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)

The dagger is a short, double-edged blade designed for thrusting or stabbing, serving as a secondary weapon or tool in the ancient Near East.

What is the meaning of Dagger in the Bible?

The dagger is a short, double-edged blade designed for thrusting or stabbing, serving as a secondary weapon or tool in the ancient Near East.

SIGNIFICANCE

Recognizing the dagger as a common personal weapon clarifies scenes of sudden violence, assassination, or self-defense in biblical narratives, such as the story of Jael and Sisera or the betrayal of Jesus, grounding these events in the material reality of ancient warfare and daily life.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Physical & Symbolic Reality: Physical objects and natural elements like Dagger were everyday realities for biblical writers, frequently used as living metaphors for spiritual truths.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Dagger in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Dagger clarify?

Source Attribution & Provenance

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.

How to Cite This Entry

"Dagger." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/dagger/
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