KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY

Used as an instrument of torture
2 Samuel 12:31; Hebrews 11:37

An instrument for cutting stone
1 Kings 7:9

Figurative
Isaiah 10:15

Egyptian saws, so far as has yet been discovered, are single-handed. As is the case in modern Oriental saws, the teeth usually incline toward the handle, instead of away from it like ours. They have, in most cases, bronze blades, apparently attached to the handles by leathern thongs. No evidence exists of the use of the saw applied to stone in Egypt, but we read of sawn stones used in the temple. (1 Kings 7:9) The saws "under" or "in" which David is said to have placed his captives were of iron. The expression in (2 Samuel 12:31) does not necessarily imply torture, but the word "cut" in (1 Chronicles 20:3) can hardly be understood otherwise.

SAW, preterit tense of see.

SAW, noun [See the Verb.]

1. A cutting instrument consisting of a blade or thin plate of iron or steel, with one edge dentated or toothed.

2. A saying; proverb; maxim; decree. obsolete [See Say.]

SAW, verb transitive preterit tense sawed; participle passive sawed or sawn. [Latin seco; ]

1. To cut with a saw; to separate with a saw; as, to saw timber or marble.

2. To form by cutting with a saw; as, to saw boards or planks, that is, to saw timber into boards or planks.

SAW, verb intransitive

1. To use a saw; to practice sawing; as, a man saws well.

2. To cut with a saw; as, the mill saws fast or well.

3. To be cut with a saw; as, the timber saws smooth.

SAW'-DUST, noun Dust or small fragments of wood or stone made by the attrition of a saw