Bible Encyclopedias
Awl

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

Fig. 76—Awls

The Hebrew word which denotes an awl or other instrument for boring a small hole, occurs in Exodus 21:6; Deuteronomy 15:17. Considering that the Israelites had at that time recently withdrawn from their long sojourn in Egypt, there can be no doubt that the instruments were the same as those of that country, the forms of which, from actual specimens in the British Museum, are shown in the annexed cut. They are such as were used by the sandal-makers and other workers in leather.