What is a…
coulter in the Bible

This is a sharpened agricultural instrument (1 Samuel 13:20-21 KJV). It was the facing-piece of a plough, analogous to the modern coulter. They were sharpened with a file.

Elsewhere these farming implements are called “ploughshares” or “plowshares” (Isaiah 2:4 KJV; Micah 4:3 KJV; Joel 3:10 KJV)

19th century plough with a knife coulter fastened to the plow beam. There are various coulter designs. Clipart.
19th century plough with a knife coulter fastened to the plow beam. There are various coulter designs.
Ancient Greek/Roman plow design
Pictured here is an ancient wheeled plow design used by the Greeks and Romans. Part 2 is the coulter. Part 1: the plow pole. Part 3: the dentale (share-beam, sometimes sheathed with metal). The end of the dentale was called a vomer. Part 4: the buris (plow tail). Part 5: the handle
Article Version: May 21, 2021

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