axe Summary and Overview

used in the Authorized Version of Deut. 19:5; 20:19; 1 Kings 6:7, as the translation of a Hebrew word which means "chopping." It was used for felling trees (Isa. 10:34) and hewing timber for building. It is the rendering of a different word in Judg. 9:48, 1 Sam. 13:20, 21, Ps. 74:5, which refers to its sharpness. In 2 Kings 6:5 it is the translation of a word used with reference to its being made of iron. In Isa. 44:12 the Revised Version renders by "axe" the Hebrew "maatsad", which means a "hewing" instrument. In the Authorized Version it is rendered "tongs." It is also used in Jer. 10:3, and rendered "axe." The "battle-axe" (army of Medes and Persians) mentioned in Jer. 51:20 was probably, as noted in the margin of the Revised Version, a "maul" or heavy mace. In Ps. 74:6 the word so rendered means "feller." (See the figurative expression in Matt. 3:10; Luke 3:9.)

Hebrew kardom, "sharp"; large, for telling trees (Judges 9:48; Jeremiah 46:22); garzen, "cutting", as "hatchet" from "hack," securis from seco; barzel,"iron " garzen sometimes means the "adze." The head was fastened to the handle by thongs, and so was liable to slip off (Deuteronomy 19:5; 2 Kings 6:5). For "axe" in Isaiah 44:12 margin; Jeremiah 10:3, ma'atzad, others trans. a "knife" or "chisel," such as a carver of wood idols would use. But KJV is good sense and good Hebrew; the "axe" is meant as the instrument to cut down the tree in the forest. Mappeetz (Jeremiah 51:20), "battle axe," a heavy mace or maul, whence Charles Martel was designated. Kasshil occurs only once, Psalm 74:6, a large axe.