Bible Encyclopedia: Ax

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

AX (AXE); AX-HEAD

aks; aks'hed: Nine different Hebrew words have been rendered "ax":

(1) garzen. This unquestionably was one of the larger chopping instruments, as the uses to which it was put would imply (Deuteronomy 19:5; Deuteronomy 20:19 1 Kings 6:7 Isaiah 10:15). The modern ax used by the woodchoppers in Syria has a shape much like the ancient stone and bronze axes, with the exception that it is fastened to the handle by passing the latter through a hole in the ax-head, whereas the Egyptian sculptures show that their ax-heads were held to the handles by means of thongs. The so-called battle-ax found at Tell el-Chesy was probably fastened in this way. Syrian peasants are frequently seen carrying in their belts small hatchets the heads of which are shaped like a battle-ax and which are bound to the handles by thongs.

(2) ma`atsar, is used in Isaiah 44:12 (King James Version renders "tongs") and in Jeremiah 10:3.

(3) qardom, is used in Judges 9:48 1 Samuel 13:20, 21; Psalm 74:5 Jeremiah 46:22. The present Arabic word, qudum, which is the name for the native adze, is from the same origin. The adze is the only chopping instrument of the Syrian carpenter. He uses it for many purposes, where a foreigner would use a saw or chisel or plane, and with a skill which the foreigner envies. Many students of Syrian life believe that the adze is a tool which has survived from the early Hebrew times.

(4) barzel (Deuteronomy 19:5 2 Kings 6:5): The interest associated with this word is that it literally means "iron," although the context indicates that it means "ax." If the word iron was not used here to mean "metal," then iron axes were used by the children of Israel. If iron axes existed, however, they have long since disappeared as the result of corrosion, since the only ones discovered have been of stone, copper or bronze. See METALS.

(5) maghzirah (2 Samuel 12:31) is literally, "a cutting instrument," and might be rendered, "a blade" or sickle.

(6) megherah (1 Chronicles 20:2), translated in this one passage as axes, but better translated "saws."

(7) cherebh (Ezekiel 26:9), rendered ax in this passage only. It is usually translated sword. It could also mean pick-axe.

(8) kashil (Psalm 74:6 the King James Version), literally, "a feller," hence, an axe.

(9) mapets (Jeremiah 51:20), literally, "a smiter," hence, a war club or battle-axe. The Greek word used in the New Testament is axine (Matthew 3:10 Luke 3:9).

James A. Patch

Greek

3990. pelekizo -- to cut off with an ax, esp. to behead
... 3989, 3990. pelekizo. 3991 . to cut off with an ax, esp. ... Word Origin from
pelekus (a battle-ax) Definition to cut off with an ax, esp. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3990.htm - 6k

2661. kataxioo -- to deem worthy
... to deem worthy. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kataxioo Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-ax-ee-o'-o) Short Definition: I deem worthy Definition: I deem (count ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2661.htm - 7k

2876. korax -- a raven
... korax. 2877 . a raven. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: korax
Phonetic Spelling: (kor'-ax) Short Definition: a raven Definition: a raven, crow ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2876.htm - 6k

370. anaxios -- unworthy
... unworthy. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: anaxios Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ax'-ee-os) Short Definition: unworthy, inadequate Definition: unworthy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/370.htm - 7k

3342. metaxu -- between, after
... between, after. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: metaxu Phonetic Spelling:
(met-ax-oo') Short Definition: meanwhile, afterwards, between Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3342.htm - 6k

514. axios -- of weight, of worth, worthy
... of weight, of worth, worthy. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: axios Phonetic
Spelling: (ax'-ee-os) Short Definition: worthy, worthy of, deserving ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/514.htm - 7k

371. anaxios -- in an unworthy manner
... in an unworthy manner. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: anaxios Phonetic
Spelling: (an-ax-ee'-oce) Short Definition: unworthily, in an unworthy manner ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/371.htm - 6k

2178. ephapax -- once for all
... once for all. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: ephapax Phonetic Spelling:
(ef-ap'-ax) Short Definition: once, once for all Definition: once, once for all ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2178.htm - 6k

513. axine -- an axe
... axine. 514 . an axe. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: axine Phonetic
Spelling: (ax-ee'-nay) Short Definition: an axe Definition: an axe. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/513.htm - 6k

5482. charax -- a pointed stake, a rampart
... a pointed stake, a rampart. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: charax
Phonetic Spelling: (khar'-ax) Short Definition: a mound for besieging ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5482.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

1631. garzen -- an axe
... Word Origin from garaz Definition an axe NASB Word Usage axe (4). ax. From garaz;
an axe -- ax. see HEBREW garaz. 1630, 1631. garzen. 1632 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/1631.htm - 6k

4661. mappets -- a war-club
... Word Origin from naphats Definition a war-club NASB Word Usage war-club (1). battle
ax. From naphats; a smiter, ie A war club -- battle ax. see HEBREW naphats. ...
/hebrew/4661.htm - 6k

1270. barzel -- iron
... ax head, iron. Perhaps from the root of Birzowth; iron (as cutting); by extension,
an iron implement -- (ax) head, iron. see HEBREW Birzowth. 1269, 1270. ...
/hebrew/1270.htm - 6k

4621. maatsad -- an axe
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition an axe NASB Word Usage cutting tool
(2). ax, tongs. From an usused root meaning to hew; an axe -- ax, tongs. ...
/hebrew/4621.htm - 5k

7134. qardom -- an axe
... ax. Perhaps from qadam in the sense of striking upon; an axe -- ax. see HEBREW
qadam. 7133b, 7134. qardom. 7135 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7134.htm - 6k

Library

This Wisdom was the Great Evil Root, at which the Reforming Ax ...
... Address 217: This wisdom was the great evil root, at which the reforming
ax should have been� This wisdom was the great evil root ...
/.../address 217 0 0 this wisdom was.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 33, "Either Make the Tree ...
... [2489] He gave remission of sins, He made them good trees. He delayed the
ax, He gave [2490] security. 3. Of this ax does John speak ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxii on the words.htm

The Way to the Sea
... clashed. Then followed a wild and fearful battle. The Egyptian falchion
was nothing more than a sword-shaped ax. Therefore, these ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xliv the way to.htm

The Lessons from Olivet
... pain.". "But I couldn't ax such a great gentleman as he is to do anything for
me. ... "But hell do all that for you Bobby, if you ax him.". "But ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/the lessons from olivet.htm

Choosing the Tens
... Apart from these were the men of Israel, bearded and grave, stalwart and scantily
clad. They repaired a cable or fitted an ax-handle or mended a hoe. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter i choosing the tens.htm

The Trial of Saul.
... But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share,
and his coulter, and his ax, and his mattock." Saul was raised up to throw ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon iii the trial of.htm

Jacob Boehme: his Life and Spirit
... but," he adds, "seeing God will have it so, I submit to His will."[7] Nobody before
him, he declares, no matter how learned he was, "has had the ax by the ...
/.../chapter ix jacob boehme his.htm

Accidental Causes of Corruption.
... meizon"of which reading at this day D is the sole representative: (2) os dedoke . . .
. meizon"which survives only in AX: (3) o dedoke . . . . ...
/.../chapter ii accidental causes of.htm

The Christian is to Walk Circumspectly.
... words of others. There is an old adage which says, "A new broom sweeps clean."
The boy is eager to cut wood with the new ax. A child ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/the christian is to walk.htm

When Lord Morley Said that the House of Lords must be Either ...
... stand. Yet they are as different as a battle-ax and a bootjack. The essential
idea of an umbrella is breadth and protection. The ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 43 when lord morley.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Alt. of Axe.

2. (v. t. & i.) To ask; to inquire or inquire of.

Thesaurus

Ax (12 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. AX (AXE); AX-HEAD. aks; aks'hed: Nine
different Hebrew words have been rendered "ax": (1) garzen. ...
/a/ax.htm - 14k

Ax-head
Ax-head. Axhead, Ax-head. Axles . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AX (AXE); AX-HEAD. aks; aks'hed: Nine different Hebrew ...
/a/ax-head.htm - 9k

Battle-ax (1 Occurrence)
Battle-ax. Battle-array, Battle-ax. Battleaxe . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(n.) Alt. of Battle-axe. Multi-Version Concordance Battle-ax (1 Occurrence). ...
/b/battle-ax.htm - 6k

Axhead (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia AX (AXE); AX-HEAD. aks; aks'hed: Nine
different Hebrew words have been rendered "ax": (1) garzen. ...
/a/axhead.htm - 10k

Axe (19 Occurrences)
... The broadax, or carpenter's ax, is an ax for hewing timber, made heavier than the
chopping ax, and with a broader and thinner blade and a shorter handle. ...
/a/axe.htm - 18k

Tools (3 Occurrences)
... For ax, again, various words are employed in a way that is quite obscure to us and
apparently with meanings that are not fixed. ... See AX (AXE), AX-HEAD. ...
/t/tools.htm - 14k

Helve (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The handle of an ax, hatchet, or adze. ... 4. (vt)
To furnish with a helve, as an ax. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HELVE. ...
/h/helve.htm - 7k

Mattock (2 Occurrences)
... (n.) An implement for digging and grubbing. The head has two long steel blades,
one like an adz and the other like a narrow ax or the point of a pickax. Int. ...
/m/mattock.htm - 8k

Battleaxe
... God's instrument in destroying Babylon. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BATTLE-AXE. bat'-'-l-ax. See ARMOR, ARMS, III, 1; AX (AXE). ...
/b/battleaxe.htm - 6k

Battle-axe (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BATTLE-AXE. bat'-'-l-ax. See ARMOR, ARMS, III,
1; AX (AXE). Multi-Version Concordance Battle-axe (2 Occurrences). ...
/b/battle-axe.htm - 7k

Bible Concordance

Ax (12 Occurrences)

Matthew 3:10 "Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 3:9 Even now the axe also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire."
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 19:5 as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to chop wood, and his hand fetches a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle, and lights on his neighbor, so that he dies; he shall flee to one of these cities and live:
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 20:19 When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them; for you may eat of them, and you shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of you?
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 9:48 Abimelech got him up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!"
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 13:20 but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his plowshare, mattock, axe, and sickle;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 6:7 The house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Kings 6:5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water. Then he cried, and said, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 10:10 If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
(Root in WEB NAS NIV)

Isaiah 10:15 Should an axe brag against him who chops with it? Should a saw exalt itself above him who saws with it? As if a rod should lift those who lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up someone who is not wood.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 10:34 And he is cutting down the thick places of the wood with an axe, and Lebanon with its tall trees is coming down.
(Root in BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 10:3 For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV)

Subtopics

Ax: An Implement

Ax: Battle-Ax

Ax: Elisha Causes to Swim

Ax: Figurative

Related Terms

Ax-head

Battle-ax (1 Occurrence)

Axhead (1 Occurrence)

Axe (19 Occurrences)

Tools (3 Occurrences)

Helve (1 Occurrence)