Topical Encyclopedia
The ax is a tool mentioned several times in the Bible, primarily as an instrument for cutting wood or as a metaphor for judgment and destruction. In biblical times, the ax was an essential tool for daily life, used for felling trees, shaping wood, and preparing firewood. Its significance extends beyond its practical use, symbolizing divine judgment and the power of God.
Old Testament ReferencesThe ax is first mentioned in the context of woodcutting. In
Deuteronomy 19:5, the ax is used in a legal example concerning accidental death: "For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his ax to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him." This passage highlights the ax's role in everyday life and its potential for causing unintended harm.
In
1 Samuel 13:20-21, the Israelites are described as going down to the Philistines to sharpen their axes, indicating the importance of this tool in agricultural and domestic activities. The passage reads: "So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his ax, or his sickle. The charge was a pim for the plowshares and mattocks, the forks and axes, and to fix the oxgoads."
The ax also appears in prophetic literature as a symbol of judgment. In
Isaiah 10:15, the prophet uses the ax metaphorically to describe the arrogance of Assyria, which God used as an instrument of judgment against Israel: "Does the ax raise itself above the one who swings it, or the saw boast against the one who uses it? As if a rod were to wield the one who lifts it, or a staff to lift him who is not wood!"
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the ax is used metaphorically by John the Baptist to signify impending judgment. In
Matthew 3:10, John warns the Pharisees and Sadducees: "The ax lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." This imagery underscores the urgency of repentance and the coming of God's kingdom.
Similarly, in
Luke 3:9, John the Baptist reiterates this message: "The ax lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." The repetition of this metaphor emphasizes the seriousness of spiritual fruitfulness and the consequences of failing to live according to God's will.
Symbolism and Theological SignificanceThe ax serves as a powerful symbol of divine judgment and the necessity of repentance. It represents the cutting away of what is unfruitful or sinful, aligning with the biblical theme of purification and renewal. The imagery of the ax at the root of the trees conveys the immediacy and inevitability of God's judgment, urging believers to examine their lives and bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
In a broader theological context, the ax can be seen as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the ultimate accountability of humanity before Him. It calls believers to live lives of righteousness, producing good fruit as evidence of their faith and commitment to God's commandments.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Alt. of Axe.
2. (v. t. & i.) To ask; to inquire or inquire of.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AX (AXE); AX-HEADaks; 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 20:191 Kings 6:7Isaiah 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 inIsaiah 44:12 (King James Version renders "tongs") and inJeremiah 10:3.
(3) qardom, is used inJudges 9:481 Samuel 13:20, 21;Psalm 74:5Jeremiah 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 19:52 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. SeeMETALS.
(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 3:10Luke 3:9).
James A. Patch
Greek
3990. pelekizo -- to cut off with anax, 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.
...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...
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...
370. anaxios -- unworthy
... unworthy. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: anaxios Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ax'-ee-os) Short Definition: unworthy, inadequate Definition: unworthy...
3342. metaxu -- between, after
... between, after. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: metaxu Phonetic Spelling:
(met-ax-oo') Short Definition: meanwhile, afterwards, between Definition...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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
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 -- battleax. see HEBREW naphats....
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....
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....
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.
Library
This Wisdom was the Great Evil Root, at which the ReformingAx...
... Address 217: This wisdom was the great evil root, at which the reforming
ax should have been? This wisdom was the great evil root...
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 thisax does John speak...
The Way to the Sea
... clashed. Then followed a wild and fearful battle. The Egyptian falchion
was nothing more than a sword-shapedax. Therefore, these...
The Lessons from Olivet
... pain.". "But I couldn'tax such a great gentleman as he is to do anything for
me.... "But hell do all that for you Bobby, if youax him.". "But...
Choosing the Tens
... Apart from these were the men of Israel, bearded and grave, stalwart and scantily
clad. They repaired a cable or fitted anax-handle or mended a hoe....
The Trial of Saul.
... But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share,
and his coulter, and hisax, and his mattock." Saul was raised up to throw...
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 theax by the...
Accidental Causes of Corruption.
... meizon"of which reading at this day D is the sole representative: (2) os dedoke . . .
. meizon"which survives only inAX: (3) o dedoke . . . ....
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 newax. A child...
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...
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.
...Ax-head
Ax-head. Axhead,Ax-head. Axles . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AX (AXE);AX-HEAD. aks; aks'hed: Nine different Hebrew...
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)....
Axhead (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible EncyclopediaAX (AXE);AX-HEAD. aks; aks'hed: Nine
different Hebrew words have been rendered "ax": (1) garzen....
Axe (19 Occurrences)
... The broadax, or carpenter'sax, is anax for hewing timber, made heavier than the
choppingax, and with a broader and thinner blade and a shorter handle....
Tools (3 Occurrences)
... Forax, again, various words are employed in a way that is quite obscure to us and
apparently with meanings that are not fixed.... SeeAX (AXE),AX-HEAD....
Helve (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The handle of anax, hatchet, or adze.... 4. (vt)
To furnish with a helve, as anax. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HELVE....
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 narrowax or the point of a pickax. Int....
Battleaxe
... God's instrument in destroying Babylon. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BATTLE-AXE. bat'-'-l-ax. See ARMOR, ARMS, III, 1;AX (AXE)....
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)....
Resources
What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree? | GotQuestions.orgShould Christians give away all they possess except for basic necessities? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Elisha in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgAx: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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