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542. Adze

From: Manners and Customs of the Bible

By: James M. Freeman

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Jeremiah 10:3³For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. (Jeremiah 10:3). For one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.

“Ax” is thought to have been a light kind of hewing instrument, similar to an adze, used for fashioning or carving wood into shape. It is rendered “tongs” in Isaiah 44:12¹²The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. (Isaiah 44:12).

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