Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
Seven Hebrew words so translated. It was of stone or iron, crudely fastened to a handle of wood (Deut. 19:5; 2 Kings 6:5-7).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
There are seven different Hebrew words translated “ax” or “axe,” with various shades of meaning (Deut. 19:5; Judg. 9:48; 2 Sam. 12:31; 1 Chron. 20:3; Psa. 74:6; Jer. 10:3; Ezek. 26:9; Matt. 3:10: Luke 3:9).
“196. Axes” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Deuteronomy 19:5. His hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve.
There were doubtless different forms of ax in use among the Hebrews, as different words are used to signify the instrument. Garzen, the word used here and in Deuteronomy 20:19; 1 Kings 6:7 and Isaiah 10:15, was probably an ax which was used for felling trees and for hewing large timber. Representations of ancient Assyrian and Egyptian axes have come down to us..Some of these axes are fastened to the handle by means of thongs. There is one kind, however, which is not so fastened, but which has an opening in it into which the helve is inserted, as with us. It bears a close resemblance to a modern ax, and from the reference in the text to the head slipping off seems to have been the garzen here spoken of. Egyptian axes were made of bronze, and perhaps of iron also. That some, at least, of the axes of the Hebrews were made of iron is evident from 2 Kings 6:5-6.
“556. Heavy Axes” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Jeremiah 46:22. They shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.
Kardom was a name given to an ax which seems to have been used especially for cutting down trees, and is thought to have had a heavier head than other axes. It is mentioned in Judges 9:48; 1 Sam. 13:20, and Psalm 74:5.
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