מַעֲצָד (ma.a.tsad)
ma.a.tsad
axe
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun maatsad refers specifically to an axe, a tool essential for cutting wood in the ancient Near East. With only two occurrences in the entire Bible, both found in the prophetic books of Jeremiah and Isaiah, the word carries significant symbolic weight rather than appearing in everyday narratives about construction or carpentry.
In these contexts, the axe serves as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment. It represents the instrument through which God’s people are cut down due to their disobedience. This imagery transforms a common agricultural tool into a symbol of impending destruction, emphasizing the seriousness of turning away from covenant faithfulness.
Translators consistently render maatsad as "axe," preserving its concrete physical reality while allowing the prophetic message to resonate. The brevity of its biblical usage highlights how specific objects can carry profound theological meaning when placed in the mouth of a prophet warning of consequences.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word maatsad describes an axe, a simple but powerful tool used to cut down trees. In the Bible, it appears only twice, both times in prophetic warnings. Isaiah and Jeremiah use this image to show how God uses nations as instruments of correction when His people turn away from Him. The axe represents the serious consequences of breaking our covenant with God.
When we read these passages, we see that God takes our faithfulness seriously. He does not delight in judgment, but He acts to restore what is broken. This reminds us that our choices have real weight. We are called to remain rooted in Him, trusting His guidance rather than relying on our own strength or the fleeting values of the world around us.
Ultimately, this imagery points to God’s desire for restoration. Just as an axe clears away dead wood so new growth can emerge, God’s discipline aims to bring us back to life and truth. We can find comfort in knowing that His corrections are always rooted in love, seeking our good and His glory.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with <the>/ tool1×
- a tool1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַֽעֲצָ֔ד1×
- בַּֽ/מַּעֲצָֽד\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 44:12
The blacksmith takes an ax, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is faint.
This verse describes the blacksmith forging the axe, highlighting human effort and frailty contrasted with God's creative power.
-
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 ax.
Here the axe is used to cut down a tree for idolatrous purposes, illustrating the futility of relying on man-made things instead of God.