Jer 51:20 (a) GOD uses this figure to describe the great armies of Babylon. GOD had used the mighty King of Babylon to destroy, to cut down, and to whip the nations of the earth.
An ax is a weapon or tool with a heavy blade attached to a short handle.
Before people learned to make strong metal weapons, soldiers used axes in close combat. They swung them like hammers. The blade had to be firmly attached to the wooden handle so that it would not fly off or break.
The handle was wider where the soldier held it and became narrower near the blade. This shape helped prevent the ax from slipping. A soldier could carry the ax in one hand or attach it to the wrist with a loop.
Making a strong ax was difficult. The blade needed to stay firmly fixed to the handle.
A cutting ax had a short blade with a wide edge. It was useful against enemies who did not wear armor. It could also be used to damage city walls, as shown in a painting from Saqqarah from the 23rd century BC. However, this type of ax was not effective against armor.
A piercing ax had a long, narrow blade with a sharp edge. This shape helped it cut through stronger protection.
See also Armor and Weapons.
Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary © 2026 Mission Mutual, an adaptation of the Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.