גַּרְזֶן
𐤂𐤓𐤆𐤍
garzen
H1631 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A tool for cutting or chopping, specifically an axe or hatchet. In biblical texts, גַּרְזֶן refers consistently to a metal instrument with a haft, used for felling trees or, in some cases, as a tool of craftsmanship or construction. The word can cover a range of axe-like tools, not limited to any one size or specific use, but generally denotes a tool designed for chopping solid materials.
Semantic Range
axe; hatchet; tool for cutting; implement for chopping wood or other materials
Root / Etymology
From the root גָּרַז (garaz), which has the core meaning 'to cut, hew, chop.' The noun גַּרְזֶן is a derived form indicating an instrument of cutting or chopping. The formation is regular for noun creation from verbal roots in Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, גַּרְזֶן appears rarely but consistently refers to a metal implement intended for chopping, typically wood (e.g., Deuteronomy 19:5; 1 Kings 6:7). During the Iron Age, such tools would have been technologically significant, requiring both metallurgy and woodworking skills. The term does not carry the ritual, military, or symbolic weight that some other metallic tools (such as swords, כֶּרֶב) might. Distinguished from מַגְזֵרָה (magzerah, saw) and מַקֵּב (maqev, hammer) by its specific association with chopping. English translations generally convey the sense as 'axe' or 'hatchet,' which is accurate, though any ambiguity regarding size or specific use is lost. Later rabbinic and Aramaic usage might broaden or specialize the tool's application, but in the biblical context, the term retains its general meaning. The meaning remained stable throughout biblical periods, without significant theological or metaphorical connotations in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גָּרַז; an axe; ax.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גרז (g-r-z) — to cut, to chop, to hew
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1631-01 |
גַּרְזֶ֔ן | garezen | HNcmsa |
an axe | hewing-axe | 1 |
H1631-04 |
וְ/הַ/גַּרְזֶן֙ | vehagarezen | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and-the-axe | and the chopping-axe | 1 |
H1631-02 |
הַ/גַּרְזֶ֔ן | hagarezen | HTd/Ncmsa |
the axe | the chopping-axe | 1 |
H1631-03 |
בַ/גַּרְזֶן֙ | vagarezen | HRd/Ncmsa |
with the axe | with the chopping-axe | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1631-03 |
Deuteronomy 19:5 | בַ/גַּרְזֶן֙ | vagarezen | HRd/Ncmsa |
with the axe | with the chopping-axe |
H1631-01 |
Deuteronomy 20:19 | גַּרְזֶ֔ן | garezen | HNcmsa |
an axe | hewing-axe |
H1631-04 |
1 Kings 6:7 | וְ/הַ/גַּרְזֶן֙ | vehagarezen | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and-the-axe | and the chopping-axe |
H1631-02 |
Isaiah 10:15 | הַ/גַּרְזֶ֔ן | hagarezen | HTd/Ncmsa |
the axe | the chopping-axe |