ἀξῑν-η G0513
axe; a tool with a heavy blade used for chopping wood or cutting down trees
This noun denotes an axe—a cutting tool with a heavy blade. Both occurrences appear in parallel passages from John the Baptist's preaching. Matthew 3:10 and Luke 3:9 both quote John's warning that the axe already lies at the tree's root, ready to cut down fruitless trees. Classical usage included axe-heads, battle-axes, and wood-chopping axes. The New Testament restricts it to John's prophetic imagery of coming judgment. Translations (Spanish hacha, French hache) consistently identify this as an axe.
Senses
1. sense 1 — John the Baptist uses ἀξίνη as a prophetic image for imminent judgment. The axe isn't approaching; it's already positioned at the tree's root—judgment is ready to fall. The imagery warns that profession without fruit leads to being cut down and thrown into fire. Both Matthew and Luke preserve identical wording: 'Already the axe lies at the root of the trees.' This vivid image makes judgment concrete—not distant threat but present readiness. 2×
AR["الْفَأْسُ", "فَأْسُ"]·ben["কুঠার", "কুড়াল"]·DE["ἀξίνη"]·EN["axe"]·FR["hache"]·heb["גַּרְזֶן", "קַרְדֹּם"]·HI["कुल्हाड़ी"]·ID["kapak"]·IT["axine"]·jav["wadung", "wadungipun"]·KO["도끼-가"]·PT["machado"]·RU["топор"]·ES["hacha"]·SW["shoka"]·TR["balta"]·urd["کلہاڑی"]
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀξῑν-η, ἡ, axe-head, ἀξίνην ἐΰχαλκον ἐλαΐνῳ ἀμφὶ πελέκκῳRefs 8th c.BC+ __2 battle-axe (explanation as δίστομος πέλεκυς by Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 axe for hewing wood, NT+5th c.BC+. (Cf. Gothic aqizi, ORefs 5th c.BC+ æx, Latin ascia (from *acsia).)