קַרְדֹּם

# קַרְדֹּם (qardōm): The Hebrew Axe The Hebrew word קַרְדֹּם (qardōm) refers to an axe—a tool with a blade attached to a handle, used for chopping wood and other materials. This straightforward definition reflects its practical function in ancient Israelite life. The word appears five times throughout the biblical text, a modest but meaningful frequency that suggests it held importance in everyday activities and occasionally in significant narratives. Though the lexicon data provided does not specify the exact contexts of these five occurrences, the rarity of the word—appearing only five times compared to more frequently mentioned tools—indicates it likely appears in particular story moments or specialized contexts rather than in routine descriptions. The word's presence in the biblical record demonstrates that axes were known tools in ancient Israel, whether for construction, forestry, or other practical purposes. Its limited frequency also suggests the biblical authors may have used alternative terminology for axe-related activities, or that the tool's biblical appearances clustered in specific narrative moments rather than scattered throughout scripture.