“Iron” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(pious). (1) City of Naphtali (Josh. 19:38). (2) Iron, the metal, and copper early known (Gen. 4:22). Prepared in furnaces (1 Kings 8:51); used for tools (Deut. 27:5); weapons (1 Sam. 17:7); implements (2 Sam. 12:31); war-chariots (Josh. 17:16).
“Axe” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
Seven Hebrew words so translated. It was of stone or iron, crudely fastened to a handle of wood (Deut. 19:5; 2 Kings 6:5-7).
“Iron” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
Iron Ore
This metal is mentioned as early as Genesis 4:22, when it was used by artificers; and Job speaks of it as dug out of the earth (Job 28:2). It was in use in Palestine before the Israelites entered, for they found that the Canaanites had chariots of iron (Josh. 17:16,18). Og king of Bashan had a bedstead of iron, and iron was used for spear heads, threshing instruments, and other such purposes. Iron is used as a symbol of hardness. Israel is described as obstinate; their neck was like an iron sinew and their brow as brass (Isa. 48:4). The Lord Jesus will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Rev. 12:5; Rev. 19:15). Iron also characterized the kingdom of Rome. When represented as a beast, it had great iron teeth (Dan. 7:7,19); and in the great image the character of the various kingdoms had depreciated from gold to silver, then to brass, thence to iron and clay, that would not unite, the traces of which are seen around us in the national governments of the present day (Dan. 2:33-45).
“Iron That Swims” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
He cuts down that stick and casts it in the very place where I lost my "ax head." I am the only one who can tell Him. It is my own experience. But do I have anything to do with what takes place next? No, not a bit. A miracle happens. The iron comes to the surface. Yet the story doesn't say that. It says, "The iron did swim."
Why does it say iron instead of ax head? Because iron has a nature that doesn't swim. But the iron did swim-it is the law of the principle of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. It has set me free from the principle of sin and death. It is an entirely new law not known before. Could man explain how a piece of iron could swim? Never! It doesn't belong to the old line of things at all; it is a new thing.
I still have the same identity I had as a man before, but the old nature is gone. My identity with sin in the flesh is gone. I may allow it to come out again, but that is why Romans says, "Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin." Practically, by faith, take the place you are in; that is what Romans tells us, because the man is still struggling. In Colossians he says, "Ye are dead." Then he sets a positive fact before them-life.
In Rom. 7 the man is still struggling; he is still trying to build himself a place by Jordan where he may rest, where he may dwell, and so the exhortation in Romans is, "Reckon... yourselves... dead." Do I need that exhortation for my soul? Do you need it for your soul? Are we still struggling or are our souls at rest? Are we resting in the full work of Christ? We are not to be occupied with our former manner of life in the flesh. In Christ is where I find joy. We need to be exercised about these things, each one, before the Lord.
“Ax, Axe” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
There are seven different Hebrew words translated “ax” or “axe,” with various shades of meaning (Deut. 19:5; Judg. 9:48; 2 Sam. 12:31; 1 Chron. 20:3; Psa. 74:6; Jer. 10:3; Ezek. 26:9; Matt. 3:10: Luke 3:9).
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Meaning:
perhaps from the root of 1269; iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement
KJV Usage:
(ax) head, iron