Reference
Description and usage
The battle-axe had a handle about half the length of a man’s body on which was mounted a metal blade sharpened on opposing sides. A soldier could use it in close combat and swing it in two directions without changing his grip on it. The illustration shows one possible shape of the blade.
Translation
The Hebrew word sgor looks like the imperative form of the verb meaning “close, shut off,” so the Septuagint understood it to mean “capture, make a prisoner.” Many translations take it to be a second weapon with the sword mentioned just before it, and most have rendered it “javelin” (RSV, NJPSV). However, A Handbook on Psalms (page 329) points out that there is evidence from Qumran that the sgor was a kind of axe used in war. Several translations (GNT, NASB, ITCL) have accepted this meaning. NJB, citing the Qumran information, has “pike,” which was a long thrusting spear. This Handbook recommends “battle-axe.”