of brass

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

An alloy of copper and zinc, not known to the Jews. The brass of Scripture was probably copper, or a copper alloy (Gen. 4:22²²And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. (Genesis 4:22); Deut. 8:9⁹A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. (Deuteronomy 8:9); Judg. 16:21²¹But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. (Judges 16:21); 2 Kings 25:7⁷And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon. (2 Kings 25:7); 1 Sam. 17:5⁵And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. (1 Samuel 17:5); Job 28:2²Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. (Job 28:2); 1 Cor. 13:1¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

As “brass” is a compound, it is probable that copper is the metal often alluded to in scripture. See Deuteronomy 8:9⁹A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. (Deuteronomy 8:9). In some cases it may be “bronze,” as it is known that this was in use in ancient Egypt. The Hebrew word nechosheth is translated “copper” in Ezra 8:27²⁷Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold. (Ezra 8:27), where it is said to be “precious as gold.” Brass is used as a symbol for righteousness according to the claims of God upon man, as in the brazen altar; the Lord as seen in the vision in the Revelation has feet like fine brass, “burning as in a furnace:” that is, righteous judgment according to responsibility (Rev. 1:15¹⁵And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. (Revelation 1:15); Rev. 2:18¹⁸And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; (Revelation 2:18)).

Download (819.8 KB)

Copper bracelet with two brass brands—1900s—US

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:

5153 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Transliteration:

nachuwsh

Phonic:

naw-khoosh’

Meaning:

apparently passive participle of 5172 (perhaps in the sense of ringing, i.e. bell-metal; or from the red color of the throat of a serpent (5175, as denominative) when hissing); coppery, i.e. (figuratively) hard

KJV Usage:

of brass