בְּדִיל (be.dil)
be.dil
tin
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun bedil refers to a heavy metal, most commonly identified as tin or an alloy like pewter. In the ancient Near East, this material was valuable for casting vessels and weights due to its density and durability. The term appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Numbers 31:22, Isaiah 41:7, and Zechariah 13:9.
Its usage reveals a consistent pattern of testing and purification. In Numbers, Moses commands that tin vessels be cleansed by fire to make them holy, showing the metal’s ability to withstand intense heat without melting or degrading. Similarly, Isaiah describes God refining Israel through fire and molten metal, using bedil as a metaphor for a people who have been purified but remain distinct and heavy with consequence.
This word carries theological weight because it represents something substantial and enduring. Unlike fragile materials, tin withstands the furnace. When Zechariah speaks of this alloy in the context of judgment, it underscores the seriousness of divine refinement. The metal does not vanish; it remains, tested and proven, reflecting a people who have passed through fire yet retained their essential nature.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Tin is a heavy, durable metal that withstands intense heat without melting or losing its shape. In the ancient world, this stability made it valuable for crafting vessels and weights. When Scripture mentions tin in contexts of purification, it highlights a process where impurities are burned away while the essential material remains intact. This imagery offers comfort: just as tin endures the furnace, so too can our faith endure trials without being destroyed.
The biblical use of this metal suggests that refinement is not about destruction but about preservation and clarity. When dross—the useless waste—is removed, what remains is solid and useful. This process mirrors how God works in our lives, stripping away distractions and sin to reveal the core of who we are meant to be. The endurance of tin reminds us that our character, when tested by fire, can emerge stronger and more defined.
We find this theme clearly in passages where God speaks of removing impurities from His people. It is a promise that the refining process has a purpose: to leave something pure, heavy with significance, and ready for use. This hope anchors us when we face difficulties, knowing that the One who refines us is faithful to preserve what is good within us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ tin1×
- slag<s>/ your1×
- <the>/ tin1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/בְּדִ֛יל1×
- הַ/בְּדִ֖יל1×
- בְּדִילָֽיִ/ךְ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 31:22
However the gold, and the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
This verse lists tin alongside other metals that must be purified by fire, showing its role in ritual cleansing and its ability to withstand heat without melting.
-
Isaiah 1:25
I will turn my hand on you, thoroughly purge away your dross, and will take away all your tin.
Here God promises to remove 'tin' (dross) from Judah, using the metal as a metaphor for the impurities that must be burned away to restore purity.
-
Zechariah 4:10
Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are Yahweh’s eyes, which run back and forth through the whole earth.”
Although the candidate text mentions a plumb line, the Hebrew term bedil is often associated with weights or calibration tools in this context, symbolizing God's precise measurement and judgment.