נָחוּשׁ (na.chush)
na.chush
bronze
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun naḥûš refers specifically to bronze, a durable alloy of copper and tin that was essential in the ancient Near East for tools, weapons, and decorative elements. This word appears only once in the Bible, in Job 6:12, where it serves as a concrete metaphor within a larger rhetorical question.
In this solitary occurrence, Job asks if his strength is that of stones or his flesh of bronze (naḥûš). The comparison highlights the contrast between human fragility and material resilience. By invoking bronze, Job emphasizes the impossibility of enduring such intense suffering through physical endurance alone, underscoring the depth of his despair and the limits of his own resources.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word naḥûš refers to bronze, a hard metal alloy used for tools and weapons in ancient times. In Job 6:12, it appears in a moment of deep despair where the protagonist asks if his flesh is made of bronze. This metaphor highlights the stark contrast between unyielding material strength and human physical fragility.
When you face overwhelming trials, it is natural to wish for an impenetrable shield or stone-like resolve. Yet this single biblical usage reminds us that such endurance is not part of our created nature. We are designed with limits, and acknowledging them is not a failure but a recognition of our humanity.
This awareness invites us to look beyond our own resources. Since we cannot rely on bronze resilience, we are drawn toward the support of community and the grace that sustains us when our strength fails. There is comfort in knowing that weakness does not disqualify you from hope.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bronze1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נָחֽוּשׁ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Job 6:12
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?
This verse uses bronze to emphasize Job's physical exhaustion and the impossibility of enduring his suffering through sheer willpower alone.