נְחָשׁ (ne.chash)
ne.chash
bronze
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
In the Aramaic sections of Daniel, the word neḥash appears seven times to describe bronze or copper. It is a direct cognate of the Hebrew neḥoshah, serving as the standard term for this durable metal in the imperial language of the Babylonian and Persian courts.
The sources highlight its specific use in describing the massive statues and architectural elements of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:32-35) and the bronze serpent Moses lifted up (Numbers 21:9, referenced in Danielic context or related traditions). This usage underscores the metal's association with strength, permanence, and royal power.
Translators consistently render it as "bronze," reflecting its practical application in weaponry, idols, and structural supports. The term carries no metaphorical weight beyond its material reality, anchoring the narrative in the tangible, heavy world of ancient Near Eastern empire.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In the dream given to King Nebuchadnezzar, the word for bronze describes the third part of a towering statue. This metal represented a kingdom of military strength and rigid order. It stood between the fleeting beauty of gold and the harshness of iron. The image reminds us that human empires, no matter how powerful or enduring they seem, are temporary structures.
Yet the vision does not end with destruction. A stone cut without hands strikes the statue, shattering the bronze along with the other metals. This stone grows into a great mountain that fills the earth. The message is one of hope: earthly power is fragile, but God’s kingdom is permanent and unshakable. We can rest in the certainty that His rule will outlast every human regime.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bronze/ the3×
- bronze2×
- <the>/ bronze2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נְחָשָׁ֨/א1×
- נְחָשָׁ֥/א1×
- נְחָשָׁ֤/א1×
- נְחָשָׁ֜/א1×
- נְחָשָׁ֔/א1×
- נְחָֽשׁ\׃1×
- נְחָ֔שׁ1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:39
“After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you; and another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
This verse explicitly identifies the bronze section as a third kingdom that will rule over all the earth, highlighting its global political dominance.
-
Daniel 2:35
Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
Here the bronze is broken along with the other metals, showing that even strong empires are subject to divine judgment and eventual collapse.
-
Daniel 7:19
“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of bronze; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;
The nails of bronze on the fourth beast emphasize the terrifying durability and crushing force of this final earthly power before God’s intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is bronze used in Daniel’s dream?
Does bronze have a spiritual meaning in this passage?
How is this word used elsewhere in Daniel?
Every Occurrence (7 verses across 1 books)
Daniel 7 verses
As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze,
Daniel 2:35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff…
Daniel 2:39“After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you; and another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule…
Daniel 2:45Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the…
Daniel 5:4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
Daniel 5:23but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and…
Daniel 7:19“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them, exceedingly…