נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet)
ne.cho.shet
bronze; lust
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 107 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word nechochet primarily denotes bronze, the durable alloy of copper and tin that defined ancient technology. It appears over a hundred times in Scripture, most frequently in Exodus where it describes the materials for the tabernacle’s altar and basin, and in Kings where it details Solomon’s temple furnishings. This metal was valued for its strength and utility, serving as a practical standard of worth—more substantial than wood but less precious than gold.
Beyond its literal sense, nechochet carries a striking metaphorical weight. In Jeremiah 6:28-29, God compares the rebellious people to refined silver that has turned into worthless dross, using the imagery of smelting bronze to illustrate moral corruption. The metal’s hardness and unyielding nature make it a fitting symbol for stubbornness or pitilessness, as seen in descriptions of heavy fetters or a sky like iron.
A rare secondary meaning appears in Ezekiel 16:36, where context suggests nechochet refers to lust or harlotry. This figurative usage likely stems from the metal’s association with idolatrous objects or perhaps its visual resemblance to certain pigments used in ancient practices. Translators must carefully weigh the immediate context to determine whether the text speaks of physical material or spiritual decay.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Bronze appears frequently in the Old Testament as a material of strength and endurance. Unlike gold or silver, which signify glory and purity, bronze represents durability and resilience. In the tabernacle instructions, God commanded that the altar be overlaid with this metal. This choice highlights that worship requires a foundation capable of withstanding the heat of sacrifice and the weight of devotion. The metal’s hardness suggests a faith that does not easily bend under pressure.
Sometimes this word carries a heavier meaning, symbolizing stubbornness or moral corruption. In Jeremiah, the people are compared to dross—worthless residue left after refining silver. This serves as a sobering reminder that outward religious structures can hide inner decay. The material itself is neutral; its value depends entirely on how it is used. We are invited to examine whether our lives reflect the enduring strength of bronze or the brittle hardness of rebellion.
Ultimately, the presence of bronze in Scripture points to God’s provision for practical needs. It reminds us that holiness involves both beauty and strength. As you consider your own walk with God, ask for the resilience to stand firm in truth while remaining soft enough to be refined by His love. May your life be like well-crafted metal: useful, enduring, and pleasing to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 107 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bronze54×
- <the>/ bronze23×
- and/ bronze9×
- with <the>/ bronze fetters6×
- [were] bronze6×
- the/ bronze5×
- [will be] bronze5×
- [was] bronze3×
- bronze/ their2×
- and/ in <the>/ bronze2×
- with <the>/ bronze1×
- to/ bronze/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נְחֹ֑שֶׁת17×
- נְחֹ֖שֶׁת13×
- נְחֹֽשֶׁת\׃12×
- נְחֹ֔שֶׁת8×
- הַ/נְּחֹ֙שֶׁת֙8×
- הַ/נְּחֹ֛שֶׁת5×
- נְחֹֽשֶׁת\׃\ \ס4×
- נְחֹ֙שֶׁת֙4×
- וּ/נְחֹֽשֶׁת\׃4×
- הַ/נְּחֹ֜שֶׁת4×
- בַּֽ/נְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם4×
- הַ/נְּחֹ֖שֶׁת3×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 27:2
You shall make its horns on its four corners. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. You shall overlay it with bronze.
This verse specifies that the altar for burnt offerings must be overlaid with bronze, establishing it as the primary material for atonement and sacrifice in the wilderness tabernacle.
-
Exodus 30:18
“You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it.
Here the bronze basin is commanded for washing, linking the physical metal to the ritual purification required before approaching the holy presence of God.
-
Genesis 4:22
Zillah also gave birth to Tubal Cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron. Tubal Cain’s sister was Naamah.
Tubal Cain is introduced as a forger of bronze and iron tools, marking an early biblical recognition of human craftsmanship and technological development outside the priestly line.