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נְחוּשָׁה

𐤍𐤇𐤅𐤔𐤄

nᵉchûwshâh

H5154 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נחשׁ to shine, be bright (of metal), to divine (from same root)

Definition

Copper or bronze, specifically the metal in its unalloyed form (copper) or its common ancient alloyed form (bronze); in some contexts may refer to items or implements made from this metal (e.g., tools, weapons, altars, decorations). Unlike some translations, it does not refer to modern 'brass' or 'steel,' but denotes the principal copper-based metal in the ancient Near East. It can also be used metonymically for strength or durability, and occasionally serves as a poetic symbol of hardness or judgment.

Semantic Range

copper, bronze, implements or objects made from copper or bronze, figuratively: hardness, strength, endurance, resoluteness, judgment (in poetic or prophetic use)

Root / Etymology

From the root נח״ש (נחש), which yields words connected to copper, bronze, serpent (likely based on the sheen or color of copper/bronze), and divination (cognate to the sense of shining or whispering). נְחוּשָׁה is the feminine noun form, distinguished from נָחוּשׁ (adjective 'of copper/bronze').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נְחוּשָׁה designates copper or, more frequently, bronze, the primary utilitarian and decorative metal used in Israelite and broader Levantine society prior to the introduction of iron. The word is often used in descriptions of the Tabernacle and Temple furnishings, weaponry, and various ritual or symbolic objects (e.g., the bronze altar, bronze serpent). Where English translations render the word as 'brass' or 'steel,' this reflects later or anachronistic terminology, since both true brass (copper-zinc alloy) and steel (iron-carbon alloy) were not known or used in ancient Israel. The semantic field occasionally includes poetic uses, especially in Job, Psalms, and the Prophets, where 'nechushah' can signify hardship, unyielding strength, or judgment (as in sky 'like bronze'). Distinct from the root נָחָשׁ, 'serpent,' though the shared root reflects the linkage of color/shine. In later periods, Aramaic and Greek terms for copper/bronze (e.g., χαλκός) replaced or supplemented this term. Modern English Bibles vary in their translation, sometimes narrowing or losing the metallurgical nuance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or נְחֻשָׁה; feminine of נָחוּשׁ; copper; brass, steel. Compare נָחָשׁ.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נחשׁ (n-ḥ-sh) — to shine, be bright (of metal), to divine

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5172 נָחַשׁ intensively practice divination
H5175 נָחָשׁ the serpent
H5176 נָחָשׁ serpent
H5177 נַחְשׁוֹן Nachshon
H5179 נְחֻשְׁתָּא Nehushta

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5154-02 נְחוּשָׁ֖ה nechushah HNcfsa bronze copper-bronze 9
H5154-01 כַּ/נְּחֻשָֽׁה kanechushah HRd/Ncfsa like bronze like copper 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5154-01 Leviticus 26:19 כַּ/נְּחֻשָֽׁה kanechushah HRd/Ncfsa like bronze like copper
H5154-02 2 Samuel 22:35 נְחוּשָׁ֖ה nechushah HNcfsa of bronze copper-bronze
H5154-02 Isaiah 45:2 נְחוּשָׁה֙ nechushah HNcfsa of bronze copper-bronze
H5154-02 Isaiah 48:4 נְחוּשָֽׁה nechushah HNcfsa bronze copper-bronze
H5154-02 Micah 4:13 נְחוּשָׁ֔ה nechushah HNcfsa bronze copper-bronze
H5154-02 Psalms 18:35 נְ֝חוּשָׁ֗ה nechushah HNcfsa of bronze copper-bronze
H5154-02 Job 20:24 נְחוּשָֽׁה nechushah HNcfsa bronze copper-bronze
H5154-02 Job 28:2 נְחוּשָֽׁה nechushah HNcfsa copper copper-bronze
H5154-02 Job 40:18 נְחוּשָׁ֑ה nechushah HNcfsa bronze copper-bronze
H5154-02 Job 41:19 נְחוּשָֽׁה nechushah HNcfsa bronze copper-bronze
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