Jeremiah 15:12
Jeremiah 15:12 in Multiple Translations
Can anyone smash iron— iron from the north—or bronze?
Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass?
Is it possible for iron to be broken; even iron from the north, and brass?
Can anyone break iron, iron from the north, or bronze?
Shall the yron breake the yron, and the brasse that commeth from the North?
Doth one break iron — northern iron, and brass?
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and bronze?
Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
Shall iron be allied with the iron from the north, and the brass?
Yahweh also told me to say to the people of Judah, “Your enemies, who are as strong as iron or bronze, will attack you from the north; no one will be able to stop them.
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 15:12
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 15:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הֲ/יָרֹ֨עַ
בַּרְזֶ֧ל
בַּרְזֶ֛ל
מִ/צָּפ֖וֹן
וּ/נְחֹֽשֶׁת
הֲ/יָרֹ֨עַ
râʻaʻ
H7489
be evil
Part | V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
בַּרְזֶ֧ל
barzel
H1270
iron
N-ms
בַּרְזֶ֛ל
barzel
H1270
iron
N-ms
מִ/צָּפ֖וֹן
tsâphôwn
H6828
Zaphon
Prep | N-fs
וּ/נְחֹֽשֶׁת
nᵉchôsheth
H5178
bronze
Conj | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 15:12
הֲ/יָרֹ֨עַ
râʻaʻ
H7489
"be evil"
Part | V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This word means to shatter or break something into pieces, making it useless or bad. It can also mean to afflict or displease someone.
Definition: 1) to be bad, be evil 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to be displeasing 1a2) to be sad 1a3) to be injurious, be evil 1a4) to be wicked, be evil (ethically) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to do an injury or hurt 1b2) to do evil or wickedly 1b3) mischief (participle)
Usage: Occurs in 99 OT verses. KJV: afflict, associate selves (by mistake for H7462 (רָעָה)), break (down, in pieces), [phrase] displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat, man), show self friendly (by mistake for H7462 (רָעָה)), do harm, (do) hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, [idiom] indeed, do mischief, punish, still, vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse. See also: Genesis 19:7; Psalms 27:2; Psalms 2:9.
בַּרְזֶ֧ל
barzel
H1270
"iron"
N-ms
Iron refers to a strong metal used for tools and furniture, symbolizing strength or harshness, as seen in the Bible's descriptions of iron implements.
Definition: 1) iron 1a) iron 1a1) iron ore 1a2) as material of furniture, utensils, implements 2) tool of iron 3) harshness, strength, oppression (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: par.zel (פַּרְזֶל "iron" H6523)
Usage: Occurs in 70 OT verses. KJV: (ax) head, iron. See also: Genesis 4:22; 2 Chronicles 2:6; Psalms 2:9.
בַּרְזֶ֛ל
barzel
H1270
"iron"
N-ms
Iron refers to a strong metal used for tools and furniture, symbolizing strength or harshness, as seen in the Bible's descriptions of iron implements.
Definition: 1) iron 1a) iron 1a1) iron ore 1a2) as material of furniture, utensils, implements 2) tool of iron 3) harshness, strength, oppression (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: par.zel (פַּרְזֶל "iron" H6523)
Usage: Occurs in 70 OT verses. KJV: (ax) head, iron. See also: Genesis 4:22; 2 Chronicles 2:6; Psalms 2:9.
מִ/צָּפ֖וֹן
tsâphôwn
H6828
"Zaphon"
Prep | N-fs
This word means 'north' and is used to describe a direction or location. In the Bible, it is often translated as 'north' or 'northern side'.
Definition: This name means north Also named: tsa.phon (צָפוֹן "Zaphon" H6829)
Usage: Occurs in 141 OT verses. KJV: north(-ern, side, -ward, wind). See also: Genesis 13:14; Jeremiah 6:22; Psalms 48:3.
וּ/נְחֹֽשֶׁת
nᵉchôsheth
H5178
"bronze"
Conj | N-fs
This Hebrew word refers to copper or something made of it, like a coin or chain. It can also symbolize something base or impure, as in lust or filthiness. It appears in various KJV translations, including brasen and brass.
Definition: 1) copper, bronze 1a) copper (ore), bronze (as copper alloy) 1b) fetters (of copper or bronze) 1c) copper (as value)
Usage: Occurs in 119 OT verses. KJV: brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel. See also: Genesis 4:22; 1 Kings 7:38; Psalms 107:16.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 15:12
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 15:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 15:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 15:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:12
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:12
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 15:12
- Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 15:12
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:12
- Sermons on Jeremiah 15:12
Context — Jeremiah’s Woe
10Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and conflict in all the land. I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me.
11The LORD said: “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will intercede with your enemy in your time of trouble, in your time of distress.
12Can anyone smash iron— iron from the north—or bronze?
13Your wealth and your treasures I will give up as plunder, without charge for all your sins within all your borders. 14Then I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for My anger will kindle a fire that will burn against you.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 40:9 | Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His? |
| 2 | Jeremiah 21:4–5 | this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will turn against you the weapons of war in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the wall, and I will assemble their forces in the center of this city. And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath. |
| 3 | Isaiah 45:9 | Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker— one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’? |
| 4 | Jeremiah 28:14 | For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have even given him control of the beasts of the field.’” |
| 5 | Habakkuk 1:5–10 | “Look at the nations and observe— be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans — that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour. All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand. They scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize it. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 1:18–19 | Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. |
Jeremiah 15:12 Summary
Jeremiah 15:12 is asking if anyone can break something as strong as iron or bronze, and the answer is no, just like how nothing can stop God's judgment. This verse is saying that God's power is like iron or bronze, unbreakable and unstoppable, as seen in Psalm 115:3, where it says God does whatever He pleases. Just as iron and bronze can be molded and shaped by a powerful force, God can break down even the strongest strongholds in our lives, and we can trust Him to do what is best for us, as seen in Romans 8:28.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the iron from the north represent in Jeremiah 15:12?
The iron from the north likely represents the strong and powerful nations that will come against Judah, as seen in Jeremiah 1:14-15, where God warns of the impending judgment from the north.
Is Jeremiah 15:12 talking about a literal smashing of iron or bronze?
While the verse uses the metaphor of smashing iron or bronze, it is likely a figurative expression of the overwhelming power and strength of God's judgment, as seen in Isaiah 45:2, where God says He will break down gates of bronze.
How does this verse relate to Jeremiah's feelings of distress in Jeremiah 15:10?
Jeremiah's expression of distress in Jeremiah 15:10 is followed by God's words of comfort and promise in Jeremiah 15:11, but Jeremiah 15:12 serves as a reminder of the severity of God's judgment, highlighting the idea that even the strongest nations will be broken, as seen in Jeremiah 15:13-14.
What is the main point of Jeremiah 15:12?
The main point of Jeremiah 15:12 is to emphasize the unstoppable power of God's judgment, using the unbreakable nature of iron and bronze to drive home the idea that God's will cannot be resisted, as seen in Psalm 2:9, where God says He will break the nations with a rod of iron.
Reflection Questions
- What are the 'irons' in my life that seem unbreakable, and how can I trust God to smash them if they are opposing His will?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of God's unstoppable judgment to my own life, recognizing that He is the one who breaks down strongholds, as seen in 2 Corinthians 10:4?
- How does the image of smashing iron or bronze make me feel, and what does it reveal about my trust in God's power and sovereignty?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to surrender to God's breaking and reshaping, just as bronze or iron is molded and shaped by a blacksmith?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 15:12
Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?] Can iron break iron, especially that which comes from the north, which was harder than the common iron; or steel, the hardest of all?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 15:12
Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel? Northern ... steel - rather, brass or copper, which, mixed with "iron" (by the Chalybes near the Euxine Pontus, far neigh of Palestine), formed the hardest metal, like our steel.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:12
There is a great variety among interpreters as to this verse also, some interpreting this as a prophecy that none should break the prophet, whom God would make as the northern iron and steel, which was the hardest of all iron, the Chalybes (from whom steel had its name Chalybs) being northern people, and the most famous of any then known in the world for tempering iron to make it hard and tough; others interpreting it, as denying that there should ever be an agreement betwixt the Jews and the Chaldeans: but to me the words of the next verse seem to give us the sense, that the Jews should certainly be overrun and conquered by the Babylonians; for as the northern iron and steel is the hardest, and no iron could break that, so God having edged and hardened their enemies the Chaldeans, all their opposition to them would signify nothing.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:12
Jeremiah 15:12 Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?Ver. 12. Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?] That is, say some, shall these hardhearted Jews be too hard for me? or, for thee, Jeremiah, whom I have made an "iron pillar and brazen walls" against the whole land Never think it. Brighten thee they may, but not break thee. The northern iron is noted for the best and toughest.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:12
(12) Shall iron break . . .?—The abruptness of the question and the boldness of the imagery make the interpretation difficult. That which most harmonises with the context (assuming this verse to carry on the thought of Jer 15:1-9, after the interruption, possibly the interpolation, of Jeremiah 15:10-11) is, that the prayer of the prophet, strong though it may be, cannot change the inflexible purpose of Jehovah to chastise His people’s sins. Some have, however, taken the words as declaring (1) the powerlessness of Judah to resist the titanic strength of the Chaldaeans, or (2) the impotence of the prophet’s enemies to deter him from his work, or (3) the prophet’s want of power against the obdurate evil of the people, or (4) the weakness of Pharaoh-nechoh as compared with Nebuchadnezzar. Of these (3) has a show of plausibility from Jeremiah 1:18; Jeremiah 15:20, but does not harmonise so well with what precedes and follows. The “northern iron” is probably that of the Chalybes of Pontus, mentioned as the “artificers in iron” by Æschylus (Prom. Bound, 733), as the coast of the Euxine is called by him the land which is “the mother of iron” (Ibid. 309), famous for being harder than all others. For “steel” we should read bronze. The word is commonly translated “brass,” but that compound, in its modern sense, was unknown to the metallurgy of Israel.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:12
Verse 12. Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?] Shall our weak forces be able to oppose and overcome the powers of the Chaldeans? נחשת nechasheth, which we here translate steel, property signifies brass or copper united with tin, which gives it much hardness, and enables it to bear a good edge.
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 15:12
12. Also very difficult. No satisfactory emendation has been proposed. If, which is very doubtful, the v. is to be retained as it stands, the speaker is either (a) Jehovah, declaring that the Chaldaean foe shall prevail, or (b) better, Jeremiah, as mg. Can iron break iron from, etc., i.e. can my strength be a match for the overwhelming force of my enemies? “The point of reference to iron from the North is that the best and hardest iron came from the Black Sea.” Pe.
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 15:12
The steel - “brass,” i. e., bronze. By the “iron” is meant Jeremiah’s intercession; but this cannot alter the divine purpose to send Judah into exile, which is firm as steel and brass. For “brass” see Exodus 25:3 note.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 15:12
12. Steel — Rather, brass. Making this change, the Authorized Version, as to words, faithfully represents the original: but as to the meaning there have been different opinions.
Sermons on Jeremiah 15:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Northern Iron and the Steel by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches on the use of figures in illustrating the gospel, emphasizing their ability to shed light on truths and make a lasting impression. He delves into the literal |
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(Through the Bible) Exodus 11-12 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of accepting and believing in God's word without questioning or arguing with it. He highlights the humility and submission tha |
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Postgraduate Courses by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the history of denominations and how they often start with a humble and desperate cry to God. However, as they become established, they tend |
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Even Christ Pleased Not Himself by A.B. Simpson | The preacher delves into the concept of Sabbath rest, explaining that it signifies a period of rest for God's people modeled after the traditional Sabbath, but not limited to a spe |
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The Crook in the Lot - Part 1 by Thomas Boston | Thomas Boston preaches about the importance of recognizing that the crook in our lot is of God's making, designed for various purposes such as trial, correction, prevention of sin, |
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Signs of the Times by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink addresses the alarming state of modern evangelism, asserting that much of it is superficial and misleading, failing to convey the true nature of the Gospel. He emphasizes |
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The Knowledge of God and of Ourselves Mutually Connected. -Nature of the Connection by John Calvin | John Calvin preaches about the importance of true wisdom, which consists of the knowledge of God and of ourselves, emphasizing how the two are interconnected. He explains how the k |