Daniel 5:4 — Word Study
WLCאִשְׁתִּ֖יו חַמְרָ֑א וְ֠שַׁבַּחוּ לֵֽאלָהֵ֞י דַּהֲבָ֧א וְכַסְפָּ֛א נְחָשָׁ֥א פַרְזְלָ֖א אָעָ֥א וְאַבְנָֽא׃
BSAAs they drankshᵉthâh [consumed, imbibed] the winechămar [fermented drink, intoxicating beverage] they praisedshᵉbach■ [extolled, glorified] [their] godsʼĕlâhh [idols, false deities] of golddᵉhab [precious metal, valuable treasure] and silverkᵉçaph [valuable resource, wealth] bronzenᵉchâsh [copper alloy, strong material] and ironparzel [strong metal, sturdy] woodʼâʻ [natural resource, building material] and stoneʼeben [rock, idol-making material]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אִשְׁתִּ֖יו | they drank | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine plural |
| חַמְרָ֑א | wine the | Noun common both singular determined, particle |
| וְ֠שַׁבַּחוּ | and they praised | Conjunction, verb piel perfect third person masculine plural |
| לֵֽאלָהֵ֞י | the object marker [the] gods of | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| דַּהֲבָ֧א | gold | Noun common both singular determined, particle |
| וְכַסְפָּ֛א | and silver | Conjunction, noun common both singular determined, particle |
| נְחָשָׁ֥א | bronze | Noun common both singular determined, particle |
| פַרְזְלָ֖א | iron | Noun common both singular determined, particle |
| אָעָ֥א | wood | Noun common both singular determined, particle |
| וְאַבְנָֽא׃ | and stone | Conjunction, noun common both singular determined, particle |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. |
| KJV | They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. |
| ASV | They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. |
| YLT | they have drunk wine, and have praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. |
| WEB | They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone. |
| BBE | They took their wine and gave praise to the gods of gold and silver, of brass and iron and wood and stone. |
Where they part company is שַׁבַּחוּ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two subordinate clauses, reflecting the sequence of drinking and then praising.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשְׁתָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Daniel 5:4
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Feast of Belshazzargenerated
Daniel 5:4 describes a moment during a lavish feast in Babylon where King Belshazzar and his guests drank wine from sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem. In their revelry, they praised their gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, demonstrating their idolatry and disregard for the true God. This scene sets the stage for the divine judgment that follows, as seen in the subsequent verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel 5:23 | Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways. |
| 2 | Daniel 4:37 | Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride. |
| 3 | Judges 16:23–24 | Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.” |
| 4 | Isaiah 42:8 | I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols. |
| 5 | Hosea 2:8–13 | For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold— which they crafted for Baal. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 17 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שַׁבַּחוּ, Ve.sha.ba.chugenerated
The word שַׁבַּח (*shbach*) is a piel perfect form, indicating an action of praise with emphasis on adoration. It is used here to express the act of extolling or glorifying their gods, showcasing the depth of their idolatrous worship.
This verb carries a strong connotation of admiration and respect, highlighting the fervor with which the nobles praised their deities. In the context of this verse, it underscores the contrast between their lavish celebration and the impending judgment they would face.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb governing the action is אִשְׁתִּ֖יו, they drank, which leads into a clause describing the object (the wine) and a subsequent clause detailing the action of praising their gods. The structure emphasizes the sequence of drinking followed by worship.
The use of multiple noun phrases to describe the gods they praised highlights the variety of materials — gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone — emphasizing the absurdity of worshiping inanimate objects.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שַׁבַּחוּ with ηὐλόγουν, which means 'they blessed' or 'they praised'. This choice reflects a broader interpretation of their actions, suggesting a more formal recognition of the deities they worshipped.
This translation shows a slight widening of the meaning, as 'blessing' can imply a more ritualistic form of praise compared to the straightforward 'praise' in the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Daniel 5:4 describes how the king and his nobles drank wine and praised their gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. This act of worship highlights their idolatry and sets the stage for the divine judgment that follows.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It indicates their devotion to idols made from valuable materials, demonstrating their rejection of the true God.
The use of precious materials like gold and silver emphasizes the wealth and power of Babylon, yet also their folly in worshiping created things.
Following this event, a divine hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall, leading to the king's alarm and eventual downfall.
It illustrates the theme of God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and the consequences of idolatry.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this passage teach us about the dangers of idolatry in our own lives?
- How can we ensure that our worship is directed towards the true God rather than the 'gods' of our culture?
- In what ways do we sometimes prioritize material wealth over our relationship with God?
- How does the story of Belshazzar serve as a warning for those in positions of power today?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
St. Jerome comments on this verse, highlighting the folly of praising gods made of wood and stone while drinking from golden vessels.
Verse 4. "They were drinking wine and praising their gods of gold, of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone." How great was their folly! As they drank from golden vessels, they were praising gods of wood and of stone.Early Church Fathers on Daniel 5 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Daniel 5:4 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey drunk wine,.... That is, out of the vessels of the temple at Jerusalem, and perhaps till they were drunk: and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone;
Read John Gill on Daniel 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThey drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
Read Robert Jamieson on Daniel 5 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAt the same time insulting the great God of heaven and earth. The name of God is never more profaned than among drunkards and epicures.
Read Matthew Poole on Daniel 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDaniel 5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.Ver. 4. They drank wine.] To the honour of their goddess Shac; for so these feast days were called σακεαιημεραι, being like the Roman saturnalia. And praised the gods of silver and of gold.] As if these their dung hill deities had mastered and spoiled the God of Israel, who either would not, or could not defend his temple and people from falling into the power of their invincible conqueror. This was blasphemy in a high degree, and therefore presently punished by God.
Read John Trapp on Daniel 5 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 4. And praised the gods of gold] They had gods of all sorts, and of all metals; with wooden gods, and stone gods, beside!
Read AdamClarke on Daniel 5 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThey drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, ... - Compare the note at Daniel 5:1. Idols were made among the pagan of all the materials here mentioned.
Read Albert Barnes on Daniel 5 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible3, 4. The favorite temple of the king adjoined the palace, so that these vessels could be obtained quickly and easily. A reason for this insult to Jehovah has already been suggested.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Daniel 5 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
As they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Tyndale line
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
They drunke wine and praysed the gods of golde, and of siluer, of brasse, of yron, of wood and of stone.
Strictly literal
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
they have drunk wine, and have praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
they have drunk wine, and have praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
They drank wine, and praised their gods of gold, and of silver, of copper, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
They drank the wine and praised their idols made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
From the Latin
They drank wine, and praised their gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, and of wood, and of stone.
Simplified
As they drank wine they praised their gods—idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
They took their wine and gave praise to the gods of gold and silver, of brass and iron and wood and stone.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in the wording of Daniel 5:4, with six out of ten words matched. The Septuagint's wording reflects its own structure, but the key elements of the verse remain consistent across both texts.
אִשְׁתִּ֖יו חַמְרָ֑א וְ֠שַׁבַּחוּ לֵֽאלָהֵ֞י דַּהֲבָ֧א וְכַסְפָּ֛א נְחָשָׁ֥א פַרְזְלָ֖א אָעָ֥א וְאַבְנָֽא׃
6 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Daniel 5:4
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שְׁתָה (*shthah*) means 'to drink' and is derived from the Aramaic form of the verb. It corresponds to the Hebrew word שָׁתָה (*sha.tah*), which also means 'to drink.' The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to drinking.
[שְׁתָה] vb. drink
base
H8355 שְׁתָה
8355 shthah sheth-aw'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 8354:--drink.
see HEBREW for 08354
שְׁתָה (she.tah) — to drink.
(P'al) to drink
Aramaic of sha.tah (שָׁתָה "to drink" H8354)
Adj — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine pluralAVqp3mp
חֲמַר (chamar) means 'wine' and is noted in both Hebrew and Aramaic contexts. It is linked to the word חֶ֫מֶר (chemer), also meaning 'wine'. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
H2562 חֲמַר
2562 chamar kham-ar'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 2561; wine:--wine.
see HEBREW for 02561
חֲמַר (cha.mar) — wine.
wine
Aramaic of che.mer (חֶ֫מֶר "wine" H2561)
Adj | Art — Noun common both singular determined · particleANcbsd/Ta
Wine
The common Hebrew word for wine is yayin, from a root meaning “to boil up,” “to be in a ferment.” Others derive it from a root meaning “to tread out,” and hence the juice of the grape trodden out. The Greek word for wine is oinos_, and the Latin _vinun. But besides this common Hebrew word, there are several others which are thus rendered.
(1.) Ashishah (2 Sam. 6:19; 1 Chr. 16:3; Cant. 2:5; Hos. 3:1), which, however, rather denotes a solid cake of pressed grapes, or, as in the Revised Version, a cake of raisins.
(2.) ‘Asis, “sweet wine,” or “new wine,” the product of the same year (Cant. 8:2;
The manufacture of wine is carried back in the Bible to the age of Noah, (Genesis 9:20,21) to whom the discovery of the process is apparently, though not explicitly, attributed. The natural history and culture of the vine are described under a separate head. [VINE] The only other plant whose fruit is noticed as having been converted into wine was the pomegranate. (Solomon 8:2) In Palestine the vintage takes place in September, and is celebrated with great rejoicing. The ripe fruit was gathered in baskets, (Jeremiah 6:9) as represented in Egyptian paintings, and was carried to the wine-press. It was then placed in the upper one of the two vats or receptacles of which the winepress was formed, and was subjected to the process of "treading," which has prevailed in all ages in Oriental…
The vine being natural to the soil of Canaan and its vicinity, wine was much used as a beverage, especially at festivals, Es 1:7 5:6 Da 5:1-4 Joh 2:3. As one of the staple products of the Holy Land, it was employed for drink-offerings in the temple service, Ex 20:26 Nu 15:4-10; it was included among the "first-fruits," De 18:4, and was used in the celebration of the Passover, and subsequently of the Lord’s supper, Mt 26:27-29. Together with corn and oil it denoted all temporal supplies,
שְׁבַח (shbach) means to praise or laud, with a specific emphasis on adulation and adoration. It is an Aramaic term related to the Hebrew root שָׁבַח (sha.vach). The entries consistently highlight its use in a context of praise, but do not specify particular verses.
[שְׁבַח] vb. Pa. laud, praise
base
H7624 שְׁבַח
7624 shbach sheb-akh'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 7623; to adulate, i.e.
adore:--praise.
see HEBREW for 07623
שְׁבַח (she.vach) — to praise.
(Pael) to laud, praise, adulate, adore
Aramaic of sha.vach (שָׁבַח "to praise" H7623B)
Adj | V-Piel-Perf-3mp — Conjunction · verb piel perfect third person masculine pluralAC/Vpp3mp
אֱלָהּ (elah) refers to a deity, encompassing both the concept of God in a general sense and specifically the God of Israel. It can also denote heathen deities. The word is rooted in Aramaic, corresponding to another term for God.
אֱלָהּ 94 n.m. god, God
base
H426 אֱלָהּ
426 'elahh el-aw'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 433; God:--God, god.
see HEBREW for 0433
אֱלָהּ (e.lah) — god.
1) god, God
1a) god, heathen deity
1b) God (of Israel)
Adj | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural constructAR/Ncmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
דְּהַב (dhab) is an Aramaic word meaning 'gold.' It is derived from the Hebrew word זָהָב (zahav, H2091). The entries consistently identify it as a noun referring to the precious metal.
דְּהַב 23 n.m. gold
base
H1722 דְּהַב
1722 dhab deh-hab'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 2091; gold:--gold(- en).
see HEBREW for 02091
דְּהַב (de.hav) — gold.
gold
Aramaic of za.hav (זָהָב "gold" H2091)
Adj | Art — Noun common both singular determined · particleANcbsd/Ta
gold (zahabh; chrusos):
1. Terms:
No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic equivalent, dhahab, is still the common name for gold throughout Palestine, Syria and Egypt. With zahabh frequently occur other words which, translated, mean "pure" (Ex 25:11), "refined" (1Ch 28:18), "finest" (1Ki 10:18), "beaten" (1Ki 10:17), "Ophir" (Ps 45:9).
Other terms occurring are: paz, "fine gold" (Job 28:17;
Gold
(1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex. 25:11; 1 Chr. 28:18; 2 Chr. 3:5).
(2.) Heb. segor, from its compactness, or as being enclosed or treasured up; thus precious or “fine gold” (1 Kings 6:20; 7:49).
Gold was known from the very earliest times. (Genesis 2:11) It was at first used chiefly for ornaments, etc. (Genesis 24:22) Coined money was not known to the ancients till a comparatively late period; and on the Egyptian tombs gold is represented as being weighed in rings for commercial purposes. Comp. (Genesis 43:21) Gold was extremely abundant in ancient times, (1 Chronicles 22:14; 2 Chronicles 1:15; 9:9; Daniel 3:1; Nahum 2:9) but this did not depreciate its value, because of the enormous quantities consumed by…
A well-known valuable metal, found in many parts of the world, and obtained anciently in Ophir, Job 28:16; Parvaim, 2Ch 3:6; Sheba, and Raamah, Eze 27:22. Job alludes to gold in various forms, Job 22:24 28:15-19. Abraham was rich in it, and female ornaments were early made of it, Ge 13:2 24:22,35. It is spoken of throughout Scripture; and the use of it among and ancient Hebrews, in its native and mixed state, and for the same purposes as at present, was very common. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with pure gold; the mercy seat, the vessels and utensils belonging to the tabernacle, and those also of the house of…
כְּסַף (kesaf) means silver, referring both to the metal itself and its use as money. The entries indicate that it is a noun and relate it to the concept of wealth. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
כְּסַף n.m. silver
base
H3702 כְּסַף silver
3702 kcaph kes-af'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 3701:--money, silver.
see HEBREW for 03701
כְּסַף (ke.saph) — silver.
1) silver
1a) as metal
1b) as money
Adj | N-ms | Art — Conjunction · noun common both singular determined · particleAC/Ncbsd/Ta
sil'-ver (keceph; argurion, arguros): Silver was known in the earliest historic times. Specimens of early Egyptian and Babylonian silver work testify to the skill of the ancient silversmiths. In Palestine, silver objects have been found antedating the occupation of the land by the Hebrews. This metal was used for making all kinds of ornamental objects. In the mound of Gezer were found bowls, vases, ladles, hairpins, rings and bracelets of silver. The rings and settings for scarabs or seals were commonly of this metal. The first mention of silver in the Bible is in Ge 13:2, where it says that Abraham was rich in cattle, in silver and gold. At that time it was commonly used in exchange in the form of bars or other shapes. Coins of that metal were of a much later date (Ge 20:16…
Silver
Used for a great variety of purposes, as may be judged from the frequent references to it in Scripture. It first appears in commerce in Gen. 13:2; 23:15, 16. It was largely employed for making vessels for the sanctuary in the wilderness (Ex. 26:19; 27:17; Num. 7:13, 19; 10:2). There is no record of its having been found in Syria or Palestine. It was brought in large quantities by foreign merchants from abroad, from Spain and India and other countries probably.
In very early times silver was used for ornaments, (Genesis 24:53) and for vessels of various kinds. Images for idolatrous worship were made of silver or overlaid with it, (Exodus 20:23; Hosea 13:2); Habb 2:19 Bar. 6:39, and the manufacture of silver shrines for Diana was a trade in Ephesus. (Acts 19:24) But its chief use was as a medium of exchange, and throughout the Old Testament we find "silver" used for money, like the French argent . Silver was brought to Solomon from Arabia, (2 Chronicles 9:14) and from Tarshish, (2 Chronicles 9:21) which supplied the markets…
One of the precious metals and the one most commonly used as coin among all nations. It is first mentioned in Scripture in the history of Abraham, Ge 13:2 20:16 23:16, and was used in constricting the tabernacle, Ex 26:19,32, and afterwards the temple, 1Ch 29:4. In employing it as a medium of trade, the ancient Hebrews weighed it out, instead of having coins. In the times of the New Testament there were coins. See SHEKEL, and MONEY.
נְחָשׁ (nechash) refers to copper or bronze. It is noted in the Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon as a noun and is linked to the Aramaic term for bronze. The entries consistently emphasize its metallic meanings without significant disagreement.
נְחָשׁ n.m. copper, bronze
base
H5174 נְחָשׁ
5174 nchash nekh-awsh'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 5154; copper:--brass.
see HEBREW for 05154
נְחָשׁ (ne.chash) — bronze.
copper, bronze
Aramaic of ne.chu.shah (נְחוּשָׁה "bronze" H5154)
Adj | Art — Noun common both singular determined · particleANcbsd/Ta
פַּרְזֶל (parzel) means 'iron' and is noted as an Aramaic term corresponding to the Hebrew word for iron, בַּרְזֶל (barzel). The entries consistently define it as a noun referring to iron, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
פַּרְזֶל 19 n.m. iron
base
H6523 פַּרְזֶל
6523 parzel par-zel'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 1270; iron:--iron.
see HEBREW for 01270
פַּרְזֶל (par.zel) — iron.
iron
Aramaic of bar.zel (בַּרְזֶל "iron" H1270)
Adj | Art — Noun common both singular determined · particleANcbsd/Ta
Iron
Tubal-Cain is the first-mentioned worker in iron (Gen. 4:22). The Egyptians wrought it at Sinai before the Exodus. David prepared it in great abundance for the temple (1 Chr. 22:3: 29:7). The merchants of Dan and Javan brought it to the market of Tyre (Ezek. 27:19). Various instruments are mentioned as made of iron (Deut. 27:5; 19:5; Josh. 17:16, 18; 1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 12:31; 2 Kings 6:5, 6; 1 Chr.…
is mentioned with brass as the earliest of known metals. (Genesis 4:22) The natural wealth in iron of the soil of Canaan is indicated by describing it as a land whose stones are iron." (8:9) (Recent explorations have shown that iron ore is abundant in the northern part of Palestine. --ED.) The book of Job contains passages which indicate that iron was a metal well known. Sheet-iron was used for cooking utensils. (Ezekiel 4:3) cf. Levi 7:9 That it was plentiful in the time of David appears from (1 Chronicles 22:3) The market of Tyre was supplied with bright or polished iron by the merchants of by Dan and Javan. (Ezekiel 27:19) The Chalybes of the Pontus were celebrated as…
Was early known and wrought, Ge 4:22. Moses often alludes to it. He compares the bondage in Egypt to a furnace for smelting iron, and speaks of the iron ore of Canaan, De 3:11 4:20 8:9. Many different articles and tools were anciently made of it. Immense quantities were provided for the building of the temple, 1Ch 29:2,7. "Iron" is used to illustrated slavery, strength, obstinacy, fortitude, affliction, etc., De 28:48 Job 40:18 Isa 48:4 Jer 1:18 Eze 22:18,20…
The Hebrew word אָע (*a` aw*) refers to wood, timber, or beam. It is an Aramaic term that corresponds to the Hebrew word for tree, עֵץ (*ets*), which is represented by Strong's H6086. The entries consistently emphasize its meaning related to wood.
H636 אָע
636 'a` aw
(Aramaic) corresponding to 6086; a tree or wood:--timber,
wood.
see HEBREW for 06086
אָע (a) — wood.
wood, beam, timber
Aramaic of ets (עֵץ ": wood" H6086)
Adj | Art — Noun common both singular determined · particleANcbsd/Ta
wood.
See BOTANY; FOREST; TREES.
Wood
See FOREST.
[FOREST]
אֶ֫בֶן (eben) means 'stone' and can refer to a specific stone or the material used in idols and buildings. The entries indicate its use in both general and specific contexts, with a connection to the Aramaic word for stone. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
אֶ֫בֶן n.f. stone
base
H69 אֶ֫בֶן
69 'eben eh'-ben
(Aramaic) corresponding to 68:--stone.
see HEBREW for 068
אֶ֫בֶן (e.ven) — stone.
1) stone
1a) a (the) stone
1b) stone, material of idols and buildings
Adj | N-fs | Art — Conjunction · noun common both singular determined · particleAC/Ncbsd/Ta
Stone
Stones were commonly used for buildings, also as memorials of important events (Gen. 28:18; Josh. 24:26, 27; 1 Sam. 7:12, etc.). They were gathered out of cultivated fields (Isa. 5:2; comp. 2 Kings 3:19). This word is also used figuratively of believers (1 Pet. 2:4, 5), and of the Messiah (Ps. 118:22; Isa. 28:16; Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11, etc.). In…
The allusion in Re 2:17 may be to the practice at the Olympic games of giving the successful competitor a white stone, inscribed with his name and the value of his prize; or to the mode of balloting with black and white stones on the question of the acquittal of an accused person, or his admission to certain privileges; if the stones deposited in the urn by the judges were all white, the decision was favorable. In early ages, flint-stone knives were in common use, instead of steel, Ex 4:25 Jos 5:2.
It was also customary to raise a heap or mound of stones in commemoration of any remarkable event, Ge 31:46 Jos 4:5-7 7:26 8:29…