Jeremiah 15:12 — Word Study
WLCהֲיָרֹ֨עַ בַּרְזֶ֧ל׀ בַּרְזֶ֛ל מִצָּפ֖וֹן וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃
BSACan anyone smashrâʻaʻ▸ [be able to, have the power to, break, shatter] ironbarzel [strong metal] ironbarzel [northern iron] from the northtsâphôwn [Zaphon, a direction or location] or bronzenᵉchôsheth [even, including, copper, something base or common]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הֲיָרֹ֨עַ | ¿ will it break | Particle, verb qal imperfect third person masculine singular |
| בַּרְזֶ֧ל׀ | iron | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בַּרְזֶ֛ל | iron | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| מִצָּפ֖וֹן | from [the] north | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ | and bronze | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Can anyone smash iron— iron from the north—or bronze? |
| KJV | Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel? |
| ASV | Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass? |
| YLT | Doth one break iron — northern iron, and brass? |
| WEB | Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and bronze? |
| BBE | Is it possible for iron to be broken; even iron from the north, and brass? |
The translations agree on the rendering of the key terms, particularly יָרֹעַ as smash.
The verse features a main clause followed by two subordinate phrases, emphasizing the strength of the materials in question.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
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 — Jeremiah 15:12
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 Judgment of Godgenerated
Jeremiah 15:12 is part of a larger discourse where God speaks to Jeremiah about the impending judgment and the strength of the enemy. The rhetorical question emphasizes the futility of resistance against the divine decree, illustrating the power of the forces aligned against Israel. The surrounding verses provide context for the dire situation facing the people, as God assures Jeremiah of His support even in times of trouble.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. |
| 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. |
| 3 | Job 40:9 | Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His? |
| 4 | 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’? |
| 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. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָרֹ֨עַ, ya.Ro.a'generated
The verb יָרֹעַ (ya.Ro.a') is a qal imperfect form, indicating an action that is ongoing or habitual. It means to break or shatter, emphasizing the destructive power of the action. In this context, it raises the question of whether anyone has the ability to break something as strong as iron.
The use of this verb in a rhetorical question highlights the impossibility of overcoming such strength, thus reinforcing the theme of divine judgment and human helplessness in the face of God's will.
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 finite verb יָרֹעַ governs the main clause, which is a rhetorical question. The structure emphasizes the strength of iron and bronze as objects of the question, with the prepositional phrase מִצָּפ֖וֹן indicating the source of the iron.
The use of two instances of בַּרְזֶל highlights the focus on iron, reinforcing its significance in the question posed.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יָרֹעַ as γνωσθήσεται (gnōsthēsetai), which means 'will be known' or 'will be recognized'. This choice shifts the focus from the act of breaking to the recognition of strength, suggesting a broader implication of the question regarding the nature of power.
The Greek rendering of בַּרְזֶל as σίδηρος (sideros) maintains the meaning of iron, indicating continuity in the understanding of this strong metal.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Jeremiah 15:12 asks if anyone can break strong iron or bronze, emphasizing the power of the enemy and God's judgment. The verse highlights the futility of resistance against such strength, reinforcing the theme of divine authority.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The phrase refers to the strength and might of the enemy coming from the north, symbolizing a powerful force that cannot be easily overcome.
Bronze represents a lesser strength compared to iron, yet it still signifies something strong and valuable, highlighting the overwhelming power of the enemy.
The rhetorical question emphasizes the impossibility of breaking such strong materials, symbolizing the futility of opposing God's judgment.
This verse is part of God's message to Jeremiah about the impending judgment, illustrating the strength of the forces against Israel and God's assurance of support.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I feel overwhelmed by challenges that seem as strong as iron?
- How can I trust in God's strength when facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles?
- What does this verse teach me about the power of God in the face of adversity?
- How can I apply the message of this verse to my own life and struggles?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, discussing the implications of iron and bronze in relation to the strength of the enemy.
Will iron be bound to iron by the North Wind, and bronze? Symmachus, Will iron be harmed by iron by the North Wind, and bronze? LXX and Theodotion,Early Church Fathers on Jeremiah 15 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 15:12 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleShall 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?
Read John Gill on Jeremiah 15 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryShall 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.
Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 15 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThere 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…
Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 15 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJeremiah 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.
Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 15 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 15 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 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.
Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 15 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges12. 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.
Read Cambridge on Jeremiah 15 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe 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.
Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 15 →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
Can anyone smash iron— iron from the north—or bronze?
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and bronze?
Can anyone smash iron—iron from the north—or bronze?
Can you people who are like iron and bronze break that iron fist from the north?
Tyndale line
Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass?
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass?
Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
Shall the yron breake the yron, and the brasse that commeth from the North?
Strictly literal
Will iron break? iron from the north? and bronze?
Doth one break iron — northern iron, and brass?
Does one break iron, || Northern iron and bronze?
Can iron break in pieces the northern iron and copper?
Can one smash iron? Especially iron from the north that is mixed with bronze?
From the Latin
Shall iron be allied with the iron from the north, and the brass?
Simplified
Can anyone break iron, iron from the north, or bronze?
Is it possible for iron to be broken; even iron from the north, and brass?
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 of Jeremiah 15:12 reads, "הֲיָרֹ֨עַ בַּרְזֶ֧ל׀ בַּרְזֶ֛ל מִצָּפ֖וֹן וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃" which translates to, "Can anyone smash iron— iron from the north—or bronze?" The Septuagint, while it has not been fully provided here, is noted to match 4 of the 5 words in the Masoretic Text, indicating a significant level of agreement between the two. However, the exact wording and structure may differ due to the Septuagint's own sentence construction and word order. There are no surviving witnesses from the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse to compare against the Masoretic Text.
הֲיָרֹ֨עַ בַּרְזֶ֧ל׀ בַּרְזֶ֛ל מִצָּפ֖וֹן וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃
4 of the 5 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 Jeremiah 15:12
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.
רָעַע (ra`a`) is a Hebrew verb with meanings related to being evil or breaking. It encompasses a range of concepts from moral wickedness to physical shattering. The entries indicate that it can refer to causing harm or injury, as well as being displeasing or sad. There is a notable distinction in the lexicons regarding its use in ethical contexts versus physical breaking.
[רָעַע] 98 vb. denom. be evil, bad
Qal
be displeasing
be sad
be injurious, evil
be evil, wicked, ethically
Niph. suffer hurt
Hiph. 70
do an injury, hurt
do evil, wickedly
base
[רָעַע] vb. break
Qal
trans. can one break iron, iron out of the north ?
intrans. break = be broken
Hithpō‛. the earth is broken asunder
base
H7489a רָעַע vb. denom. be evil, bad H7489b רָעַע break
7489 ra`a` raw-ah'
a primitive root; properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking
to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing,
i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally):--afflict,
associate selves (by mistake for 7462), break (down, in
pieces), + displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat,
man), show self friendly (by mistake for 7462), do harm, (do)
hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, X indeed, do mischief, punish,
still, vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse.
see HEBREW for 07462
see HEBREW for 07462
רָעַע (ra.a) — be evil.
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)
רָעַע (ra.a) — to shatter.
1) to break, shatter
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to break
1a2) broken (participle)
1a3) to be broken
1b) (Hithpolel) to be broken, be broken in pieces, be broken asunder
Part | V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Particle · verb qal imperfect third person masculine singularHTi/Vqi3ms
brak: shabhar = "break" (down, off, in pieces, up), "destroy," "quench" (Isa 14:25; Jer 19:10,11; Eze 4:16; Am 1:5); paraq = "to break off" or "craunch"; figuratively "to deliver" (Ge 27:40 the King James Version); `araph = "to break the neck," hence, "to destroy" (Ex 13:13); harac = "to break through" (Ex 19:21,24); parats = "to break" (forth, away), occurs in Ex 19:22,24; 1Sa 25:10; "breaking faith,"…
בַּרְזֶל (barzel) means 'iron' and can refer to iron ore or iron implements like tools and utensils. It also carries figurative meanings related to harshness, strength, or oppression. The word may be derived from a root associated with cutting. There is an Aramaic equivalent, פַּרְזֶל (parzel), also meaning 'iron'.
בַּרְזֶל n.m. iron
iron, lit.
tool of iron
iron in fig. of unwatered earth
base
H1270 בַּרְזֶל iron
1270 barzel bar-zel'
perhaps from the root of 1269; iron (as cutting); by
extension, an iron implement:--(ax) head, iron.
see HEBREW for 01269
בַּרְזֶל (bar.zel) — iron.
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)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
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…
בַּרְזֶל (barzel) means 'iron' and can refer to iron ore or iron implements like tools and utensils. It also carries figurative meanings related to harshness, strength, or oppression. The word may be derived from a root associated with cutting. There is an Aramaic equivalent, פַּרְזֶל (parzel), also meaning 'iron'.
בַּרְזֶל n.m. iron
iron, lit.
tool of iron
iron in fig. of unwatered earth
base
H1270 בַּרְזֶל iron
1270 barzel bar-zel'
perhaps from the root of 1269; iron (as cutting); by
extension, an iron implement:--(ax) head, iron.
see HEBREW for 01269
בַּרְזֶל (bar.zel) — iron.
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)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
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…
צָפוֹן (tsaphown) means 'north' and is derived from a root meaning 'hidden' or 'dark.' It is used specifically to refer to the northern direction, often associated with gloominess and the unknown. The term also appears in the context of a name, 'Zaphon,' which similarly denotes the north.
צָפוֹן 153 n.f. north (as the hidden, dark)
base
H6828 צָפוֹן north
6828 tsaphown tsaw-fone'
or tsaphon {tsaw-fone'}; from 6845; properly, hidden, i.e.
dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and
unknown):--north(-ern, side, -ward, wind).
see HEBREW for 06845
צָפוֹן (tsa.phon) — north.
1) north (of direction), northward
1a) north
1b) northward
צָפוֹן (tsa.phon) — Zaphon.
This name means north
Also named: tsa.phon (צָפוֹן "Zaphon" H6829)
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
See EAST. The Babylonians and Assyrians are represented as coming from "the north," because they invaded Israel by a northern route in order to avoid the desert, Jer 1:14 46:6,24 Zep 2:13. "Fair weather," says Job, or golden weather, "cometh out of the north," Job 37:22. This is as true in Syria and Arabia now as it was three thousand years ago. A traveler there remarks, "Our friends, who have been long residents, informed us that we should have fair weather for our start on the morrow, as the wind was from the north."
"... And so we have found it come to pass that the clouds of a golden hue always followed upon a north wind, and indicated a clear day; and as in the times of the Savior, we could always say when it was evening…
נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (nechosheth) refers to copper or bronze, often indicating items made from these metals, such as fetters. It is noted for being less valuable than gold but more than wood. Additionally, it can figuratively represent a harsh sky or, in specific contexts, suggest meanings related to lust or harlotry, as seen in Ezekiel 16:36.
נְחֹ֫שֶׁת 137 n.m. copper, bronze
copper
fetters of copper or bronze
as less in value than gold but more than wood
fig. of pitiless sky
base
[נְחֹ֫שֶׁת] n.[f.] Ez 16:36 where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.
ref
H5178a נְחֹ֫שֶׁת copper, bronze . copper
. fetters of copper or bronze
. as less in value than gold but more than wood
. fig. of pitiless sky
H5178b נְחֹ֫שֶׁת where context favours mng. lust, harlotry, or specif. sens. obscoen.
5178 nchosheth nekh-o'-sheth
for 5154; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e.
coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with gold or
silver):--brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass),
filthiness, steel.
see HEBREW for 05154
נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — bronze.
1) copper, bronze
1a) copper (ore), bronze (as copper alloy)
1b) fetters (of copper or bronze)
1c) copper (as value)
נְחֹ֫שֶׁת (ne.cho.shet) — lust.
lust, harlotry
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Ncfsa