Lexical Definition

‎נְחֹשֶׁת‎ nᵉchôsheth (nekh-o'-sheth) bronze ^H:N-M
for ‎נְחוּשָׁה‎

brasen, brass, chain, copper, fetter (of brass), filthiness, steel.

• copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter
• figuratively, base (as compared with gold or silver)

1) copper, bronze
1a) copper (ore), bronze (as copper alloy)
1b) fetters (of copper or bronze)
1c) copper (as value)
2) lust, harlotry
2a) meaning dubious

See Greek: πέδη · χάλκεος · χαλκός

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. ‎נְח֫שֶׁת‎₁₃₇ noun masculine^{1Kgs 7:45} (compare Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 108}; feminine1Chr 18:8) copper, bronze (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Phoenician ‎נחשת‎; Palmyrene ‎נחשא‎ Lzb³²²; Syriac , ᵑ7 ‎נְחָשָׁא‎, Arabic , Ethiopic (so also Old Ethiopic DHM^{Epigr.Denkm.aus Abess.(1894),52}); WMM^{As.u.Eur.127 cites Egyptian} teµ(µ)ost, copper (= *tenµost), as loan-word from ‎נְחשֶׁת‎ + feminine article); — ‎׳‎‎נ‎ absolute Gen 4:22 +; construct Exod 38:29 suffix ‎נְחֻשְׁתִּי‎ Lam 3:7, ‎נְחֻשְׁתֵךְ‎ Ezek 16:36, ‎נְחֻשְׁתָּהּ‎ Ezek 24:11, ‎נְחֻשְׁתָּם‎ 2Kgs 25:13 + 2 t.; dual ‎נְחֻשְׁתַּ֫יִם‎ Judg 16:21 + 6 t.; —

1. copper, as ore Deut 8:9, compare Zech 6:8 worked by artificer Gen 4:22 (J) 1Kgs 7:14 (twice in verse); 2Chr 24:12 material — doubtless hardened with alloy, probably tin, making bronze, compare Now^{Archaeology i. 243} Benz^{Archaeology 214} — of armour 1Sam 17:5; 1Sam 17:6; 1Kgs 14:27, utensils 2Kgs 25:14 = Jer 52:18; Lev 6:21*; Num 17:4* + very often, altar 2Kgs 16:14; 2Kgs 16:15; Exod 38:30; Exod 39:39, etc., and other objects Num 21:9 (twice in verse) (JE), 2Kgs 18:4; 1Kgs 4:13; 1Kgs 7:15ff. +, especially in description of tabernacle and temple; cast 1Kgs 7:14 polished ‎מְמֹרָט‎ v1Kgs 7:45, ‎מָרוּק‎ 2Chr 4:16 (compare Lev 6:21*); and shining ‎מֻצְהָב‎ Ezra 8:27. On ‎קָלָל‎ ‎׳‎‎נ‎ Ezek 1:7; Dan 10:6 see ‎קלל‎; ‎׳‎‎נ‎ as spoil of war 2Sam 8:8; 2Kgs 25:13 = Jer 52:17; Jer 52:20 etc.

2. fetters of copper or bronze, usually dual Judg 16:21; 2Sam 3:34; 2Kgs 25:7 = Jer 39:7; Jer 52:11; 2Chr 36:6, also 2Chr 33:11 singular only Lam 3:7 (figurative of oppression).

3. as less in value than gold but more than wood Isa 60:17 (twice in verse); figurative of worthless people Jer 6:28 (+ ‎בַּרְזֶל‎), id. (as dross of silver) Ezek 22:18 (+ ‎בְּדִיל‎, ‎בַּרְזֶל‎, ‎עוֺפֶרֶת‎). — On Ezek 16:36 see IV. ‎נחשׁ‎.

4. figurative of pitiless sky Deut 28:23.

II. [‎נְח֫שֶׁת‎] noun [feminine] suffix ‎נְחֻשְׁתֵּךְ‎ Ezek 16:36 where context (|| ‎עֶרְוָה‎) favours meaning lust, harlotry, or specific sens. obscoen. (Co [citing Ki Ra] Berthol, see also Da); text perhaps corrupt (compare Nö^{ZMG xl (1886). 730}); Sm proposes ‎תַּזְנוּתַיִךְ‎, so apparently Toy^Hpt; Or ‎בָּשְׁתֵּךְ‎.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References