Biblical “brass” generally refers to copper or bronze rather than the modern alloy of copper and zinc. It was used for weapons, fetters, instruments, money, and sacred objects; the brazen serpent became a sign associated with healing and was later destroyed when treated as an idol.
Definition
Biblical “brass” generally denotes copper and may sometimes include bronze, rather than the modern alloy of copper and zinc. Copper was used for fetters, armor, musical instruments, money, and sacred objects. It could also symbolize strength or hardness and insensibility in sin.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses brass or copper figuratively for obstinacy in sin, strength, and the Macedonian empire. Moses made a serpent of brass at God’s command, and those wounded by the serpents were healed when they looked upon it. Hezekiah later destroyed it because it had become an object of superstitious reverence. Jesus referred to the brazen serpent.
Historical Background
The alloy now called brass was not known until the thirteenth century. Copper was known at a very early period and was used in the ancient biblical world for weapons, restraints, instruments, money, and religious articles.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Which is an alloy of copper and zinc, was not known till the thirteenth century. What is designated by this word in Scripture is properly copper (Deut. 8:9). It was used for fetters (Judg. 16:21; 2 Kings 25:7), for pieces of armour (1 Sam. 17:5, 6), for musical instruments (1 Chr. 15:19; 1 Cor. 13:1), and for money (Matt. 10:9). It is a symbol of insensibility and obstinacy in sin (Isa. 48:4; Jer. 6:28; Ezek. 22:18), and of strength (Ps. 107:16; Micah 4:13). The Macedonian empire is described as a kingdom of brass (Dan. 2:39). The “mountains of brass” Zechariah (6:1) speaks of have been supposed to represent the immutable decrees of God. The serpent of brass was made by Moses at the command of God (Num. 21:4-9), and elevated on a pole, so that it might be seen by all the people when wounded by the bite of the serpents that were sent to them as a punishment for their murmurings against God and against Moses. It was afterwards carried by the Jews into Canaan, and preserved by them till the time of Hezekiah, who caused it to be at length destroyed because it began to be viewed by the people with superstitious reverence (2 Kings 18:4). (See NEHUSHTAN.) The brazen serpent is alluded to by our Lord in John 3:14, 15. (See SERPENT.)
Smith's Bible Dictionary
The word nechosheth is improperly translated by “brass.” In most places of the Old Testament the correct translation would be copper, although it may sometimes possibly mean bronze a compound of copper and tin. Indeed a simple metal was obviously intended, as we see from (8:9; 33:25; Job 28) Copper was known at a very early period. (Genesis 4:22)
