Topical Bible: Iron: First Recorded Use of Ore of

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Iron, a metal of significant importance in biblical times, is first mentioned in the context of its use in Genesis 4:22. The verse states, "Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-cain, a forger of every implement of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah" . This passage highlights Tubal-cain as a pivotal figure in the early development of metallurgy, specifically in the crafting of tools and implements from iron and bronze. The mention of iron alongside bronze suggests that the knowledge and skill required to work with these metals were present from the earliest times of human civilization.

The use of iron in the Bible is often associated with strength and durability, characteristics that are reflected in its symbolic and practical applications throughout the Scriptures. Iron tools and weapons were crucial in the development of ancient societies, providing advantages in agriculture, construction, and warfare. The transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age marked a significant technological advancement, as iron implements were harder and more efficient than their bronze counterparts.

In the biblical narrative, iron is frequently mentioned in the context of warfare and military might. For instance, in 1 Samuel 17:7, the weight of Goliath's spearhead is described as "six hundred shekels of iron," emphasizing the formidable nature of his weaponry. Similarly, in 2 Samuel 23:7, iron is used metaphorically to describe the strength required to handle thorns, illustrating its association with power and resilience.

The Israelites' encounters with iron-wielding adversaries, such as the Philistines, underscore the strategic importance of iron in ancient conflicts. Judges 1:19 notes, "The LORD was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron" . This passage highlights the technological superiority that iron chariots provided, posing a significant challenge to the Israelites.

Iron's role extends beyond warfare, as it is also mentioned in the context of construction and craftsmanship. In 1 Kings 6:7, the construction of Solomon's Temple is described, noting that "the temple was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor chisel nor any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built" . This detail underscores the reverence and care taken in the temple's construction, with iron tools being used discreetly to maintain the sanctity of the site.

Throughout the Bible, iron serves as a symbol of strength, authority, and technological advancement. Its first recorded use in Genesis 4:22 marks the beginning of humanity's mastery over this essential metal, setting the stage for its continued significance in biblical history and beyond.

Nave's Topical Index

Deuteronomy 8:9
A land wherein you shall eat bread without scarceness, you shall not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig brass.
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Job 28:2
Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
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Library

The First Theban Empire
... pockets in white quartz, mixed with iron oxides and ... were obliged to halt at the first
appearance of ... Usirtasen I. and Amenemhait II., recorded his explorations ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

The Sword of the Spirit
... of the Lord will divide the northern iron and the ... sword: which means, as I understand
it, first, believe it ... be suspected by you that God has recorded truths in ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the sword of the spirit.htm

The Good Samaritan.
... the audience who heard the story first would at ... made, although it has not been as
expressly recorded. ... and foresight that spread layers of iron ore and layers ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xvii the good samaritan.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... but he does this for the purpose of exercising me and making use of me ... early essay
in what we call the philosophy of history, the first recorded conception of ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

Peter Stood Up.
... your mother, and be to her as a pillar of iron. ... We have, in consequence, recorded
for us in black and ... had been acted upon from the beginning, "the First See is ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter iii peter stood up.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... and cylinders of Babylonian form, borrowed the scarab type also, and made use of
it ... The events recorded in the third column were at first attributed to ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
... the most feeble that has ought to do with him, to use him and ... That is the first thing ...
This woman's cries are worthy to be recorded; it was a cry that carried in ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the acceptable sacrifice.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
... with the king, nor yet the gold in ore, the same ... have in this world borne the image
of our first father; so ... If there were ten thousand bars of iron, or walls of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... when occasion demanded, to improvise and make use of machines ... time before the execution
of the first bas- reliefs ... was merely a beam tipped with iron, worked by ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... The Lord, the Governor of the country, hath recorded, that in this ... one to another;
therefore it is that the first of these ... where there sat a man in an iron cage ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm