Topical Encyclopedia Iron, a metal of significant importance in biblical times, is frequently mentioned in the Scriptures for its strength and utility. The use of iron in various applications, including tools, weapons, and yokes, marks a significant advancement in ancient technology and society. The Bible provides insights into the early use of iron, particularly in the context of yokes, which were essential for agriculture and transportation.The first recorded use of iron yokes in the Bible is found in the context of subjugation and oppression. In Deuteronomy 28:48, the Lord warns the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience: "you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you." . This passage metaphorically uses the iron yoke to symbolize the severe bondage and hardship that would come upon the Israelites if they turned away from God's commandments. The imagery of the iron yoke is powerful, conveying the idea of an unyielding and burdensome oppression. Iron, known for its durability and strength, represents the harsh and unbreakable nature of the subjugation that would befall the disobedient. The use of iron in this context underscores the severity of the consequences and the inescapable nature of divine judgment. In the ancient Near East, yokes were typically made of wood, used to harness animals for plowing fields or pulling carts. The transition to iron yokes, as depicted in the biblical narrative, suggests a more intense form of control and domination. The iron yoke serves as a metaphor for the inescapable and enduring nature of the oppression that would be imposed by foreign nations upon Israel. The prophetic imagery of the iron yoke is further echoed in the writings of the prophets. In Jeremiah 28:13-14, the prophet Jeremiah speaks to Hananiah, saying, "Go and tell Hananiah that this is what the LORD says: 'You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you have fashioned an iron yoke.' For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'I have put an iron yoke on the neck of all these nations, to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him.'" . Here, the iron yoke symbolizes the inevitable and divinely ordained subjugation under Babylonian rule, emphasizing the futility of resisting God's will. The use of iron yokes in these passages highlights the broader biblical theme of obedience and the consequences of turning away from God. The strength and permanence of iron serve as a stark reminder of the seriousness of divine judgment and the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant. Through the metaphor of the iron yoke, the Bible communicates the weight of sin and the heavy burden of disobedience, urging believers to remain steadfast in their commitment to the Lord. Nave's Topical Index Deuteronomy 28:48Therefore shall you serve your enemies which the LORD shall send against you, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron on your neck, until he have destroyed you. Nave's Topical Index Jeremiah 28:13,14 Library The Last King of Judah The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire Resources What are some biblical examples of dream interpretation? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Tubal-Cain in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What is the Revived Roman Empire? | GotQuestions.org Iron: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Iron of Greater Gravity than Water Iron of Severe Exercise of Power Iron of Small Comparative Value Iron used from the Earliest Age Iron: (Seared With) Insensibility of Conscience Iron: First Recorded Use of Ax Iron: First Recorded Use of Bedstead Iron: First Recorded Use of Breastplate Iron: First Recorded Use of Chariot Iron: First Recorded Use of Fetters Iron: First Recorded Use of File Iron: First Recorded Use of Furnace Iron: First Recorded Use of Gate Iron: First Recorded Use of Harrow Iron: First Recorded Use of Horn Iron: First Recorded Use of Idols Iron: First Recorded Use of Melted Iron: First Recorded Use of Ore of Iron: First Recorded Use of Pans Iron: First Recorded Use of Pen Iron: First Recorded Use of Pillars Iron: First Recorded Use of Rods for Scourging Iron: First Recorded Use of Stones of Iron: First Recorded Use of Threshing Instruments Iron: First Recorded Use of Tools Iron: First Recorded Use of Used in the Temple Iron: First Recorded Use of Vessels Iron: First Recorded Use of Weapons Iron: First Recorded Use of Yokes Iron: from the North Hardest and Best Iron: Great Quantity of, Provided for the Temple Iron: Made Into: Graving Tools Iron: Made Into: Implements for Husbandry Iron: Made Into: Nails and Hinges Iron: Made Into: Tools for Artificers Iron: Made Into: Weapons of War Iron: Miraculously Made to Swim Iron: Mode of Purifying, Taken in War Iron: Taken in War, often Dedicated to God Iron: The Land of Canaan Abounded With Related Terms |
    |