Topical Bible: Wicked (People): Compared With: Bronze and Iron

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In biblical literature, the term "wicked" refers to individuals who act in opposition to God's will, engaging in behaviors that are morally corrupt and sinful. The Bible frequently contrasts the righteous with the wicked, highlighting the consequences of wickedness and the ultimate justice of God. A notable comparison found in the Scriptures is that of wicked people to bronze and iron, materials that symbolize strength but also inflexibility and corruption.

Biblical References and Symbolism

The comparison of wicked people to bronze and iron is rooted in the imagery of these metals as both strong and resistant, yet ultimately flawed and corruptible. In Jeremiah 6:28, the prophet describes the people of Judah as "rebellious and defiant," stating, "They are all hardened rebels, walking around as slanderers. They are bronze and iron; all of them are corrupt." . This metaphor underscores the stubbornness and moral decay of the wicked, who, like bronze and iron, are resistant to change and refinement.

Characteristics of the Wicked

1. Stubbornness and Resistance: Just as bronze and iron are difficult to mold, the wicked are often portrayed as resistant to correction and repentance. Their hearts are hardened against God's commands, making them impervious to the transformative power of divine grace.

2. Corruption and Impurity: While bronze and iron are strong, they are also susceptible to corrosion and rust. Similarly, the wicked, despite their apparent strength or influence, are tainted by sin and moral impurity. Their actions are driven by selfish desires, leading to spiritual decay.

3. Judgment and Consequences: The Bible consistently warns of the consequences awaiting the wicked. In Ezekiel 22:18-22, God compares the house of Israel to dross, the impurities removed from metals during refining. He declares, "Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; all of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead left inside a furnace. They are but the dross of silver." . This passage illustrates the inevitable judgment that befalls those who persist in wickedness, as God purifies His people through trials and tribulations.

Contrast with the Righteous

In contrast to the wicked, the righteous are often likened to precious metals such as gold and silver, which are refined and purified through fire. The righteous are open to God's correction and seek to align their lives with His will, resulting in spiritual growth and maturity. Proverbs 17:3 states, "A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts." . This highlights the refining process that the righteous undergo, emerging as vessels of honor and integrity.

Conclusion

The biblical comparison of wicked people to bronze and iron serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of moral inflexibility and corruption. While these metals may symbolize strength, they also represent the stubbornness and impurity that characterize the wicked. Ultimately, the Scriptures call for repentance and transformation, urging individuals to turn from wickedness and embrace the refining work of God in their lives. Through this process, believers are molded into the image of Christ, reflecting His righteousness and glory.

Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 6:28
They are all grievous rebels, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 22:18
Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the middle of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.
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Library

The Seventh Book
... it lay in our own"a sacrilegious and wicked conception that ... not go out from it!"
[393] He compared the city ... we might know that the iniquity of the people in a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the seventh book.htm

Panegyric on the Splendor of Affairs.
... The wicked have drawn out the sword, they have bent their bow ... such were the great
mass of the people who were ... come in; these may be not unfitly compared to the ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter iv panegyric on the splendor.htm

Funeral Oration on the Great S. Basil, Bishop of C??sarea in ...
... are these, illustrious though they be, compared with the ... themselves no small fraction
of the people, both of ... the Godhead, and became a wicked creature reducing ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xliii funeral oration on.htm

part ii
... their wicked, capricious, and evil-natured ones, so also the heavenly Father, at
the prayer of those " that are His," [720] or at the prayer for the people of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... The name Kushtashpi has been compared with that ... possessed altars, He kept guard over
His people, but His ... sea, and the stumbling-blocks with the wicked; and I ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

On the Soul and the Resurrection.
... answer to such foolish and wicked propositions; for ... mechanisms building themselves
spontaneously; the bronze would not ... us to fight with our own people; and the ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/on the soul and the 2.htm