בְּדִיל
alloy (because removed by smelting); by analogy, tin
Definition
The Hebrew noun בְּדִיל (bᵉdîyl) primarily refers to a metal that is separated out, specifically tin or a tin alloy. It derives from the idea of being 'removed' or 'separated' during the smelting process, as tin was often extracted from other ores. In some contexts, it can refer more broadly to any base metal alloy or dross that is removed from precious metals like silver (Isaiah 1:25, Ezekiel 22:18-20). In Zechariah 4:10, it appears in the phrase 'plummet of tin,' referring to a builder's weighted line, likely made of this common metal.
Biblical Usage
בְּדִיל is used six times in the Old Testament, primarily in prophetic and legal contexts. In Numbers 31:22, it is listed among metals (gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead) that must be purified by fire. The prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel use it metaphorically for the impurities or dross within Israel that God will remove through judgment (Isaiah 1:25, Ezekiel 22:18-20). Ezekiel 27:12 mentions tin as a commodity traded by Tyre. Zechariah 4:10 uses it in the unique construction context of the 'plummet of tin.'
Etymology
The noun בְּדִיל comes from the root בָּדַל (H914, bādal), meaning 'to divide, separate, or distinguish.' This root meaning directly informs its sense as a metal that is 'separated out' during smelting. The word's semantic development moved from the action of separation to the specific product (tin/alloy) that results from that metallurgical process.
Semantic Range
בְּדִיל carries theological weight in its prophetic usage. In Isaiah 1:25 and Ezekiel 22:18-20, it serves as a powerful metaphor for sin and impurity within God's people. Just as base metal is removed from silver in a furnace, God promises to purge His people of their moral and spiritual dross through refining judgment. This imagery underscores God's holiness, His intent to purify a remnant, and the severe but purposeful nature of divine discipline.
In the ancient Near East, tin was a crucial metal, primarily used to make bronze when alloyed with copper. Its value was in its utility, not its prestige. Understanding it as a common, base metal—often the 'dross' removed from more valuable silver—explains its potent metaphorical use by the prophets. The 'plummet of tin' (Zechariah 4:10) was a simple, everyday builder's tool, making it an accessible symbol for God's measuring standard.
כֶּסֶף (keseph, H3701) — silver; the precious metal from which בְּדִיל (dross/tin) is separated. עֹפֶרֶת (ʿōpheret, H5777) — lead; another common, base metal often listed alongside tin (Ezekiel 27:12). סִיג (sîg, H5509) — dross or scum; a closer synonym for the impure waste material metaphor.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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