מְטִיל
an iron bar (as forged)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מְטִיל (mᵉṭîyl) refers specifically to a forged iron bar. It denotes a solid, heavy piece of metal that has been shaped by a blacksmith's hammer, implying strength and rigidity. This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 40:18, where it is used metaphorically to describe the bones of the behemoth. There are no other biblical passages where this word carries a different or extended meaning.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Job 40:18. In this context, it is part of God's poetic description of the mighty behemoth: 'His bones are like tubes of bronze; his ribs are like bars of iron (מְטִיל).' Here, the term is used in a metaphorical simile to emphasize the creature's immense, unyielding strength and formidable structure. Its singular occurrence in wisdom literature highlights its role as a vivid image rather than a common object.
Etymology
מְטִיל derives from the root טוּל (ṭûl, H2904), which generally means 'to cast' or 'to throw.' In this specific derivation, the meaning has shifted to the sense of 'hammering out' or 'forging' metal. This connects the word to the process of metalworking, where metal is cast and then hammered into a specific, solid shape like a bar.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a mundane object, its single biblical use in Job 40:18 carries theological weight. It contributes to the portrayal of God's creation, specifically the behemoth, as a display of divine power and inscrutable wisdom. The image of iron bars for bones underscores themes of God's sovereignty over creation and the awe-inspiring, untamable nature of the creatures He has made, challenging human understanding and pride.
In the ancient Near East, forged iron was a symbol of superior strength and durability compared to bronze. An iron bar represented the pinnacle of metallurgical technology and military fortification. The metaphor in Job would have immediately conveyed an idea of impregnable strength and permanence to the original audience, much like 'steel' might in a modern analogy.
בְּרִיחַ (bᵉrîyach, H1280) — a bar or bolt, typically for fastening gates or doors, emphasizing a function of locking or securing. מַסְגֵּר (maçgêr, H4540) — a enclosing bar or barrier, often with a sense of confinement or imprisonment.
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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