Steel
A Translation Issue
The King James Version uses the word "steel" in several Old Testament passages (2 Samuel 22:35; Job 20:24; Psalm 18:34; Jeremiah 15:12), but modern translations have corrected these to "bronze" or "brass." The Hebrew word in question refers to a copper alloy, not the iron-carbon alloy we know as steel today. This translation update reflects improved understanding of both the Hebrew language and ancient metallurgical technology.
Bronze in Biblical Warfare
The passages where "steel" appears in the KJV describe weapons and military strength. In 2 Samuel 22:35 and Psalm 18:34, David praises God for training his hands for war so that his arms can bend a bow of bronze — an image of extraordinary strength, since a bronze bow would require tremendous force to bend. Job 20:24 warns that the wicked will not escape the bronze-tipped arrow, and Jeremiah 15:12 asks rhetorically whether anyone can break iron or northern bronze, emphasizing the hardness and durability of this metal.
Nahum's Chariots
An interesting exception appears in Nahum 2:3, where the Revised Version uses "steel" where the KJV had "torches." This passage describes the gleaming metal fittings of chariots in a military procession, and the translation choice remains debated among scholars. The imagery of flashing metal on war chariots is consistent with the known use of bronze and iron decorations on ancient Near Eastern military vehicles.
Metals in the Ancient World
The biblical period spans the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age. Bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) was the dominant metal for weapons and tools until roughly 1200 BC, when iron technology became widespread. True steel — iron with a controlled carbon content — was rare in the ancient Near East and was not produced on an industrial scale until much later periods. When biblical writers spoke of the strongest metals available, they meant bronze and iron, not steel as we understand it.
Theological Use of Metal Imagery
Regardless of the specific metal referenced, the Bible consistently uses metal imagery to convey strength, durability, and divine empowerment. God gives His servants arms of bronze and pillars of iron (Jeremiah 1:18). The kingdom of God is compared to iron that breaks all other materials (Daniel 2:40). These images teach that true strength comes from God, who equips His people with capabilities beyond their natural limits.
Biblical Context
The word 'steel' in the KJV appears in 2 Samuel 22:35, Job 20:24, Psalm 18:34, and Jeremiah 15:12 — all now translated as bronze in modern versions. Nahum 2:3 involves a separate translation question. Metal imagery for strength runs throughout Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.
Theological Significance
The metal imagery in these passages consistently points to God as the source of strength. David's ability to bend a bow of bronze comes from divine training, not human power. The broader biblical use of metals as metaphors for strength, endurance, and judgment reflects the conviction that God equips and empowers those who serve Him.
Historical Background
Bronze was the primary metal for weapons and tools in the Near East from approximately 3300-1200 BC. Iron technology spread through the region during the early Iron Age (1200-1000 BC), with the Philistines initially controlling iron-working technology in Canaan (1 Samuel 13:19-22). True steel production requires controlled carburization of iron, a process that was not mastered on a large scale in the ancient Near East, making KJV references to 'steel' anachronistic.