Dictionary of Bible Themes » 4000 Creation » 4300 Metals and minerals » 4336 iron
Iron ore is mined from the earth
Job 28:2 See also Deuteronomy 8:7-9
Iron ore is refined by smelting in a furnace
Such imagery is often used of God's testing of his people
Ezekiel 22:20 See also Numbers 31:21-23; Jeremiah 6:27-29; Ezekiel 22:18
Egypt is described as an iron-smelting furnace
Deuteronomy 4:20 See also 1 Kings 8:51; Jeremiah 11:4
Iron was a valuable metal
Revelation 18:11-12 See also Joshua 22:6-8; Isaiah 60:17; Ezekiel 27:12,19
Iron was prized for its great strength
Daniel 2:40-43 See also Leviticus 26:19; Deuteronomy 28:23
The great strength of certain animals is conveyed with the imagery of iron:
Job 40:15-18; Job 41:27
Iron is symbolic of the strength of the LORD's rule:
Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27; Revelation 19:15 Isaiah 48:4; Jeremiah 1:18; Jeremiah 15:12; Daniel 2:31-35
Daniel's dream of four beasts:
Daniel 7:7,19 Micah 4:13
Iron objects were taken as booty in war
Joshua 6:24 See also Joshua 6:15-19; Joshua 22:8
Iron was used in the construction of the temple
1 Chronicles 29:2 See also 1 Chronicles 22:14-16; 1 C 7; 2 Chronicles 2:7,13-14; 2 C 12
Other uses of iron
For tools
Genesis 4:22 See also Deuteronomy 27:5; Joshua 8:30-31; 2 Samuel 12:31 pp 1 Chronicles 20:3; 2 Samuel 23:7; 1 Kings 6:7; 2 Kings 6:5-6; Job 19:23-24; Jeremiah 17:1; Amos 1:3; 1 Timothy 4:2
For chains, shackles and fetters
Psalm 105:18 See also Psalm 107:10; Psalm 149:6-9; Daniel 4:15,23; Mark 5:1-4
For chariots
Judges 1:19 See also Joshua 17:15-18; Judges 4:2-3,12-13
For gates and gate fittings
Acts 12:10 See also Deuteronomy 33:25; 1 Chronicles 22:3; Psalm 107:15-16; Isaiah 45:2
For weapons and armour
1 Samuel 17:7 See also Numbers 35:16; Job 20:24; Revelation 9:9
For idols
Daniel 5:4 See also Daniel 5:23
For yokes
Deuteronomy 28:48 See also Jeremiah 28:13-14
For horns
1 Kings 22:11 pp 2 Chronicles 18:10
For cooking utensils
Ezekiel 4:3
For a bed
Deuteronomy 3:11
See also
4303 metals 4345 metalworkers 4348 mining 4351 refining 4696 yoke 5209 armour 5251 chains 5252 chariots 5323 gate 5461 prisoners 5583 tools 5612 weapons
