Jeremiah 15:12
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
American King James Version (AKJV)
Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
American Standard Version (ASV)
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Is it possible for iron to be broken; even iron from the north, and brass?
Webster's Revision
Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
World English Bible
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass?
English Revised Version (ERV)
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass?
Clarke's Jeremiah 15:12 Bible Commentary
Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel? - Shall our weak forces be able to oppose and overcome the powers of the Chaldeans? נחשת nechasheth, which we here translate steel, property signifies brass or copper united with tin, which gives it much hardness, and enables it to bear a good edge.
Barnes's Jeremiah 15:12 Bible Commentary
The steel - "brass," i. e., bronze. By the "iron" is meant Jeremiah's intercession; but this cannot alter the divine purpose to send Judah into exile, which is firm as steel and brass. For "brass" see Exodus 25:3 note. The alloy of copper and zinc now called brass was entirely unknown to the ancients.
Wesley's Jeremiah 15:12 Bible Commentary
15:12 The northern iron - As the northern iron and steel is the hardest, and no iron could break that, so God having edged and hardened their enemies, the Chaldeans, all opposition to them would signify nothing.