Copper
derived from the Greek kupros (the island of Cyprus), called "Cyprian brass," occurs only in the Authorized Version in
Ezra 8:27. Elsewhere the Hebrew word (nehosheth) is improperly rendered "brass," and sometimes "steel" (
2 Sam. 22:35;
Jer. 15:12). The "bow of steel" (
Job 20:24;
Ps. 18:34) should have been "bow of copper" (or "brass," as in the R.V.). The vessels of "fine copper" of
Ezra 8:27 were probably similar to those of "bright brass" mentioned in
1 Kings 7:45;
Dan. 10:6. Tubal-cain was the first artificer in brass and iron (
Gen. 4:22). Hiram was noted as a worker in brass (
1 Kings 7:14). Copper abounded in Palestine (
Deut. 8:9;
Isa. 60:17;
1 Chr. 22:3,
14). All sorts of vessels in the tabernacle and the temple were made of it (
Lev. 6:28;
Num. 16:39;
2 Chr. 4:16;
Ezra 8:27); also weapons of war (
1 Sam. 17:5,
6,
38;
2 Sam. 21:16). Iron is mentioned only four times (
Gen. 4:22;
Lev. 26:19;
Num. 31:22;
35:16) in the first four books of Moses, while copper (rendered "brass") is mentioned forty times. (See BRASS >> T0000641.) We find mention of Alexander (q.v.), a "coppersmith" of Ephesus (
2 Tim. 4:14)
