apparently passive participle of נָחַשׁ (perhaps in the sense of ringing), i.e. bell-metal; or from the red color of the throat of a serpent (נָחָשׁ, as denominative) when hissing); coppery, i.e. (figuratively) hard; of brass.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **nâchûwsh**, represented by `{{H5153}}`, is a term used to mean **brass** or, figuratively, hard. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the Bible. The definition suggests it is derived either from the sound of bell-metal or the color of a hissing serpent's throat, lending it a sense of being coppery and unyielding.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single use of `{{H5153}}` is found in a poignant, rhetorical question from Job. Amidst his profound suffering, he asks, "or is my flesh of **brass**?" [[Job 6:12]]. In this context, **brass** symbolizes an impossible, inhuman durability. Job contrasts the weakness of his own flesh with the unyielding nature of metal, questioning if he is expected to endure his trials as if he were made of something other than a vulnerable human body.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several words used alongside `{{H5153}}` in its only scriptural appearance provide crucial context:
* `{{H3581}}` **kôach** (vigor, force, strength): In [[Job 6:12]], this word is used twice to question the source of Job's endurance, contrasting human **strength** with the inanimate strength of stones. It speaks to capacity and might, which Job feels he lacks.
* `{{H68}}` **ʼeben** (a stone): This word is used to represent an object of immense hardness and durability. Job uses **stones** as a benchmark for a kind of strength he does not possess [[Job 6:12]].
* `{{H1320}}` **bâsâr** (flesh, body, person): This term for **flesh** is set in direct opposition to `{{H5153}}`, highlighting the vulnerability and frailty of the human body compared to the hardness of brass [[Job 6:12]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5153}}` is derived entirely from its single, powerful use in the book of Job.
* **Human Frailty:** The word is used metaphorically to establish the limits of human endurance. By asking if his flesh is of **brass**, Job asserts his own vulnerability and frailty in the face of overwhelming suffering, a central theme in his dialogue [[Job 6:12]].
* **Symbol of Hardness:** In its biblical context, **brass** stands as a symbol of something unfeeling, enduring, and hard. Job's question implies that only a being made of such a material could be expected to withstand his level of affliction without breaking, highlighting the gap between his mortal flesh and an unyielding substance.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5153}}` is a rare but impactful word. While its base definition relates to coppery metal, its sole biblical appearance transforms **brass** into a powerful metaphor for inhuman strength and hardness. Its use in [[Job 6:12]] is a cornerstone of Job’s lament, vividly contrasting the frailty of human flesh with the unyielding nature of metal, and in doing so, captures a profound theological statement on the limits of human endurance in the face of suffering.
TRV