BRONZE/BRASS/COPPER

Definition:

Associated with being closed up, shut up, not released.

Scripture:

• The Lord says two things here: 1) Heaven would be as iron, and 2) Earth would be as brass. Simultaneously, He says another two things: 1) I will “break” the pride of your power, and 2) The earth “will not yield” her increase. The “breaking” is what the iron represents (see Iron), and the “lack of yield” is what the brass represents. Brass is being used for the Earth not yielding her fruit, hence held back, not released.

Leviticus 26:19-20 (KJV) AndI will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass [lit. Brass, copper, bronze]: 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.

• The heavens not giving from what’s treasured up in them is called being brass.

Deuteronomy 28:12 (KJV) [The Blessing] The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

VERSE 23) [The Curse] And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass [as opposed to giving her treasure], and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

• Solomons temple is a picture of the church, particularly our flesh. Inside the temple is lined with gold to symbolize the glory of God that is contained inside of our earthen vessels (or flesh). Specifically, the inside of the temple is said to be overlaid with “closed up gold.” This shows that the glory of God is closed up and sealed up inside of us, until it is acknowledged (John 7:38). To second this symbolism, all of the articles on the outside of the temple, representing the fruitfulness of the temple, are made of brass. These articles show the potential fruitfulness that the temple can bear, but the brass shows that it is currently sealed up inside the temple, unreleased. 

2 Chronicles 4:20-22 (KJV) Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure [lit. closed, shut up] gold… And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure [lit. closed, shut up] gold…

1 Kings 7:45 (KJV) …and all these vessels [on the outside of the temple], which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass [showing that these things were being restrained inside the temple, ready to be manifest].