Bronze in the Bible symbolizes strength, judgment, durability, and divine authority. It is often associated with God’s justice and unyielding power, especially in contexts of judgment and purification.
In the construction of the tabernacle, bronze was used for elements that had to do with sacrifice and atonement. The altar of burnt offering, where animals were sacrificed, was overlaid with bronze:
“You shall make an altar of acacia wood… and you shall overlay it with bronze.”
(Exodus 27:1–2)
This use of bronze points to the seriousness of sin and the need for judgment through substitutionary sacrifice.
The laver, where priests washed before entering the tabernacle, was also made of bronze (Exodus 30:18). This reinforced the need for purification before approaching God.
In Numbers 21:8–9, God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole so that anyone bitten by fiery serpents could look at it and live:
“So Moses made a bronze serpent… and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.”
Jesus later referenced this event in John 3:14–15, pointing to Himself as the one lifted up for the salvation of sinners. Bronze here symbolizes judgment borne on behalf of the people, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
The prophet Ezekiel described heavenly beings with feet like “burnished bronze” (Ezekiel 1:7), and Revelation 1:15 describes Jesus with feet “like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace.” These images emphasize Christ’s strength, purity, and role as judge.
Bronze is also used in prophetic imagery of nations and kingdoms, as in Daniel’s visions (Daniel 2:39), where it represents empire and dominion, particularly the Greek Empire.
Throughout Scripture, bronze serves as a visual metaphor for firmness, endurance, and the righteousness of God’s judgment. It is not as precious as gold or silver, but its strength and resilience make it a fitting symbol for God’s justice and the tools of purification.
