פְּלָדָה
𐤐𐤋𐤃𐤄
pᵉlâdâh
H6393 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A durable metal, most often iron or steel, particularly in the form of armament or plates. The term can refer to the iron or steel plating of chariots or other forms of protective or functional ironwork, and in rare contexts may connote a sharp or cutting implement, or by extension, an object of strength and hardness.
Semantic Range
processed iron, steel, forged or polished metal plating, armature, chariot plating, weapon or cleaving implement, strong or hard metal
Root / Etymology
From the triliteral root פלאד (פ־ל־ד), though the root itself is not otherwise attested in Biblical Hebrew and is considered unused or obsolete. The proposed core sense is 'to divide' or 'split,' which aligns with the idea of iron or steel as materials that are smelted and shaped (split or divided) for tools and armor. The noun פְּלָדָה stems from this theoretical root but directly names the end product (iron/steel armature or plating), not the process.
Historical & Contextual Notes
פְּלָדָה appears only in later biblical books (notably Ezekiel 27:19), signifying valued imports of iron or steel—indicative of technological advancement and international trade. In context, it denotes high-quality, forged or worked metal, most likely steel (refined iron), in contrast to generic iron (בַּרְזֶל, barzel). The semantic field must be distinguished from בַּרְזֶל, which is the common term for iron, and חָרֶב (cherev), which is a sword. English versions sometimes render פְּלָדָה imprecisely as 'steel,' 'iron,' or 'polished iron,' but the biblical term emphasizes processed, functional metalwork, often as plating or armature. Later Rabbinic Hebrew uses פְּלָדָה strictly for steel or especially hard iron. Culturally, the term reflects the Israelite awareness of advanced metallurgy in neighboring societies during the monarchic and exilic periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
lemma פְלָדָה missing dagesh, corrected to פְּלָדָה; from an unused root meaning to divide; a cleaver, i.e. iron armature (of a chariot); torch.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פלד (p-l-d) — to split, divide; forged hardness
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6393-01 |
פְּלָד֥וֹת | peladot | HNcfpa |
the steel | steel armatures | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6393-01 |
Nahum 2:4 | פְּלָד֥וֹת | peladot | HNcfpa |
the steel | steel armatures |