בְּדִיל
𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤋
bᵉdîyl
H913 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A metallic substance, generally referring to an alloy or tin, especially in contexts of metallurgy or materials separated or refined by smelting. The term denotes a metal distinct from silver, usually considered to be tin, used either alone or as part of an alloy (such as bronze). In some contexts, it refers more broadly to any dross or slag separated out during the refining process.
Semantic Range
tin, alloy (of tin or lead), metal separated by smelting, dross, useless by-product (metaphorically), plummet (weight made of tin or alloy)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root בָּדַל (badal), meaning 'to separate, divide, distinguish.' The noun בְּדִיל (bedîl) arises from the idea of something separated out, referring to a metal (commonly tin) that is separated from ore in the process of smelting.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בְּדִיל appears predominantly in post-exilic biblical books (e.g., Isaiah, Ezekiel), particularly in metaphorical passages regarding purification or judgment, often paired and contrasted with silver. In Israelite metallurgical contexts, בְּדִיל was associated with tin or an alloy containing tin, understood both as a distinct metal and as an ingredient in production of bronze. The identification as 'tin' reflects ancient Near Eastern metallurgy, where tin was valuable for bronze alloying. In other passages, especially poetic or prophetic texts, the term extends metaphorically to the concept of dross or impurity—material to be removed in refining precious metals. Modern English translations often render the term as 'tin' but sometimes as 'alloy' or 'dross,' depending on context—none of which always fully capture its ancient usage or metallurgical nuance. בְּדִיל differs from סִיגִים (sigim, 'dross'), which pertains specifically to metallic waste.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בָּדַל; alloy (because removed by smelting); by analogy, tin; [phrase] plummet, tin.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בדל (b-d-l) — separate, divide, set apart
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3995 | מִבְדָּלָה | the set-apart divisions |
| H914 | בָּדַל | the one set apart |
| H915 | בָּדָל | separated piece |
| H916 | בְּדֹלַח | the bdellium resin |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H913-03 |
הַ/בְּדִ֖יל | habedil | HTd/Ncmsa |
of tin | the separated metal | 2 |
H913-04 |
וּ/בְדִ֨יל | uvedil | HC/Ncmsa |
and tin | and separated-out metal | 2 |
H913-01 |
בְּדִ֣יל | bedil | HNcmsa |
tin | separated-out metal | 1 |
H913-02 |
בְּדִילָֽיִ/ךְ | bedilayikhe | HNcmpc/Sp2fs |
your alloy | your separated metals | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H913-03 |
Numbers 31:22 | הַ/בְּדִ֖יל | habedil | HTd/Ncmsa |
the tin | the separated metal |
H913-02 |
Isaiah 1:25 | בְּדִילָֽיִ/ךְ | bedilayikhe | HNcmpc/Sp2fs |
your alloy | your separated metals |
H913-04 |
Ezekiel 22:18 | וּ/בְדִ֨יל | uvedil | HC/Ncmsa |
and tin | and separated-out metal |
H913-04 |
Ezekiel 22:20 | וּ/בְדִיל֙ | uvedil | HC/Ncmsa |
and tin | and separated-out metal |
H913-01 |
Ezekiel 27:12 | בְּדִ֣יל | bedil | HNcmsa |
tin | separated-out metal |
H913-03 |
Zechariah 4:10 | הַ/בְּדִ֛יל | habedil | HTd/Ncmsa |
of tin | the separated metal |