Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Isaac Fried <if AT math.bu.edu>]

Appears to me that the fraction BR of BRZL refers to the ore  
particles and that ZL is a variant of TL. I suspect that in biblical  
times iron ore could not be heated enough to be smelted.

Isaac Fried, Boston University

On Mar 9, 2011, at 12:58 AM, David Kolinsky wrote:

> Likewise, I would contend that BaRZeL (ברזל) evolved from BaRaZ  
> (ברז) to bore,
> perforate, transfix (Jastro).  It is related to the Arabic cognate  
> meaning "to jut through / out, emerge from, come out, come into  
> view."  The most characteristic aspect of iron being its hardness  
> and its ability to perforate other