Original Word: פְלָדָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: pladah
Pronunciation: peh-lah-DAH
Phonetic Spelling: (pel-aw-daw')
KJV: torch
NASB: steel
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to divide]

1. a cleaver, i.e. iron armature (of a chariot)

torch

From an unused root meaning to divide; a cleaver, i.e. Iron armature (of a chariot) -- torch.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
probably iron, steel
NASB Translation
steel (1).

[מְּלָדָה] noun feminine usually iron, steel (origin dubious; steel in Arabic is , but Vulgar Arabic ; Syriac (in Lexicons); loan-word from Persian according to Lag^{Ges. Abh. 75}, compare Nö^{ZMG xxx(1876), 769}, but uncertain, compare Now and references); — plural [absolute!] בְּאֵשׁמְּֿלָדֹת הָרֶכֶב Nahum 2:4 < ׳כָּאֵשׁ מִּלְדֹת וגו We Now, like fire the steel (fittings) of the chariots.

Biblical Occurrence and Context

פְלָדָה appears once, in Nahum 2:3, within the prophet’s vivid description of Nineveh’s downfall. Set against the crimson shields and scarlet uniforms of the attacking forces, the blazing metal of the chariots heightens the atmosphere of impending judgment. “The metal of the chariots flashes on the day of their preparation; the spears are brandished” (Nahum 2:3). The single use underscores the word’s rhetorical power: one flash is enough to convey the terror and inevitability of divine retribution.

Historical Background

Nahum prophesied during the seventh century B.C., a time when the Neo-Assyrian Empire was unrivaled in ironworking technology. Gleaming weaponry symbolized military superiority. By portraying the invaders’ chariots as glittering with polished metal, Nahum affirms that the Lord marshals even advanced military hardware to accomplish His purposes. Archaeology confirms that Assyrian and Babylonian armies used iron-clad chariots and spears tipped with hardened metal, providing a concrete backdrop for Nahum’s imagery.

Imagery in Prophetic Literature

Other prophets use metallic brilliance to depict either divine intervention or the terror of war (Isaiah 34:5, Jeremiah 46:4, Joel 3:10). Nahum’s single-word choice unites those themes: the same God who can make the sword “bathe in heaven” (Isaiah 34:5) can also direct human weaponry against oppressors. The flash of steel signals both swiftness and finality; once the light has appeared, the judgment is already under way.

Theological Significance

1. Sovereign Judgment: The glinting chariots testify that no empire, however fortified, can resist God’s decree (Nahum 1:3; 2:13).
2. Moral Clarity: The polished surface reflects light, symbolizing the exposure of hidden evil. Nineveh’s cruelty returns upon its own head (Galatians 6:7).
3. Hope for the Oppressed: The same vision that terrifies Nineveh comforts Judah. God equips His agents with whatever means necessary to save His people (Nahum 1:15).

Relationship to Other Metallurgical Terms

Scripture contrasts hardened metals (iron, bronze) with brittle substitutes (clay, earthenware). פְלָדָה stands at the pinnacle of strength imagery: more durable than iron, more brilliant than bronze. Where weapons of clay shatter (Jeremiah 19:11), flashing steel endures, embodying unstoppable force.

Ministry Applications

• Preaching: Nahum 2:3 warns complacent societies that technological might cannot shield them from divine justice.
• Counseling: Believers facing oppression may draw courage from the vision of God’s decisive intervention.
• Worship: Songs and prayers can celebrate the Lord as “a warrior who shines forth” (Psalm 24:8), echoing the flash of metal that announces victory.

Christological Reflection

Revelation 19:11-16 presents the Rider on a white horse whose eyes blaze and whose robe is dipped in blood. The sharp sword proceeding from His mouth recalls the lethal brilliance of Nahum’s chariots, yet now focused in the person of the Messiah. What Nahum sketches in a single Hebrew term finds ultimate fulfillment in the triumph of Jesus Christ, who judges and makes war in righteousness.

Summary

Though occurring only once, פְלָדָה enriches Scripture’s portrayal of divine judgment by capturing the fearsome flash of battle-ready metal. Historically grounded, prophetically potent, and theologically layered, the term reminds every generation that God’s verdict is swift, certain, and ultimately redemptive for His people.

פְּלָד֥וֹת פלדות pə·lā·ḏō·wṯ pelaDot pəlāḏōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts