Although this verse is brief, it is difficult to interpret, and a number of scholars give it up as hopeless. Two of the more widely accepted interpretations are: (1) the LORD is speaking, and he draws a comparison between Israel (iron) and their stronger enemies from the north (iron from the north, and bronze); or (2) Jeremiah is the speaker, and he draws a comparison between his own strength (iron) and that of his enemies (iron from the north, and bronze). Most scholars assume that iron from the north is particularly hard iron, perhaps from the area around the Black Sea. Good News Translation interprets the entire verse as a reference to Jeremiah’s enemies who are compared to iron: “the iron from the north that is mixed with bronze.”

Whatever the interpretation accepted, the verse is best understood as a rhetorical question requiring no answer. Good News Translation is perhaps the most useful model for translators (see above). It is also possible to say “No one can break iron, especially iron from the north, nor [can they break] bronze.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .