Psalms 18:34 - Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

Bible Comments

So that a bow. — Better, and mine arms bend a bow of copper. For the copper bow comp. Job 20:24. Nechushah, χαλκὸς, is certainly not steel, whether the custom of hardening iron was known to the Jews or not (see Jeremiah 15:12, and art. “Steel,” in Smith’s Biblical Dict.). The LXX. and Vulgate have, “thou hast made mine arms a bow of copper.” For this test of strength we naturally compare the famous bow of Ulysses —

“So the great master drew the mighty bow,
And drew with ease.” — Odyssey, POPE’S trans.

Psalms 18:34

34 He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.