Samuel 17:5, 6, 38; 2 Samuel 21:16). Iron is mentioned only four times
(Genesis 4:22; Leviticus 26:19; Numbers 31:22; 35:16) in the first four
books of Moses, while copper (rendered “brass”) is mentioned forty
times. (See BRASS.)
We find mention of Alexander (q.v.), a “coppersmith” of Ephesus (2
Timothy 4:14).
- COR This Hebrew word, untranslated, denotes a round vessel used as a
measure both for liquids and solids. It was equal to one homer, and
contained ten ephahs in dry and ten baths in liquid measure (Ezekiel
45:14). The Rabbins estimated the cor at forty-five gallons, while
Josephus estimated it at about eighty-seven. In 1 Kings 4:22; 5:11; 2
Chronicles 2:10; 27:5, the original word is rendered “measure.” - CORAL Hebrews ramoth, meaning “heights;” i.e., “high-priced” or
valuable things, or, as some suppose, “that which grows high,” like a tree
(Job 28:18; Ezekiel 27:16), according to the Rabbins, red coral, which was
in use for ornaments.
The coral is a cretaceous marine product, the deposit by minute polypous
animals of calcareous matter in cells in which the animal lives. It is of
numberless shapes as it grows, but usually is branched like a tree. Great
coral reefs and coral islands abound in the Red Sea, whence probably the
Hebrews derived their knowledge of it. It is found of different colours,
white, black, and red. The red, being esteemed the most precious, was
used, as noticed above, for ornamental purposes.
- CORBAN a Hebrew word adopted into the Greek of the New Testament
and left untranslated. It occurs only once (Mark 7:11). It means a gift or
offering consecrated to God. Anything over which this word was once
pronounced was irrevocably dedicated to the temple. Land, however, so
dedicated might be redeemed before the year of jubilee (Leviticus
27:16-24). Our Lord condemns the Pharisees for their false doctrine,
inasmuch as by their traditions they had destroyed the commandment
which requires children to honour their father and mother, teaching them to
find excuse from helping their parents by the device of pronouncing
“Corban” over their goods, thus reserving them to their own selfish use. - CORD frequently used in its proper sense, for fastening a tent (Exodus
35:18; 39:40), yoking animals to a cart (Isaiah 5:18), binding prisoners