What does iron represent in the Bible?

Answer 1

The iron furnace is a symbol of hard and hot oppression (De 4:20; 1Ki 8:51; Jer 11:4); iron yokes, unbreakable bondage. (De 28:48; Jer 28:13, 14) In a figurative sense iron symbolizes hardness (Le 26:19; De 28:23), stubbornness (Isa 48:4; Jer 6:28), strength (Jer 1:18; Da 7:7; Re 9:9), kingly power, and judicial authority (Ps 2:9; Re 2:27; 12:5; 19:15).

*excerpt from Insight on the Scriptures vol.1 published by The Watchtower, Bible, and Tract Society

ANOTHER ANSWER:

As far as symbolism goes... in King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2, he envisioned a "metallic man" composed from different "metals" from head to toe of decreasing "rarity, strength" and "value."

The prophetic significance of these metals are revealed today to have represented the "four main world-ruling empires throughout the history of the world." [the government systems of MAN; about which Daniel had his own dream and vision in chapter 7; where these "metals" were changed to "animals" or "beasts": which is apparently how God sees man's governments -- as "beastly" things]. Matthew Henry attests:

"...This [metallic] image represented the kingdoms of the earth, that should successively rule the nations... 1. The head of gold signified the Chaldean empire, then in being. 2. The breast and arms of silver signified the empire of the Medes and Persians. 3. The belly and thighs of brass signified the Grecian empire, founded by Alexander. 4. The legs and feet of IRON signified the Roman Empire. The Roman empire branched into ten kingdoms, as the toes of these feet. Some were weak as clay, others strong as IRON. Endeavours have often been used to unite them, for strengthening the empire, but in vain..." (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: Daniel 2:31-45).

There is a "dual" symbolism to these metals: a "physical" one and a "spiritual" one.

The hardness of the metals represent the strength and power of the successive empires; with Rome [IRON] being the toughest of the four -- as well as the most brutal: plus, the decreasing "value" of each metal represents each successive empire's decrease in "spiritual strength, awareness" and "heartlessness."

A biblical example of this is evident in Nebuchadnezzar's spiritual awareness and RECOGNITION of Daniel's God... and subsequent reverence for Him:

"The king said to Daniel, 'Truly, your God is the God of gods, the LORD over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.'" (Dan.2:47 NLT New Living Translation)

And: "Then Nebuchadnezzar said, 'PRAISE to the GOD OF SHADRACH, MESHACH, and ABEDNEGO! ... Therefore I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be crushed into heaps of rubble. THERE IS NO OTHER GOD who can rescue like this!'" (Dan.3:28-29 NLT)

King Nebuchadnezzar's "faith," as it were, prompted God to include the king's own chapter among His inspired Scriptures [see Daniel's chapter 4]: "...'Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, Praise and Glorify and Honor the King of Heaven. All His acts are Just and True, and He is able to humble those who are proud.'" [verse 37]

The IRON empire, however, Rome, was the least likely of the succeeding empires to bow to Daniel's God. In point of fact: it was the IRON empire that refused to acknowledge Him, worshiped the man Caesar, and became instrumental in KILLING the Christ! Though the IRON empire, Rome, recognized hundreds of gods... it was the least spiritual in recognizing Abraham's God, compared to the empires that preceded it:

"Agrippa interrupted him [Paul]. 'Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?'" (Acts 26:28 NLT)

So, biblically speaking, "iron" represents the dual symbolism of "physical hardness and merciless brutality".... and "spiritual blindness."